How long is the metro ride to the neighborhood?

The note pictured below reads ‘How long is the metro ride to the neighborhood? 5-10 minute ride?’

I wrote this note at the EYL40 European Young Leaders Paris session ‘Extremities’ earlier this year in March 2024, where I was invited to come speak on the 15-minute city.

15-minute city talk & ‘Walking Meeting’ at European Young Leaders 40 Spring Seminar in Paris ‘Extremities’

I believe the note was directed to Florent Pratlong who, after my talk and then his, led the group out into the city to be immersed in the actual reality of proximity planning with a metro ride and then walk around Parc Clichy-Batignolles – Martin Luther King- a fantastic and expansive park clearly loved by many locals.

Over time I’ve been documenting the various critiques of the 15-minute city concept. As a featured concept in my own dissertation work, as well as a concept I advocate for as critical for spatially equitable and just urban planning, it’s valuable for me to understand the triggers and complaints people have with the concept.

One of these complaints has to do with a focus on this ‘time’ approach.

But that’s precisely the point of the chrono-urbanist approach which values decentralization and prioritizing availability of diverse amenities at neighbourhood level.

When I hear people critiquing the ‘time’ approach I hear comments about how ‘cold’ it is.

Are we also critiquing clocks? Who, living a fairly functional life in society, does not abide by some schedules (work schedules, school schedules, commuting schedules, leisure activity schedules…)?

I am neither a ‘numbers’ person nor mathematically inclined but understand and experience the 15-minute city as an opportunity to experience daily life at a local level without ‘having to’ spend a long time in commutes for various services and needs.

It’s not about ‘living by the clock’, though in fact most of us do so already.

15-minute city living is not about having to count those minutes every day- it only takes me one time walking my child to school to know that it takes ten minutes. It’s about having the liberty to live locally and have your regular services easily reached within a short walk or cycle ride.

It’s about quality of life.