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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
OutofEverything · 17/02/2023 15:54

More traffic jams and fumes around my city now a key city centre route has been closed as everyone has to drive much further. I don't go into the city centre any more.

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 15:54

Shall I find some more?

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 15:55

In 20 years Driving everywhere will be seen as insane as smoking everywhere is today

OutofEverything · 17/02/2023 15:56

Maybe, So poor people will be confined to their local area and rich people will continue flying all over the world.

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 15:58

No, poor people won't have to endure the car fumes of the rich so much

To read this thread, you'd think cars were something that the poor were forced into at gun point and not very expensive consumer products

thehorsehasnowbolted · 17/02/2023 15:59

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 15:51

We'll have to do a bit of research on all of those, as they could be similar to Pontevedra.

thehorsehasnowbolted · 17/02/2023 15:59

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 15:55

In 20 years Driving everywhere will be seen as insane as smoking everywhere is today

Not if it can be prevented

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 16:03

Link for Amsterdam

bikecity.amsterdam.nl/en/inspiration/amsterdam-cycling-capital/

Ginmonkeyagain · 17/02/2023 16:07

A lot of older cities in France do this. So Montpellier has a broadly pedestrianised central shopping and socialising district with decent tram network around the periphery and a peripherique around the out side the city.

Ginmonkeyagain · 17/02/2023 16:08

I mean peripheriques are generally horrid tho

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 17/02/2023 16:09

OutofEverything · 17/02/2023 13:13

@ivykaty44 But ebikes have way more limited use than cars. They are not as practical. Everyone I know who bikes places has a car as well. I accept its not the same on London.

not sure what your point is aboutebikes having limited use compared to a car? I have bikes and a car, most of my friends that have bikes have a car and use both. They use the bikes for shorter trips under 5 miles and the car for longer trips. Which is the sort of scheme that the Oxford system is trying to achieve

OP posts:
RedRiverShore3 · 17/02/2023 16:11

Do these cities have supermarkets though or just artisan shops, and cameras to stop people going where they shouldn't. PP said it would just be independent shops and no chain stores in the 15 minute quarters

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 16:12

Oslo

thenorwayguide.com/driving-in-oslo/

OutofEverything · 17/02/2023 16:12

@ivykaty44 I and others are not going to ride bikes,. I will just drive to retail parks on the edge of the City instead.

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 16:12

RedRiverShore3 · 17/02/2023 16:11

Do these cities have supermarkets though or just artisan shops, and cameras to stop people going where they shouldn't. PP said it would just be independent shops and no chain stores in the 15 minute quarters

They're major, living cities

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 16:12

thenorwayguide.com/driving-in-oslo/

OutofEverything · 17/02/2023 16:13

Last time I went into my city centre I drove out of the city and parked at a park and ride as it was easier and cheaper than public transport from where I actually live.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 17/02/2023 16:13

rich people will continue flying all over the world.

why would I career about who flies where? its not stopping me from getting from A to B down a local street each morning, which is what the drivers do with their queuing every day

OP posts:
Ginmonkeyagain · 17/02/2023 16:14

@RedRiverShore3 of course they do - how do you think people in London buy food (where large amounts of people don't own a car - over half in my borough)

QuertyGirl · 17/02/2023 16:14

If this was such a terrible idea, why are all these major cities doing it? These are some of the economic powerhouses of civilisation.

They're can't all be lefty-capitalist hating hippies

OutofEverything · 17/02/2023 16:15

RedRiverShore3 · 17/02/2023 16:11

Do these cities have supermarkets though or just artisan shops, and cameras to stop people going where they shouldn't. PP said it would just be independent shops and no chain stores in the 15 minute quarters

There are no supermarkets in the pedestrianised area of Pontevedra.
It will be like Britain's pedestrianised streets. Cafes, bars, clothes shops and gift shops and maybe a small Tesco express.

OutofEverything · 17/02/2023 16:16

@Ginmonkeyagain London is different, very different. I did not have a car there and it was zero issue.