“15-minute cities” are gaining traction. What does that look like in Illinois?
Cyclists ride in a separated bike lane in Vancouver, Canada. The idea behind a 15-minute city is that residents are able to reach all of their daily needs and amenities by no more than a 15-minute walk or bike ride. Paul Krueger/Creative Commons
There’s an idea gaining popularity in urban planning circles that people should be able to live within a short walk or bike ride’s distance from everything they need in their lives: Shops, schools, their workplaces, healthcare, and other amenities. The concept is called a “15-minute city,” and proponents say it’s a way to reduce dependency on cars, improve quality of life, and promote sustainable living.
To talk about 15-minute cities, The 21st was joined by a professor of urban planning and the administrator of a city that's organized its master plan around the idea.
GUESTS:
Arnab Chakraborty
Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Walter Denton
City Administator, O’Fallon, Illinois
Prepared for web by Owen Henderson
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