More than just short distances: what the 15-minute city really means

For some an urban utopia, for others a great opportunity to make metropolises more liveable in the long term. A look at the concept of the "15-minute city".

The "15-minute city" sounds like a well-intentioned promise that is now on everyone's lips all over the world. The vision of being able to run all daily errands on foot or by bike in a quarter of an hour sounds tempting. But the concept is often misunderstood. The convinced urbanist Carlos Moreno formulated the idea, which involves a reinterpretation of urban space and its utilisation. Climate change and the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are making Moreno's approach heard around the world.

From concept to result

Futurologist and mobility researcher Dr Stefan Carsten agrees that in order to understand the idea, it is necessary to look at the basic concept and its concrete implementation. "The 15-minute city as conceived by Carlos Moreno and used politically in Paris, for example, is a concept," says Carsten. "But what we all want - the liveable city - is the result." To get there, radical changes are needed, including very specific decisions on how to deal with areas that give people space back. Otherwise, according to the expert, who deals with the concept time and again in his annual 'Mobility Report', the status quo will remain: a homogeneous mishmash of settlements with separate zones for living, working and shopping.

A new model for society and the economy

The 15-minute city should therefore be much more than just an urban planning slogan. Stefan Carsten describes it as a holistic "social and economic model", as it poses the question in the discourse: "What do I need every day and what distances do I have to travel to get there?" Work, shopping, school, the doctor, the park for relaxation - when all of this is close by, other values suddenly become the currency: quality time, i.e. time as a resource for individual quality of life, gains in importance, proximity becomes the new prosperity.

The example of the Metro Campus in Düsseldorf shows that this change has also reached the economy. The retail group is converting its own company site into an open, multifunctional neighbourhood. "Companies are forced to remain attractive in a changing environment," Carsten analyses. "Even a location on the inner periphery of a city no longer seems to be suitable for this." The consequence: companies themselves create the attractive, accessible environment they need for their employees.

What are the benefits for the city and its residents?

The benefits start with the individual: Those who spend less time commuting gain valuable life time, and those who can walk or cycle more often due to short distances are actively doing something for their own health. This change in behaviour on a small scale has a major impact on the community. Local businesses flourish because the purchasing power remains in the neighbourhood, and social interaction on the streets and squares strengthens identification with one's own 'neighbourhood'. In addition, the concept leads to more social justice, as good accessibility is no longer dependent on owning a car. Finally, at a higher level, this change makes the entire city more resilient as a system. A network of short routes is far less prone to disruption than complex commuter chains, which threaten to collapse at the slightest disruption in the transport system.

Checking out the pioneers: four cities, four ways

Metropolises around the world are pursuing "15-minute city" concepts. However, a wide variety of routes are being used to achieve the goal and, as it turns out, the 15 minutes should be seen more as a guideline.

• Paris: The political will to transform Mayor Anne Hidalgo made the "ville du quart d'heure" her central election promise in 2020 and realised it. To date, over 1,000 kilometres of cycle paths have been created, countless car parks have been converted into green spaces or shared zones and "school streets" have been set up in front of over 200 schools, which are temporarily closed to car traffic.
  
• Barcelona: radical redistribution of space Barcelona has been going one step further since 2016 with its "superblocks" (superilles). Several blocks of houses are grouped together and through traffic is banned. Noise levels have been reduced by up to 5 decibels and nitrogen oxide pollution by over 40 %. In addition, 70 % of the traffic area within the blocks has been reclaimed for people.
  
• Melbourne: Green axes and neighbourhoods Under the title "20-Minute Neighbourhoods", the Australian metropolis is focusing on the creation of safe footpaths and cycle paths as well as the systematic greening of traffic routes. The goal is clearly defined: All important everyday destinations should be accessible to residents within a 20-minute radius.
  
• Bogotá: equity through connectivity In the Colombian capital, short distances are bridging social divides. The "Barrios Vitales" (Vital Neighbourhoods) project is transforming former thoroughfares into lively neighbourhood centres. The "TransMiCable" cable car system connects these neighbourhoods to the main transport network in just 13 minutes, making educational institutions and jobs truly accessible for hundreds of thousands of people.