Speaker
Description
The 15-minute city concept has gained prominence as a sustainable urban planning framework, advocating for the localization of daily activities by ensuring that essential services and amenities are accessible within a short walk or bike ride from residences. However, this concept raises a critical question: does living in high accessibility conditions inherently lead to proximity-based lifestyles? This study investigates the sociodemographic factors influencing the adoption of such lifestyles in Barcelona, a dense, compact urban environment celebrated for its high accessibility.
Utilizing detailed travel behavior surveys and highly disaggregated spatial datasets, the research examines the relationship between residents’ proximity to 25 key destinations—such as schools, health facilities, and markets—and their actual travel practices for non-commuting purposes. Despite 95% of Barcelona residents living within areas that meet 15-minute city criteria, only 26% consistently engage in localized travel patterns for these trips. This reveals a significant gap between the potential of the built environment and actual behavioral outcomes.
The study identifies several sociodemographic determinants that mediate this gap. Women, older adults, and individuals with lower educational attainment are more likely to adopt a proximity-based lifestyle, whereas younger adults and highly educated individuals display a preference for extended travel patterns. These variations reflect broader societal and cultural dynamics, including preferences for specialized services, diverse amenities, and entrenched mobility habits.
Moreover, the findings challenge a core assumption of the 15-minute city model: that spatial accessibility alone can drive behavioral change. The study highlights the role of cultural norms, social networks, and individual preferences in perpetuating long-distance travel, even in accessibility-rich environments. For effective implementation, complementary policies such as restrictions on car use, incentives for localized services, and targeted educational campaigns are necessary to address behavioral inertia and mobility norms.
By revealing both the barriers to and opportunities for fostering proximity-based lifestyles, this research provides critical insights into the translation of built environment potential into equitable and sustainable urban living. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the practicality and adaptability of the 15-minute city model in diverse urban contexts.
References
Birkenfeld, C., Carvalho, T., & El-Geneidy, A. (2024). How far are cities from the x-minute city vision? Examining current local travel behavior and land use patterns in Montreal, Canada. Journal of Urban Mobility, 5, 100076.
Birkenfeld, C., Victoriano-Habit, R., Alousi-Jones, M., Soliz, A., & El-Geneidy, A. (2023). Who is living a local lifestyle? Towards a better understanding of the 15-minute-city and 30-minute-city concepts from a behavioural perspective in Montréal, Canada. Journal of Urban Mobility, 3, 100048.
Da Silva, D. C., King, D. A., & Lemar, S. (2020). Accessibility in practice: 20-minute city as a sustainability planning goal. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(1), 1–20.
Marquet, O., Mojica, L., Fernández-Núñez, M.-B., & Maciejewska, M. (2024). Pathways to 15-Minute City adoption: Can our understanding of climate policies’ acceptability explain the backlash towards x-minute city programs? Cities, 148, 104878.
| Keywords | minute-city; proximity; accessibility; travel behavior; active transport; urban planning |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
