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Original poster

15 minute cities and the conspirators

629 replies

ivykaty44 · 13/02/2023 18:08

15 minute cities being organised to mean that you don't have to rely on a car to get to everything and can easily walk to many places therefore only have to use the car for longer journeys

the conspiracy theories im seeing on social media are suggesting its a world wide control formula and we will be fined for moving from one district to another.

www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2023/02/08/15-minute-city-conspiracy-theories-insane-says-15-minute-city-creator/?sh=121378916156

I'm wondering if the car manufactures are behind the conspiracy, as they would have a lot to lose if people live in places where they don't need a car and can just ave one family car or hire a car. Billions of sales could be lost if this takes off.

Some cities have gone car free - theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/the-car-free-spanish-city/ and found after much objection, that it works well - especially for the elderly

OP posts:
soboredtonight · 13/02/2023 18:10

It won't happen there are too many people to build a hospital, etc etc every 15 minutes walk bike or whatever.

DappledThings · 13/02/2023 18:11

I think thinking car manufacturers are behind the conspiracy theory just sounds like another conspiracy theory.

They all think it's part of WEF plan to have us locked in our homes, eating insects and being forcibly vaccinated by the UN soldiers currently in various hotels masquerading as refugees. And that you can get out of paying council tax or any utility bill by claiming not have a contract with anyone and there being no "claim".

It's standard conspiracy idiocy.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 14/02/2023 08:47

I think thinking car manufacturers are behind the conspiracy theory just sounds like another conspiracy theory.

it was just me wondering who has the most to lose, not a conspiracy. I doubt the car manufacturers have organised a conspiracy

OP posts:
sst1234 · 14/02/2023 08:50

Oh look the intellectual among us are out in force this morning. Telling anyone who says anything different that they are a conspiracy theorist. There are some conspiracy theorists out there, and there is an equal number of idiots who struggle to think for themselves and call everyone else a conspiracy theorist. The balance exists.

boobot1 · 14/02/2023 08:51

Its just another pie in the sky idea, of course they will spend billions on it before they admit it. This government is bloody useless.

QuietlyConfident · 14/02/2023 08:56

soboredtonight · 13/02/2023 18:10

It won't happen there are too many people to build a hospital, etc etc every 15 minutes walk bike or whatever.

Hospitals aren't a regular need for most people - they're out of scope. GPs and dentists would be in scope of a 15 minute city.

In the old days we used to have more small hospitals but the problem is that the advantage of them being nearby is outweighed by the advantage of having specialist staff and equipment concentrated in larger centres.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 14/02/2023 08:57

15 minute cities being organised to mean that you don't have to rely on a car to get to everything and can easily walk to many places therefore only have to use the car for longer journeys

Key word there being 'organised.' Can you really think it's going to happen that everyone lives where there's a hospital, supermarket, doctors, opticians, school and all the other stuff people use daily within 15 minutes? I've no faith in governments (not just our own) organising a piss up in a brewery.

QuietlyConfident · 14/02/2023 08:57

boobot1 · 14/02/2023 08:51

Its just another pie in the sky idea, of course they will spend billions on it before they admit it. This government is bloody useless.

This government are indeed a complete shower, but this is by no means public policy.

QuietlyConfident · 14/02/2023 09:01

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 14/02/2023 08:57

15 minute cities being organised to mean that you don't have to rely on a car to get to everything and can easily walk to many places therefore only have to use the car for longer journeys

Key word there being 'organised.' Can you really think it's going to happen that everyone lives where there's a hospital, supermarket, doctors, opticians, school and all the other stuff people use daily within 15 minutes? I've no faith in governments (not just our own) organising a piss up in a brewery.

You could embed the concept in planning policy though.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 14/02/2023 09:05

I always say this but trust me, this government do not have the competence to organise any kind of conspiracy.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 14/02/2023 09:19

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 14/02/2023 09:05

I always say this but trust me, this government do not have the competence to organise any kind of conspiracy.

