BUILDING THE 15-MINUTE CITY: TRACKING SUSTAINABLE URBAN LIVING IN TORONTO

Science Canada
May 4
4 min read

Updated: May 8

What's better than a walkable city? Perhaps, one that's green too.

The 15-minute city is an urban planning model designed to give people walkable, bikable, or transit access to daily essentials within 15 minutes of their homes. The aim for planners is to reduce car dependency and improve quality of life. A University of Toronto study found that sustainable travel behaviour emerges only when neighbourhoods offer sufficient access to 4-5 amenity categories, with central Toronto areas performing much better than the city's suburbs.

Exploring the 15-minute City

The 15-minute city paradigm is gaining ground (and a little heat) these days.

Despite potential pitfalls, the aim of the 15-minute city (and the sustainable, connected urban life that its champions describe) makes the topic ripe for inquiry.

But what exactly is the 15-minute city?

Naturally, it comes down to proximity. It's an urban planning strategy for building neighbourhoods where residents can access daily needs within a short walking, biking, or transit distance from their homes.

15-minute city proponents argue that a human-centric approach fosters social bonds and builds community by replacing commutes with time spent with family and friends. And by building grocery stores, schools, healthcare facilities, and green spaces within a 15-minute radius, the need for cars is significantly reduced.

As urban populations boom and megacities expand, challenges related to urbanization and social inequality loom. The 15-minute city model appears to offer an intuitive solution, and a study from the University of Toronto sheds a bit more light on the paradigm, using Toronto (North America's fourth-largest city) as a backdrop.

First Steps Include Reducing Reliance on Cars

Researchers Anton Yu and Christopher Higgins explored how the 15-minute model impacts travel behaviour across Toronto. Their findings suggest that sustainable travel becomes possible when at least 4-5 essential service and amenity categories are located within close proximity.

Less driving, of course, means less congestion and pollution. So the researchers mapped out access to necessities across the city, revealing varying levels of accessibility and their impact on in-city travel.

"... it is only when neighbourhoods become 'complete' in terms of sufficient access to 4–5 categories of amenities that we see rates of driving start to decrease."

— Yu & Higgins

Core Study Findings

Neighbourhoods with many accessible amenities had fewer residents relying on cars. Instead, they walked, cycled, or used public transit.
Central city areas and densely populated areas typically had better access to services. This makes them well-suited for the 15-minute city model.
Suburban areas lagged behind, indicating a need for improvements in urban planning to extend any benefits citywide.

“... driving rates decrease as sufficient walking, cycling, and transit access improves with the largest decrease associated with sufficient walking access to all five categories of necessities.”

Implications: Ongoing Urban Planning & Transport Management

While the paradigm may sound intuitive, the transition to a 15-minute city remains an uphill battle.

To support the 15-minute system, policymakers may incentivize businesses to set up in underserved areas or to improve cycling infrastructure.

The U of T study shows how the success of the 15-minute city will hinge on heavy integration of public transport and land-use planning. From understanding current usage patterns and rethinking zoning laws to transit design — networking all of these variables is crucial.

For example, Toronto has been implementing public transit route improvements and urban revitalization projects like the Bentway. The community space was created beneath one of the city's major arteries, the Gardiner Expressway. Once derelict, the area now features a skating trail, performance spaces, and gathering spots.

Perhaps the most critical pillar of the 15-minute city remains efficient transit — and it requires near-constant optimization. Toronto has taken some strides to monitor and improve its systems.

For instance, the city's King Street Transit Priority Corridor project significantly reduced streetcar peak travel times from 23 minutes in 2017 to 16 minutes in 2018. However, by 2023, those travel times worsened to 26 minutes due to widespread construction and weak traffic rule enforcement (with a whopping 6,800+ daily traffic violations). Toronto responded with a crackdown late in the year, deploying traffic agents. By early 2024, travel times during peak hours dropped to as low as 17 minutes when agents were present.

The Problem of Equal Access

The study also highlights a common issue of the 15-minute city model: equality of access. Economically disadvantaged and affluent communities alike need access to quality services. So, it's a challenge that sometimes requires outside investment. For instance, the United Way's Greater Toronto Community Hubs have been providing integrated services like health care, education, and social support to underserved areas.

Global Perspectives: Growing Consensus Around the 15-Minute City

As a pioneer of the paradigm, Paris implemented the '15-Minute Paris' approach to reduce vehicle use and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, Melbourne has worked 20-minute neighbourhoods into its long-term planning to encourage physical activity, with the ultimate aim of reducing healthcare costs. Cities like Copenhagen have experienced increases in cycling and pedestrian traffic, which helps support local shops and services.

Of course, the potential scalability and adaptability of the 15-minute model can vary across geographic, economic, and cultural factors. For example, high-density cities like Tokyo or compact European cities like Barcelona may find it easier to implement the 15-minute model compared to sprawling North American cities like Los Angeles and Houston.

Nonetheless, the city of Toronto has provided some valuable insights for others looking to improve urban life with accessible, mixed-use neighbourhoods.

Future in Focus: Continuous Improvements for Greater Expansion

As cities grow and evolve, continued research into adaptive strategies will be key:

Cities like Toronto might address the development of suburban neighbourhoods, which typically have lower levels of accessibility.
Green infrastructure development and renewable energy projects can also amplify the model's impact. For example, green roofs, community gardens, and urban forests can help boost quality of life and environmental sustainability.
Underused spaces like vacant lots or parking areas can be repurposed into community amenities or mixed-use developments.

With continued research and smart investment, high-growth cities like Toronto could serve as a blueprint for others with ballooning populations and growing sustainability requirements.