All over the world, cities are growing uncontrollably, and with them the corresponding problems, such as social inequality, isolation, congestion. public transport networks, smog and associated harmful effects on health and the environment. With her came the idea of ​​how the future could become more sustainable and healthy. “city 15 minutes”This is reported by Deutsche Welle in its publication. The main idea of ​​this urban project is to the quality of life for citizens and meet all their basic needs within walking distance of about 15 minutes.

What today seems like a utopia for residents of large urban centers, because traffic jams on the way to work, as well as poor communication with public transport, take away a lot of time and nerves from residents. Whether it’s commuting to and from work, shops, schools, a doctor’s office, stadiums, parks, restaurants, or cultural institutions, it’s all about “access for everyone at any time,” writes Carlos Moreno, professor at the Sorbonne University who first articulated this idea in 2016. It is a concept that puts people and their needs at the forefront of urban planning, a kind of “human-centered design”.

Green spaces, sports facilities, cinemas and shops should be built where people live, and not the other way around, says Benjamin Bittner, an expert on mobility at the Technical University of Munich. He argues that not everything needs to be demolished and rebuilt, just the existing public space 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 walkers, safer routes for children, the disabled, the elderly, and space for social gatherings. “Cars are a problem, at least in urban centers. They just take up a lot of space and, above all, interfere with active mobility,” explains Bittner.

Sixteen cities around the world have already implemented the 15 Minute City plan or intend to do so with various programs that affect either individual areas or the entire city. Paris leads and points the way to the whole world. When Moreno pitched the idea in 2016, Mayor Ann Hidalgo included it in her campaign and set to work. In the center are schools, which are, so to speak, “capitals”, centers, i.e. districts. Some of their yards have been turned into parks so they can be used for other activities.

In addition, half of the 140,000 parking spaces are to be redesigned and converted into green spaces, playgrounds or bicycle parking. Accordingly, in 2016, Shanghai announced that it would introduce so-called “15-minute community lifecycles”. In the future, everyone should be able to do their daily activities within 15 minutes on foot.