Transport Planning and the 15-Minute City: Opportunities and Challenges

Transport is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas, primarily due to the widespread reliance on private cars. The 15-minute city concept offers a transformative approach to urban planning by prioritizing proximity, reducing the need for car use, and encouraging active mobility such as walking and cycling. This chapter explores both the opportunities and challenges of implementing the 15-minute city concept, specifically in the context of the transport planning sector. By promoting active mobility, the 15-minute city not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution through decreased car congestion, but it also enhances residents' well-being by improving access to essential services and fostering a healthier lifestyle. However, the concept is not without its limitations. The 15-minute city model might exacerbate socio-economic inequalities, particularly through rising property prices in well-serviced neighborhoods, which could push vulnerable households to the outskirts of cities where implementing the concept is more difficult. Using Milan, Italy, as a case study, this chapter examines how the city leveraged the COVID-19 crisis to shift its urban development policy toward the 15-minute city model. It discusses Milan’s efforts to expand pedestrianized areas, promote micro-mobility solutions, and enhance inter-neighborhood connectivity through public transport. These developments offer valuable insights into how cities can adapt the 15-minute city concept to improve urban mobility and sustainability.