The alarm sound is different this morning. It's not the start of a frantic rush to the office, but an invitation to a relaxing walk around the neighborhood. The office? Just 10 minutes walk. The supermarket, the gym, even your favorite bar: everything at your fingertips. At most bikes or quadricycles. Put aside your irrational fears and settle into the future of 15-minute cities, where quality of life is measured in steps, not kilometers.
Cities 15 minutes: an urban revolution close to home
Ah, the cities 15 minutes. For some they are the dream of a sustainable future, for others the nightmare of an urban dystopia. But before you cry globalist conspiracy or book the first flight to Paris (which is trying to embrace this concept), let's take a deep breath and take a closer look at this idea without demonization.
But you're locking me up in a ghetto!
This is probably the first objection that comes to mind. And I understand the concern. The idea of having everything at your fingertips sounds a bit like being confined to one neighborhood, doesn't it? Well, not really. 15 minute cities ARE NOT open-air prisons. No one is going to stop you from taking a trip across town or going on vacation to the Caribbean (as long as your boss lets you). The goal is to make everyday life easier and more pleasant, not to limit your freedom of movement.
Think about it: how many times have you cursed traffic while stuck in your car just to buy a liter of milk? The 15 minute cities want to free you from this slavery on four wheels, not imprison you in a neighborhood. And let's get to the rest of the objections.
“Goodbye privacy, hello mass surveillance!”
Okay, I understand. The idea of a super-connected city brings to mind “1984” scenarios. But 15 minute cities are not synonymous with Big Brother spying on you while you shop.
Yes, there will be more technology, but it will be at your service, not at the service of a totalitarian regime. Think about smart traffic lights that reduce traffic, not cameras that spy on you while you eat an ice cream (unless you're live on Instagram, but that's your choice). Privacy is a legitimate concern in any modern urban context, especially in a world that already uses “police drones” and even thinks of arming them with tasers. I don't have a ham on my eyes, I have always observed these scenarios in progress, and "I'm not rooting" a priori for technology. But 15-minute cities are not inherently more invasive than any other smart city. Indeed, with less need to travel, you could have even more privacy.
Think about it: less time moving around needlessly, more time in your cozy nest.
"It's my job? Will I have to be a baker if I live next to a bakery?”
No, you don't have to change careers just because you move to a city 15 minutes away. The idea is not to force you to work at the corner store, but to bring more job opportunities closer to home.
Uno McKinsey study found that 20-25% of the workforce in advanced economies could work from home 3-5 days a week without a loss of productivity.
With the increase of remote work (the only positive aspect of the pandemic), many people can already work from home or from local co-working hubs. And for those who still have to travel? Well, efficient public transport is a key part of the 15 minute city concept. As in Ljubljana, in Paris itself.
Also, think about new opportunities. With more local services, new jobs could arise right in your neighborhood. And maybe you'll discover a hidden passion for baking after all.
“But house prices will skyrocket!”
This is a valid concern. Rising real estate prices are a real risk in any area that becomes more desirable. But cities 15 minutes away shouldn't, on the contrary: they don't necessarily have to be a playground for the rich. If they become one they will have failed miserably. Many cities that are adopting this model are also implementing affordable housing policies. The goal is to create diverse neighborhoods, not luxury enclaves. Think of Vienna, where the social housing that we would once have called "for the poor" is so beautiful that even the "so-called rich" would like to live there.
Plus, with less need to own a third, second, sometimes even first car, you could save quite a bit of money. Savings that could offset any increases in housing costs, as long as they are contained. I emphasize again, if there were any need: this is an important point, and whoever raises it is right. We need to work on it.
“Goodbye global culture, welcome provincialism!”
Some fear that living in a self-sufficient neighborhood could lead to a narrow-mindedness. But the cities 15 minutes away are not isolated villages. In reality, these cities promote greater social interaction and cultural exchange at the local level. I think of ongoing experiences like that of superblocks in Madrid or Barcelona. Imagine street festivals, multi-ethnic markets, community events: things that create a sense of belonging and openness, not closure.
And let's not forget that we are talking about cities. Access to global culture, museums, theaters, international concerts: all this remains. Except now you can enjoy a world music concert and then take a relaxing walk home instead of getting stuck in post-event traffic.
“And the economy? It's going to go to hell!”
Doubts of an economic nature are always welcome, if you consider that even the "top experts" have often got everything wrong. But why think that everything will fall apart? It could be the exact opposite. 15 minute cities could be a boost for the local economy. Think of all those small neighborhood shops and services that could flourish. It's the proximity economy, baby!
Of course, some sectors will have to adapt. But isn't this the beauty of the market economy? It evolves, adapts, finds new opportunities. And with less stressed and happier people, productivity might even increase.
“But I love my car!”
Nobody is asking you to scrap your beloved four-wheeler. The cities 15 minutes I'm not anti-car, I'm pro-choice. They want to give you the option of not having to depend on your car for every single trip. And be honest: how much you really love your car when you're stuck in poisonous traffic (literally) rush hour? Or when you've been driving around for half an hour looking for a parking space? The 15 minute cities want to free you from these daily stresses, not deprive you of the pleasure of a nice weekend road trip.
“It all sounds too good to be true”
You are right about this. 15 minute cities are not a magic wand that will solve all urban problems. There will be challenges, compromises, adjustments. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will 15 minute cities. But isn't it better to try to improve our cities instead of surrendering to the status quo of traffic, pollution and social alienation?
15 minute cities are not a panacea, but neither are they the urban apocalypse some fear. They are an attempt to rethink our cities to make them more livable, sustainable and human-scale.
City 15 minutes, because the future is within walking distance
It's not about locking ourselves up in prison neighborhoods, but about freeing ourselves from the tyranny of long distances and wasted time. It's not a plot to control us, but a plan to give us more control over our time and quality of life. Of course, there will be challenges. Of course, it won't be perfect. But when has change ever been easy? Remember when the internet seemed like a passing fad? Or when cell phones were considered a useless luxury, complete with intelligent comedians who made social satire on funny cell phone owners (and now maybe they have 3 each, worse than average)?
15 minute cities are an evolution, not a revolution. A step towards a more sustainable, more livable, more human urban future. It's not a cage, it's an open door towards a new form of urban freedom. The next time you hear about it, instead of raising a skeptical eyebrow, try to imagine what your life could be like. Less time in traffic, more time for yourself and your loved ones. Less stress, more community. Less frenetic running, more relaxed walking.
Doesn't sound that bad, right? Maybe one day you will wake up and wonder how we lived differently for so long. We'll talk again.
