What if a person could buy groceries from a place that is just 15 minutes away from him? How convenient would it be if people could reach places on time, without compromising their sleep? If everyone had easy walking access to all essential amenities, wouldn’t it be the cherry on top? People wouldn’t be as passive as the world makes it. They would only need to take a short stroll.
15-minute city.
A walking city is a concept that has emerged to provide comfort, ease and environmental benefits. The term was initially coined in 2016 by Carlos Moreno, a professor at the Sorbonne in Paris. Simply put, walkable cities come under urban planning and design, where people can access basic and essential services within a practical distance. Many refer to them as “15-minute cities.” Walkability improves quality of life while providing economic benefits. A city must achieve four essential characteristics before it is called “walkable”: security, functioning, beauty, and convenience.
Walkable Cities and People.
Walkable cities have vastly changed the lifestyle of the people. They encourage people to walk which has saved them the money of transportation. Additionally, people remain active throughout their day. The walk provides good cardiovascular health, and cerebral development and enhances emotional stability. It reduces the transportation hassle of the people. This lessens the environmental footprint and lowers air pollution, traffic, and noise levels while also assisting in controlling CO2 emissions and maintaining green spaces. Walkable cities also help people make new friends! It improves social interaction and boosts bonds between individuals. In general, this aids people in constructing safe spaces and communities.
Walking around the area gives tourists a better experience. Improving the aesthetics of the cities helps the local businesses and economic investment of the people. The satisfaction of not having overlooked even the slightest details comes from this. Walkable cities offer enriched tourism. A walkable environment fosters public art and culture. People can socialise while shopping, dining at sidewalk cafés, and enjoying the area’s history, culture, and artwork. People can alternatively invest in bikes rather than cars.
Walkable cities have their disadvantages. They overcrowd the roads. The demand for walkable neighbourhoods causes houses to be highly-priced. Designing and planning a 15-minute city requires a high investment of time and money.
How are walkable cities made?
A 15-minute city’s main idea is to have all the facilities, places to hang out, workplaces, hospitals, libraries, and other sites within easy reach. Pedestrian walkways and parking layouts create the city’s plan, which is critical for future expansion. The design of each city reflects its cultural heritage and adheres to a specific style. The city’s aesthetics define it and draw people to reside there. A coherent way of connectivity between various locations is needed. The notion of a 15-minute city should be properly executed, with safety and comfort taking precedence over all other considerations.
Cities are assigned walkability scores that reflect how walkable they are. Cities that provide vital services within a 5-minute walking distance receive the most points. On the other hand, suburbs without fundamental services within a half-hour’s walk are not designated a score. Reducing the number of automobiles is only achievable if more people take public transportation to destinations not within walking distance. A region with a close-knit mix of residential, commercial, and recreational uses is known as mixed land use.
Florence, Italy.
In distinctive words, it has the highest walkability scores. Florence, situated in a valley by the Arno River, has many characteristics of a “traditional city.” The compact size of the city makes it easier to explore on foot.
In Florence, a lot of well-known sites are next to one another. Many areas, like the Piazza del Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, are pedestrian-only or have limited traffic. The Ponte Vecchio Bridge, for instance, is about a ten to fifteen-minute stroll from the city centre. The city incorporates pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, unified street patterns, landmark preservation, mixed-use development, sustainable urban planning, green pockets, and accessible and inclusive design. The scenic routes of Florence provide sustainable tourism and local experience. It offers an authentic identity of the city offering health benefits through walking. The less polluted air creates a calm and fresh atmosphere for the residents and tourists.
The difficulty for inner Florence is that it was not planned for the contemporary transportation system: automobiles squeeze down small streets and park on sidewalks, car and scooter parking is available in many public piazzas (degrading the urban environment), and pollution levels are high. With a rise in both the floating and residential populations, most streets got crowded and slowly the accessibility lessened. Considering how many individuals frequent the small areas, pickpocketing and cheating of local vendors became more prominent. If vehicle movement increased then the already narrow streets would get crammed.
Apart from the pros and cons of Florence, it is still ranked as the most walkable city by Forbes. The other cities considered walkable are Riga in Latvia, Hamburg in Germany, Porto of Portugal, Madrid in Spain and many more.
Puducherry, India.
Puducherry, an Indian French town, is well-known for its lovely beaches, cafés, and retail establishments. The city’s road layout begins from the Promenade Beach. The city’s grid system begins at Promenade Beach in Puducherry. It encourages walking with its broad walkways and pedestrian-only areas. There are various cafés and eateries on every street in Puducherry. Numerous small enterprises and artisan stores in the area encourage tourism and shopping. Puducherry’s walkable neighbourhoods, and easy access to the beach, institutions, cultural attractions, and other facilities make the city walkable.
Matrimandir is at the centre of the circle which represents Auroville’s layout. The township is encircled by a green belt and split into four zones: residential, commercial, industrial, and international. Auroville’s buildings are covered in a sustainable fabric, complete with structured water and waste management systems.
Puducherry’s overpopulation has contributed to traffic on the city’s small streets. The town still has a potent French flavour and would not appeal to persons from metropolitan backgrounds.
References:
- Research Gate (2017). (PDF) The concept of a walkable city as an alternative form of urban mobility [Online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318251451_The_concept_of_a_walkable_city_as_an_alternative_form_of_urban_mobility [Accessed August 9, 2024]
- PlanRadar (2023). Everything You Need To Know About Walkable Cities [Online] Available at: https://www.planradar.com/gb/everything-you-need-to-know-about-walkable-cities/#:~:text=Reduced%20vehicles%20on%20the%20road,and%20overcoming%20loneliness%20among%20residents. [Accessed August 9, 2024]
- Lensi Designs Photography (2021). Florence – a very walkable city [Online] Available at: https://lensidesigns.com/florence-a-very-walkable-city/ [Accessed August 8 2024]
- Forbes (2024). Ranked: The 30 Most Walkable Cities In The World, According To A New Report [Online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2024/06/30/ranked-the-30-most-walkable-cities-in-the-world-according-to-a-new-report/ [Accessed August 10, 2024]
- UrbanWorks (2024). Pondicherry: A City Where Leisure Isn’t a Privilege [Online] Available at: https://urbanworks.in/pondicherry-a-city-where-leisure-isnt-a-privilege/ [Accessed August 9, 2024]
