Where can you go in 15 minutes?
The "15-minute city" concept enhances quality of life and combats sprawl by making life's most essential elements more available.
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The ideas behind the “15-minute city” movement
Can 15-minute cities work in America?
How long does it take you to get the grocery store? Or to the pharmacy? Are you assuming that you’ll drive to get there? Is walking even an option?
To build tomorrow’s cities, we have to reexamine our fundamental assumptions. The concept of the self-sufficient 15-minute city, invented by urbanist Carlos Moreno, is one such way of rethinking urban design. The concept is to create more walkable, livable, and sustainable cities by increasing and simplifying access to food, work, education, and leisure. It also promotes public health by keeping residents active.
The 15-minute city has been embraced by Paris, which started by converting miles of busy highway along the Seine into riverside parks. Meanwhile, cities like Sydney and Singapore are engineering their own versions. But what constitutes a 15-minute city?
According to a TED Talk by its inventor, there are 3 key factors:
The city should be designed for humans, not cars.
Spaces should be multifunctional, not limited to a single use.
Commuting should be optional, not necessary.
In Paris, that’s meant taking pedestrian space back from the automobile, opening single-use spaces (like schools) to the public after hours, and budgeting $82 million for crowdsourced projects to beautify and improve neighborhoods. Do you think a similar model would work in the USA?
American cities are very much designed for cars, even as we begin to recognize how problematic car-based cities are. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, Americans travel 7 to 9 miles on average for shopping and recreational activities, while only 12% of trips are short enough to fit the 15-minute model.
But I think there’s room for a brighter future. Here in Tampa, Mayor Jane Castor recently released a new mobility plan focused on creating a more walkable city with inter-connected mobility systems. Meanwhile, nearby downtown St. Pete offers an oasis of walkable urbanism, with a 95/100 walkability score!
15-minute cities offer so much potential for vibrant placemaking. I’m curious to see if they’ll make a lasting impact on cities or if they’re only enjoying 15 minutes of fame.
(P.S. — You can find out if you live in a 15-minute city using this tool!)
- John
Read more:
The 15-Minute City: Putting people at the center of urban transformation
Paris’ Vision for a ‘15-Minute City’ Sparks a Global Movement
The 15-minute city is a concept that puts people and the planet first
‘15-minute city’ planning is on the rise, experts say. Here’s what to know.
This week’s notes from half-court…
Can another rising star displace Victor Wembanyama as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year? Historically, the award goes to the player with the highest combination of points, rebounds and assists per game. ESPN just published a list of contenders who might give Wembanyama a run for his money. Raw playing time might not be in Wembanyama’s favor, but with 15.2 average points per game, he’s a slam dunk as far as performance is concerned. I’m giving him a good shot of coming out ahead.