Less driving, more living, and the promise of the 15-minute city

Read the report: Planning for Transit-Oriented Development in Emerging Cities

There are perks to my suburban life in Fairfax County, Virginia. There are plenty of libraries and parks. My neighborhood is quiet, with lots of trees and open space. We have good schools and hospital centers and are close to several universities. The downside? Everything is very spread out –Fairfax County stretches out over 400 square miles. To take advantage of everything, a car is a necessity. You probably need two private vehicles if you’re part of a family unit with two adults.   

With so much car dependence comes congestion—lots of it. Basic errands like grocery shopping or kids’ activities usually face delays in traffic jams. Getting to work can be complicated. I only live 20 miles from my office in Washington, DC, but my commute requires a 30-minute drive to a metro station and another 30-40 minutes metro ride into the city.

In contrast, close friends of mine who relocated from Boston to Vancouver live within walking distance of essentials. They are part of the 79% of Vancouverites who can walk to a grocery store in less than 15 minutes. They drop their kids off at school on an electric bike, own just one car (an EV), and keep extra bikes in their garage for out-of-town guests.

This got me thinking about how cities are designed and what my life might be like if all the essentials – work, shopping, school, healthcare, entertainment – were just a short walk or bike ride away. 

Thankfully, I’m not the first person to think about this.  My colleague Arturo Ardila Gomez recently published a book, Planning for Transit-Oriented Development in Emerging Cities. But beyond this book, it’s a widely embraced concept known as the "15-minute city", and it’s an example of how transit-oriented development is taking hold of urban planning discussions around the world. 

Barcelona's superblocks: Rethinking urban space

In addition to my friends’ experience in Vancouver, you might also look to Barcelona, Spain, to see a 15-minute city in action. The city’s superblocks are a prime example of what a 15-minute city can look like. The city’s large, pedestrian-friendly zones limit car traffic, turning streets into public spaces where people can walk, cycle, and socialize. Barcelona’s thoughtful urban planning—which helps create a more livable city—inspires other places to rethink their urban landscapes.  

Atlanta, Georgia, provides an interesting counterpoint. Although Barcelona and Atlanta have similar population levels, Atlanta is 25 times larger in geography. This makes it extremely difficult to get around any way other than driving. As a result, transport emissions per capita are ten times higher in Atlanta than in Barcelona.  

Progress in developing countries: Steps toward the 15-minute city

Smart urban planning is essential for developing country cities grappling with rapid growth and increasing congestion. At the same time, these cities often face related challenges—inequality, traffic, and pollution. It’s encouraging to see places like Bogotá, Dar es Salaam, and Quezon City embrace aspects of the 15-minute city and plan for a more livable, sustainable future.  

• Bogotá, Colombia: Known for its TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, Bogotá also invests in bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure, which helps bring the idea of the 15-minute city a bit closer to reality. The benefits will be further amplified with the decades-in-the-making metro line being co-financed by the World Bank.

• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The city's BRT system, backed by the World Bank, is easing congestion and improving access to affordable transportation, with the potential for further progress through walkable neighborhoods.

• Quezon City, Philippines: This Metro Manila hub is working on transit-oriented development and increasing bike lanes, laying the groundwork for a more accessible city.

The role of transit-oriented development

In all these cities, the key to progress lies in transit-oriented development (TOD), which prioritizes building dense, mixed-use neighborhoods that support and nourish public transport systems. Bogotá, for example, started with buses in mixed traffic that shared the road with cars and trucks. As demand for public transport increased, the city adopted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which further reduced travel times since the buses use dedicated lanes and passengers board in ways similar to metros. 

TOD isn’t just about reducing commute times; it’s about rethinking how we live and interact with our cities. It encourages development, bringing homes, shops, offices, and public services within an arm’s reach.  

For developing countries, TOD can help manage rapid urbanization while creating more equitable access to resources. My colleague Arturo’s book on TOD  puts the lens squarely on emerging cities—places populations of around 500,000 people without mass transit. He notes that by allowing high-density and mixed land uses throughout the city and surrounding areas, growth will support public transport and enable people to reach essential destinations - shops, restaurants, schools, parks, and health posts - within a 15-minute walking range.  

This approach can help cities reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, and attract investment. It also fosters more inclusive growth by making jobs and services accessible to people who will not need to commute long distances in clogged traffic, increasing social interaction. The higher density and a parking policy that does not demand minimum parking will free up space for housing that might otherwise be used for parking. As a result, TOD can even help lower the cost of purchasing or renting a place to live. 

What could this mean for my life?

If I lived in a city that embraced the 15-minute city principles, life would be quite different from my experience in Fairfax. For starters, I wouldn’t spend over two hours each day in my car and on the train. My kids might be able to walk to school, and perhaps I’d run errands on a bike instead of in my car. 

The cities I’ve mentioned show that the 15-minute city is a vision within reach that even a car-dependent place like Fairfax could learn from. Because who wouldn’t want a life with a little less driving and a little more living?