It’s time to build 15-minute cities…
where everything we need is within a 15-minute walk or bike ride…
and neighbourhoods are built around our basic needs.
15-minute cities can cut carbon emissions and bring communities closer together.
The idea is a world away from many modern cities…
where all of our space is either planned around or surrendered to cars.
In Copenhagen 90% of people do not use a car, yet 64% of transport space is allocated to them.
With only 26% for sidewalks and 7% for bikes.
The lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 are changing how we see our cities…
And the idea of re-planning them is catching on.
Paris is removing 140,000 on-street car parking bays…
And stripping back roads to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
London has introduced its “Mini-Hollands” project…
where three boroughs have been given £30M to create more space for cyclists.
Barcelona has been experimenting with “superblocks”…
Where all interior roads within a 400 by 400 metre block are closed off to all traffic except for residents.
90% of Portland’s residents will be able to walk or cycle to meet non-work needs by 2030.
Lockdowns have accelerated many of these initiatives.
We are beginning to see what the future of cities will look like…
And it’s likely to be carless.
Lesson duration is: 50 min
