All over the world cities are growing uncontrollably and with them corresponding problems. These include social inequality, exclusion, congested mass transport networks, smog and the corresponding harmful effects on health and the environment. An idea of ​​how the future could become more sustainable and healthier came with the “15 minute city”.

The basic idea behind this urban planning project aims at a better quality of life for city dwellers and meeting all their basic needs within a walking distance of about 15 minutes. Something that seems utopian today for people living in big cities as traffic jams on the way to work as well as poor public transport connections cost residents a lot of time and nerves.

Whether it’s the way to work, shops, schools, the doctor’s office, stadiums, parks, restaurants or cultural institutions, it’s all about “access for everyone, anytime”, writes Carlos Moreno , a professor at the Sorbonne University, who first formulated the idea in 2016. A concept that puts people and their needs at the forefront of urban planning, a kind of “human-centered design”.

Aim for as much green as possible in cities

Green spaces, sports fields, cinemas and shops should be built where people live, not the other way around, according to Benjamin Büttner, a mobility expert at the Technical University of Munich. He states that not everything needs to be demolished and rebuilt, the existing public space simply needs to be redesigned.

In the city of 15 minutes there is a clear plan for the concept of mobility. Fewer cars, more space for cyclists and pedestrians, safe routes for children, the disabled, the elderly and spaces for social gatherings. “Cars are a problem, at least in urban centers. They just take up a lot of space. Above all, they hinder active mobility,” Büttner explains.

Already around the world 16 cities have implemented the “15-minute city” plan or intend to do so with various programs that either concern individual areas or the entire city redesign. Paris leads the way and shows the way to the whole world. When Moreno introduced the idea in 2016, the city’s mayor, Ann Hidalgo, included it in her re-election campaign and began implementing it. At the center are the schools that make up the “capitals” so to speak, that is, the centers of the districts. Some of their yards are turned into parks so they can be used for other activities. A further half of the 140,000 parking spaces are to be redesigned and turned into green spaces, playgrounds or bicycle parking.

More and more cities are turning to this approach

Accordingly, Shanghai announced in 2016 that it would introduce so-called “15-minute community life cycles”. In the future, everyone should be able to do their daily activities within 15 minutes on foot. 50 other Chinese cities also want to adopt the idea. The UK government has also announced, as part of a nationwide nature restoration programme, that everyone will be able to access an urban green space or outdoor water area no more than 15 minutes from where they live.

Barcelona has been experimenting for some time with the so-called “superilles”. It is essentially several blocks of houses that are combined to create one large block. Only residents or drivers of delivery vehicles have access by car, and the maximum driving speed is 10 km/h. Many parking lots have been converted into parks open to the public. Buettner calls this approach “tactical urbanization.” Currently, in Barcelona 60% of public space and 85% of roads are used for vehicular traffic. More than half of the inhabitants are exposed to noise and air pollution well above the limits set by the World Health Organization, resulting in higher death rates. The “superilles” project aims to reduce motor vehicle traffic by 21%.

According to the European Union of Cyclists, the positive effects of cycling are estimated at over €90 billion in the EU alone. Motorized traffic, on the other hand, costs over €800 billion every year for health, environmental and infrastructure. Many entrepreneurs are wary of a possible drop in sales due to customers not traveling by car. But in reality this new model helped them, as for example happened in Portland, USA where car traffic decreased by 20% and since then local businesses have gained about 1.2 billion. dollars more as pedestrians and cyclists shop more often along the route.

In order for as many people as possible to benefit from this change and to avoid the risk of new inequalities, experts suggest a social mix in the model by including as many districts of the city as possible. Büttner points out that what is needed above all is political will and courage on the part of politicians and authorities and a dialogue close to citizens with all those involved. He emphasizes that every place is different and there is no single solution for all cities. On the contrary, it must be decided which measures are the most appropriate each time.