What is a 15-Minute City?
A 15-minute city is an idea about designing urban areas so that everything a person needs in daily life—like work, school, shopping, healthcare, and recreation—can be reached within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their home. The goal is to make cities more convenient and sustainable by reducing the need to drive everywhere. Instead of relying on cars for every task, people can get to most places easily on foot or by bike, making life less stressful and more environmentally friendly.
Carlos Moreno, a French urban planner, popularized this idea. He believes that a good city should be one where everything you need is close by so you don’t waste time stuck in traffic or polluting the environment with your car. The concept also focuses on creating more walkable neighborhoods, reducing emissions, and making sure cities are more livable and connected for everyone.
Key Features of a 15-Minute City
- Everything Close By: A 15-minute city makes sure essential services like grocery stores, schools, workplaces, and parks are close to where people live. This means residents don’t need to drive long distances just to get things done.
- Mixed-Use Areas: In a 15-minute city, buildings are not just for one purpose. You might live in a building where you can also work, shop, or relax. This kind of zoning (called mixed-use development) encourages a blend of different services so everything is in one place.
- Green and Public Spaces: Green areas like parks, gardens, and other public spaces are also important. These spaces make it easier for people to relax, meet up with others, and enjoy nature, which contributes to a healthier, happier life.
- Sustainable Transportation: The idea of the 15-minute city encourages walking, biking, and using public transportation rather than relying on cars. Cities will invest in safer walking paths, bike lanes, and reliable transit systems so people can easily get around without needing to drive.
- Environmental Sustainability: These cities are designed to be environmentally friendly by reducing pollution, lowering carbon emissions, and encouraging the use of energy-efficient buildings. They aim to be part of the solution to climate change.
- Equal Access for All: The 15-minute city should also be fair and accessible to everyone, regardless of income. This includes creating affordable housing, ensuring everyone has access to services, and fostering an inclusive community.
How Greater Vancouver is Trying to Build Multiple 15-Minute Cities
Greater Vancouver, which includes the city of Vancouver and surrounding areas, is already taking steps to make this vision of 15-minute cities a reality. Here’s how the region is working to make cities more connected, sustainable, and easier to live in:
- Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Greater Vancouver has focused on transit-oriented development for years, meaning it’s encouraging growth around public transit systems like the SkyTrain. These areas are designed to have everything residents need nearby—like homes, offices, and stores—so people don’t need to drive. The SkyTrain stations in downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond are already surrounded by developments that mix homes with shops and offices, which fits with the 15-minute city idea.
- Broadway Subway Extension
A major project in Vancouver is the Broadway Subway Extension, which will connect several busy neighborhoods to Vancouver’s SkyTrain system. This new subway line will help make it easier for people to travel quickly without using a car. With better access to transit, people can get to work, school, or go shopping without needing to spend hours driving.
- The Vancouver Plan
In 2022, the City of Vancouver released The Vancouver Plan, a long-term strategy aimed at improving the city’s livability. It focuses on creating complete communities, which means neighborhoods where people can easily access everything they need within walking distance. This involves building more homes in the city center, creating more green spaces, and improving public areas. The plan works toward a future where people’s lives are made simpler and more convenient, with fewer cars on the road.
- Improving Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure
Vancouver is also working to improve how people get around on foot or by bike. The city is adding more bike lanes, including routes like the Arbutus Greenway, a 9-kilometer path for cycling and walking that stretches through Vancouver. The city has also created pedestrian-only zones and more parks and public spaces, like Granville Island. These changes make it easier for people to walk or cycle around, which cuts down on car traffic and makes neighborhoods feel safer and more enjoyable.
- The Greenest City Action Plan
Vancouver has a goal of becoming one of the greenest cities in the world, and it’s working to reduce its carbon footprint and protect the environment. The Greenest City Action Plan focuses on improving sustainability in many areas, including transportation and green spaces. By reducing car use and improving public transportation, the city aims to reduce air pollution and make urban life more eco-friendly.
- Affordable Housing Projects
One of the biggest challenges in Greater Vancouver is the high cost of housing. To make the city more inclusive, the local government is working to build more affordable housing close to transit hubs. This will allow people from all backgrounds to live in central areas, where they can easily access services and amenities without needing a car. The goal is to create neighborhoods that are affordable and accessible for everyone.
The 15-minute city model is an exciting vision for the future, where cities are built around the idea of convenience, sustainability, and community. Greater Vancouver is already making significant strides toward this model by improving public transit, creating mixed-use areas, expanding bike lanes, and focusing on eco-friendly development. While challenges like high housing costs remain, the city’s efforts to make urban life more convenient, greener, and more accessible show that the 15-minute city concept is an achievable goal.
By focusing on making neighbourhoods walkable, reducing car dependency, and improving public spaces, the Lower Mainland is paving the way for a future that works better for everyone. If you’re interested in learning more about how accessible certain parts of your city are becoming, let’s talk real estate.