Working Toward the “15-Minute City”

Urban planners, economists, and environmentalists are among a growing chorus advocating for the adoption of 15-minute cities.

**Editor’s Note: A version of this story also appears in the Fall 2024 edition of Tippie Magazine, the alumni magazine for the University of Iowa’s business college**

Paris and Iowa City, at first blush, may seem to have little in common.

But if an emerging trend in urbanism being studied at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business is implemented, it and other metro areas across the state will share a livability trait with the City of Light.

That concept is the “15-minute city.” The idea is that all residents of a given city be able to access important daily amenities within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or trip on public transit.

Carlos Moreno, an urbanist and professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris, coined the term in 2016 while contemplating the best way for city dwellers to access shops, schools, health care, parks, and cultural institutions regardless of income or vehicle ownership.

Although it sounds simple, achieving the goal requires much coordination of land use policies, transportation systems, economic development, and social infrastructure.

Amy Colbert, a professor of management and entrepreneurship and the current faculty director of the Tippie Social Impact Community, recently hosted a pair of workshops on 15-minute cities. “We are trying to build a community of people interested in this subject so we can share and exchange information. The hope is we can take what we’re learning from each other in these workshops and use it to benefit our state and beyond.”

15-minute cities became a research project at Tippie when Business Analytics Professor Ann Campbell became interested after hearing an urban planner in London extol its virtues. When she dug into it a bit more and discovered it was part of the city of Cedar Rapid’s Community Climate Action Plan, she immediately thought it would be a worthy effort for the Social Impact Community to explore.

The workshops were unique because they not only involved Tippie researchers, but also reached across campus and beyond—bringing in faculty from the School of Planning and Public Affairs and working professionals in urban planning as well as transportation.

Kent Ralston, the current director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County, said he was excited to participate in the Tippie workshop. He was particularly interested in any research assistance the university could provide that would help Iowa City, Coralville, and other cities in the county make better planning decisions.

Ralston would like to see research done to help identify pockets of the community that are under-served by transit or bike routes. As a pedestrian-and-cyclist heavy college town, Iowa City is ahead of the curve on issues like “complete streets” and multimodal transportation, he added, but a collaborative effort to do even more is welcome.

Tippie alum Alec Davis - who earned his MBA at Tippie - helped launch Momentum DSM in 2023. The non-partisan political advocacy group advocates for better funding for public transit, re-designing streets to be safer and more accommodating for bikes and pedestrians, and zoning and land use changes that make it easier and more affordable to build housing in walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods. In other words, nearly all the components of the 15-minute cities concept.

Davis is happy to have advocates and allies in the effort from his alma mater, but acknowledges getting buy-in from a car-crazed culture is a long-term, difficult project.

“You see little wins in communities, including here in Des Moines, but as a country, we went through 75 years of complete auto-dependency and addiction so it might take us 75 years to undo it,” he said. “It’s hard to upset the status quo. People don’t like change.”

The Cedar Rapids action plan that incorporates 15 minute cities concepts aims to reduce carbon emissions city-wide by 45 percent by 2030 and be net-zero by 2050. It also proposes to create a sustainable development policy that lays out the characteristics, development guidance and incentives to fill in missing amenities found within their 15-minute neighborhoods.

“The biggest challenge is getting buy-in from citizens,” said Sara Maples, Cedar Rapids’ sustainability program manager and adjunct instructor at Tippie. Efforts in Cedar Rapids include a new bike and scooter share program, food gardens in city parks, tweaking zoning ordinances, and more urban infill projects.

“If we give citizens safer streets for pedestrians, more choice, and more accessible areas, that culture will build over time,” she said.

What’s so great about 15 Minute Cities anyway?

Urban planners, economists, and environmentalists are among a growing chorus advocating for the adoption of 15-minute cities. Here are a few of the reasons they cite:

• Lower Carbon Emissions: Decreased need for long commutes and vehicle use leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

• Enhanced Public Health: More walking and cycling promote physical activity and reduce health issues like obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Fewer vehicles on the road mean lower levels of air pollution.

• Stronger Local Economies: Increased patronage of local businesses boosts the local economy and supports small businesses.

• Better Social Cohesion: More localized living fosters community bonds and social interactions.

• Increased Accessibility: Essential services and amenities are within a short distance, making them more accessible for all, including the elderly and those with disabilities.

• Improved Quality of Life: Reduced stress from commuting and increased leisure time improve overall life satisfaction.

• Sustainable Urban Growth: Encourages efficient land use and prevents urban sprawl.

• Safety Improvements: Less traffic leads to fewer accidents and safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Economic Savings: Reduced transportation costs for individuals and public infrastructure savings for cities.

• Green Spaces and Recreational Areas: Emphasis on local living can lead to more green spaces and parks.

• Innovative Urban Design: Promotes the development of more sustainable, mixed-use neighborhoods.

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