15 minute cities and the conspirators

[ivykaty44]

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

I agree air pollution needs tackled. But no one will do the simple measure of banning wood burning stoves. Probably because in cities it is middle class people who have them.

The car companies will be safe. For the past 25 years I have lived in a city where a car is definitely not needed and yet any attempts by the Council to reduce traffic congestion are met by uproar from the normally docile populace!
The latest farce was the introduction of a "Clean Air Zone" to reduce pollution and congestion in the city centre... and then because so many drivers protested, the Council in its infinite wisdom decided that private cars would be exempt!
You couldn't make it up.

I believe that by law children have to live within 15 minutes walk of their primary school... and yet children being driven to school accounts for the majority of traffic pollution at peak times.
Yes, everyone has an excuse why they can't possibly walk and are an exception to the rule.

Lots of children live further away than 15 minutes walk? Or is this a mile walk in 15 minutes again?

Two miles for children under eight years of age. three miles for pupils aged 8–16 years.

Not sure that's fair. Idea is more that it's rubbish to leave poorer areas of cities with ropy facilities and cram all the good stuff in the rich/posh bits. So the next time the council is siting a library, or a museum, or giving planning permission for a gym then there's a push to get it out into your area.

That sounds more like what I remember. So up to an hours walk to school. I used to walk about 50 minutes to secondary school and back. But I also walked it without my parents as they had long gone off to work themselves.

Well, you certainly sound like one

@SusiePevensie I would support that. But our council are closing down facilities, not opening them up.

@ExistenceOptional - same applies though. If you're closing a GP surgery or a park then you should think through whether people living there have access to another one.

Also worth mentioning that there is solid, consistent evidence that car ownership and use goes up the richer you are.

I don’t think you need a conspiracy theory to see why people might be worried about being charged more to drive to work or having to take a much longer route (which is likely what would happen to a lot of people in Oxford).

People like their cars for a lot of reasons, it isn’t just about avoiding walking. It gives a lot of freedom. Public transport is notoriously poor and slow in most places. It’s crowded and uncomfortable during rush hour. Women often feel unsafe late at night. Just because you’re on a direct route to work when you choose a place to live doesn’t mean the busses will continue to run that route. Or that your work won’t change. Cars make it easier to take things with you (or bring back), you can use them to store stuff when you’re out and about. With kids, especially, they can feel like a bit of a lifesaver.

I live in a 15 minute community and have done for most of my adult life. They have a lot to offer and I’d rather have that than a car providing the pay off isn’t an hour or more added on to my daily commute. And I think that’s the killer here - if people aren’t working locally (or living in london), their car is the thing that makes their life work.

Not really following this but I like the idea

Also not sure what is included but most things are within 15 minutes here

@ExistenceOptional

You still haven't said how people who can't afford cars or drive for medical reasons are expected to cope in your drive everywhere dystopia.

Come on, the idea is to site more stuff in all neighbourhoods- which benefit the poorest who often have little access to cars the most.

You like driving, lucky you.

I worked in Oxford- don't understand why people drive into it so much.

It's a cramped medieval city. There isn't room! The laws of physics apply even to cars!

Totally agree. The green belt is very nice in theory but a side effect has been to stop cities growing. Workers have been pushed further out into nearby towns and villages which require long commutes, usually by car. Small towns are seeing a lot of house building but there are no jobs in these places.

Weird, isn't it?

Only rich people have legs now

A 30 min walking round trip is fine if the parent's job allows them to fit it around their working hours.

@Buzzinwithbez

That happens when you become a parent- you have take responsibility for them getting to school. Amazing I know.

And that's why so many parents drive their children to school and then drive themselves to work - one of those chain journeys which appeared to be news to Oxfordshire County Council.

@greenbackers

I do the same- by bike.

As do millions of others, particularly in other countries.

@QuertyGirl I did answer your question. As I said get the bus as I used to, or get a taxi as my DD has to if I can't give her a lift - she is disabled.
I would love the kind of community within 15 minutes walk you outline. I do not believe it will happen. You have to turn high streets back to the 1970s. Not possible with online shopping. All it will do is push even more shopping online.

So it's not inconceivable that some might need to drive them to fulfill that obligation and get to work on time.

@QuertyGirl which is fine when you have a bike, your work is cycling distance away, and you're not physically disabled.

You also need to be fairly lucky to avoid being injured - I know several people who have had serious leg injuries and 2 people who have died in the last year in cycling accidents in Oxford. I don't know anyone who hasn't had a very near miss. Lorries are the worst, and they will carry on completely as normal under the OCC plans but will be able to travel faster.

@Buzzinwithbez

If they choose to set their lives up like that, that's their choice.

The rest of the world does not have to suffer for it through congestion, pollution and dangerous traffic though.

If you choose to live like that, it will involve long diversions and walking to parking in the future.

Things are changing.

@greenbackers chain journey is a good term.