The concept of 15-minute cities goes viral tik tak today, which caused outrageous reactions. But what are they and how do they work? HITC is considering a new concept.
TikTok has raised concerns about the urban design concept known as 15 Minute Cities. Videos surfaced suggesting it would help put in place so-called “climate lockdowns” as governments hoped to reduce pollution. As a result, representatives of local councils were allegedly subjected to offline backlash.
In response, some local councils have already come forward and debunked the 15-minute city theory.
What are 15 Minute Cities?
15 Minute Cities is an urban design concept to improve accessibility for residents and thus reduce pollution. The focus is on creating neighborhoods and cities where all essential services can be accessed within 15 minutes, ideally on foot and by bike, but larger cities also have public transport.
Among the main services, this concept includes work, health care, recreation and shopping, as well as some others.
The idea of 15-minute cities is being spearheaded by Franco-Colombian scientist Carlos Moreno, who first introduced the concept in 2016. Moreno primarily hopes to transform Paris into a 15-minute city through the use of four building blocks: ecology, intimacy, solidarity and participation.
Moreno believes that modern cities force people to adapt to “absurd organization and great distances,” so 15-minute cities are his solution to adapt places to human needs.
Melbourne, Madrid, Shanghai, Ottawa and Seattle are among the places hoping to create 15-minute and 20-minute cities in the near future.
How are 15-minute cities related to “climate quarantine”?
Far-right TikTok theorists have seized on the concept, including political commentator Kathy Hopkins, who is best known for saying she won’t let her kids play with working-class kids.
In a 17-minute YouTube video, Hopkins theorizes that the UK government can use the concept of 15-minute cities to divide its population centers into six parts. She goes on to explain her belief that soon enough, those who live in their allotted territory will not be able to leave their zones without a permit that only allows 100 days of travel abroad per year. Hopkins uses Oxford, England as an example.
One Instagram image called the overall concept “climate quarantine,” but Oxford’s council dismissed the false rumors.
In 2024, a UK city will introduce traffic filters to limit private vehicle access in order to reduce traffic levels in the city area and improve bus and bike travel.
Buses, cyclists and taxis will be allowed to pass through the filters at all times, but private cars, including residents, will have to apply for a permit to dive through the filters up to 100 days a year. However, filters are not barricades; these are traffic cameras that can recognize license plates.
These traffic filters were erroneously associated with the 15-minute city concept; these are two different projects and traffic filters will not be used to restrict residents to their area.
Regarding the 15-minute city proposal, Moreno clarified that it would not restrict people to their neighborhoods.
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