Ah, but what about the people who are really in charge? what about them, eh? 😅

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 14/02/2023 09:21

You could embed the concept in planning policy though

Yes, I've seen planning policy along the Thames at Chelsea and Hammersmith. Hundreds of largely investment-type flats and a Tesco Express. Meanwhile, where I live pretty much everything bar the hospital I need day to day IS within 15 minutes but has grown up organically as a community.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 14/02/2023 09:33

No conspiracy theory needed in Oxford.
Oxford City Council have been open about hating car users for decades. This is just the next logical step for them.

virginqueen · 14/02/2023 09:43

They want to build one of these, they call it a community, carefully avoiding the word "town" near me. The problem is I live in rural Norfolk, where public transport is poor. So if people live in these communities, without cars, and want to go anywhere, they wont be able to. My village no longer has a bus service, so if you dont have a car, you're totally isolated. Having a local supermarket wouldn't be enough.

NerdyBird · 14/02/2023 09:46

My brother lives very rurally. There's no way anything could be within 15 mins walk, or even cycle. There'll be loads of places like this so it's really only practical in a few areas.

Summerhillsquare · 14/02/2023 09:49

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 14/02/2023 09:33

No conspiracy theory needed in Oxford.
Oxford City Council have been open about hating car users for decades. This is just the next logical step for them.

The idea that a council 'hates' car drivers, or anyone for that matter, is extreme, bordering on conspiracy theory. There is a balance to be had of users of public space. Most drivers are also pedestrians and will benefit from pleasant safe walking space. Some drivers are even - horror! - cyclists as well!

QuertyGirl · 14/02/2023 10:03

Councils: here's an idea that will make life easier!

Conspiracy nuts: Noooooo!

That's what's happening.

Honestly, we need to get non-disabled people out of their cars. It'll literally killing us.

People are reacting emotionally to this because they've spent so much money on their cars, that they need to get to the jobs to pay for their cars.

(Yes, I exempt people with mobility issues from this, so please non of that argument)

QuertyGirl · 14/02/2023 10:04

virginqueen · 14/02/2023 09:43

They want to build one of these, they call it a community, carefully avoiding the word "town" near me. The problem is I live in rural Norfolk, where public transport is poor. So if people live in these communities, without cars, and want to go anywhere, they wont be able to. My village no longer has a bus service, so if you dont have a car, you're totally isolated. Having a local supermarket wouldn't be enough.

Do you think they're going to take your car away?

greenbackers · 14/02/2023 10:13

Oxford is adopting 15 minute neighbourhoods which are to have 'all the facilities we need to support our daily lives'.

For most people work is a large element of their daily lives. The main employers in the county are all crammed into the same city, all of which require some level of in person working it is pretty inevitable that there will have to be significant amounts of travel in and out as Oxford is one of the most unaffordable cities in the country.

It's a nice idea in theory, but unless the major employers (including the councils) actively force people to WFH, it is just going to create even more chaos.

megletthesecond · 14/02/2023 10:32

They need to make it easier to walk and cycle on towns and cities. Safe, visible, well lit wide pavements.
Not shoving footpaths in underpasses or hidden by trees and shrubs. Our town should be easy to cross on foot but the poor planning means so many paths are hidden and gloomy.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 14/02/2023 11:31

My brother lives very rurally.

a 15 minute city isn’t a rural concept

OP posts:
Devoutspoken · 14/02/2023 11:35

Quite, I think the clue may be in the title as in 'city'

Devoutspoken · 14/02/2023 11:40

Bootbot - it's hardly pie in the sky if some parts of the world have already implemented it

QuertyGirl · 14/02/2023 11:41

Most British cities and towns used to be like this.

With more working from home, we could have it back.

Chemenger · 14/02/2023 11:46

I live in a city and everything I regularly use, except my place of work (which I get the bus to) is within a 15 minute walk, multiple dentists, doctors surgeries, supermarkets, many small shops, restaurants (loads of them from chip shop to Michelin star), cinema. Major shops are a ten minute bus ride or a half hour walk away. We drive to out of town shops maybe once a month. However there are other areas of the same city which are much less well provided for, usually those are more suburban with houses rather than flats, with a much lower population density ( and less tourist footfall to support amenities). I think population density is probably the deciding factor.