October 4th 2024.
Picture a world where everything you need is just a short stroll or bike ride away from your front door. It may seem like a far-fetched dream for most Australians, but in other countries, it's already a reality. This concept, known as the 15-minute city, was introduced by French professor Carlos Moreno and has gained popularity in recent years, particularly after being embraced by Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo during her 2020 re-election campaign.
If you browse the urban planning section of any city council or state government website, you'll likely come across plans for a 15-minute city or a similar concept, the 20-minute neighborhood. However, according to a study published in Nature Cities, only a small fraction of cities worldwide truly meet the criteria for a 15-minute city. Unfortunately, no Australian cities made the cut, although some came close.
So what exactly does a 15-minute city look like in practice, and is it the ultimate goal for creating thriving and sustainable communities? To answer these questions, we spoke to two Australian urban planning experts.
Dr. Tony Matthews from Griffith University explains that the 15-minute city is all about hyper-local living. It means having all essential services within a 15-minute radius, easily accessible by walking or biking. This includes not only basic necessities like shops and parks, but also employment opportunities, schools, cultural centers, and healthcare facilities.
The recent surge in interest in the 15-minute city can be attributed to a desire to move away from car dependency and long commutes. It's a return to a more traditional community model, similar to a village. However, as honorary Professor of Planning Neil Sipe from the University of Queensland points out, many of the concepts of the 15-minute city have been around for decades. Similar ideas, like New Urbanism, emerged in the 1980s and focused on creating walkable and well-serviced urban spaces.
When looking at a map of the world's 15-minute cities, you'll notice a concentration of blue dots in Europe, with a scattering of red dots in the Americas, Asia, and Africa. According to Sipe, this is no coincidence. He explains that European cities have been working towards this model for over a century, while cities in the US and other newer areas have developed around car dependency.
The car is seen as the opposite of the 15-minute city, and in a true example of this concept, residents would not need cars at all. Take Geneva, the capital of Switzerland, for example. It is ranked as the world's number one 15-minute city, with the average resident just a five-minute walk or three-minute bike ride away from any service. With a population similar to Hobart but only a fifth of the landmass, Geneva's neighborhoods are a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, with efficient public transport connecting them.
Barcelona is also making strides towards becoming a more walkable and sustainable city. They are implementing the concept of "superblocks," where nine apartment blocks are surrounded by green spaces, creating mini, self-sufficient neighborhoods. This not only reduces traffic and congestion but also gives residents back their streets to use for walking and other activities.
In conclusion, the 15-minute city may seem like a new and revolutionary idea, but it has been around for decades and is already a reality in some parts of the world. It offers a promising solution to issues like car dependency, long commutes, and unsustainable urban development. While no Australian cities have yet met the criteria for a 15-minute city, it is a goal worth striving for, and we can learn a lot from the successful examples around the globe.
Just imagine if your daily routine only involved a short stroll or bike ride from your home to work, school, healthcare, shopping, and entertainment. This may seem like an unattainable dream for most people living in Australian cities, but in other parts of the world, it's a different story.
The concept of a 15-minute city was developed by French professor Carlos Moreno and has gained popularity in recent years, especially after Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo championed it during her re-election campaign in 2020. It envisions a city where all essential services and amenities are within a 15-minute radius by foot or bike. This includes not just basic necessities like groceries and healthcare, but also employment opportunities, educational facilities, cultural centers, and recreational spaces.
This idea has been embraced by many cities and can be found in their urban planning documents, often referred to as 15-minute cities or 20-minute neighborhoods. However, according to a recent study that evaluated 10,000 cities worldwide, only a small fraction truly meet the criteria for a 15-minute city. Unfortunately, no Australian city made the cut, although some came close.
So what does a 15-minute city look like in reality, and is achieving this model really the ultimate goal for creating thriving and sustainable communities? To find out, we spoke to two urban planning experts from Australia.
According to Dr. Tony Matthews from Griffith University, the 15-minute city concept revolves around the idea of hyper-neighborhood living. It means having all the essential services and amenities that one would need on a daily basis within a 15-minute radius, ideally accessible by walking or biking. This includes not just the usual facilities like shops and parks, but also employment, education, and healthcare opportunities.
One of the reasons why this idea has gained popularity in recent years, as Dr. Matthews explains, is because it's a reaction to the over-dependence on cars and long commutes. It represents a shift back to a more traditional community model, reminiscent of a village. However, this concept is not entirely new, as Honorary Professor of Planning, Neil Sipe from the University of Queensland, points out. Similar ideas, such as New Urbanism, emerged in the 1980s and focused on creating walkable and well-serviced urban spaces. However, the success of these models has been limited.
When we look at a world map ranking 15-minute cities, we see a cluster of blue dots in Europe, amidst a sea of red in the Americas, Asia, and Africa. According to Sipe, this is not a coincidence. He explains that European cities have been able to achieve this model because of their planning systems, which have been in place for over a century. In contrast, cities in the US and other newer cities have developed around cars, making it challenging to implement a 15-minute city model.
Sipe believes that the car is the antithesis of a 15-minute city, as true examples of this model would allow residents to do away with cars altogether. Take Geneva, the capital of Switzerland, for example. It is ranked as the world's number one 15-minute city, with the average resident only a five-minute walk or a three-minute bike ride away from any service. With a population similar to Hobart but a fifth of the land area, Geneva's historic streets are lined with thousands of apartment blocks, creating a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. And if you do need to travel outside your neighborhood, an efficient public transport network is readily available.
Cities like Barcelona are also taking steps to become more walkable and reduce congestion. In a radical move, they are creating "superblocks," which are mini-neighborhoods made up of nine apartment blocks centered around green spaces. These self-sufficient communities are designed to give streets back to the residents and create a more livable environment.
In conclusion, the 15-minute city is not a new idea, but it has gained momentum in recent years as a reaction to car dependency and long commutes. While some cities have been successful in implementing this model, many are still struggling to achieve it. However, with the right planning and infrastructure, we can create thriving and sustainable communities where everything we need is just a short stroll or bike ride away from our front doors.
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