My Concern and Fix, ChatGPT Assisted Post
I hope this post finds you well.
Imagine the year is 1900, It’s late fall and winter is approaching fast. Repositioning your body to sit up, pebbles rub between your lower leg and the sheets. Reaching for your smelly grungy clothes, you look forward for the weekly bath and clothes washing tomorrow and you remember Saturday night’s sleep is the best. It’s 38 degrees. Looking down on the street below you notice yesterday’s snow preventing the rain from draining, puddles are everywhere. You walk to the trolley stop, about a half mile from your house. Rain drips off your baseball cap and at the same time you squirm as water runs down your back. The wet leaves covered by snow are very slippery and you step cautiously. Their colors have faded, there just brown now.
Hearing the familiar steel on pavement tapping sound made by working horses, huffing and puffing. You look forward to sitting under the trolley roof although, knowing the seat will be wet is not comforting. The smell of sweating horses and manure from the crap catch envelop all that wait. Arriving at work, your socks are soaked, the water squishes thru your toes. The rain coat kind of works, however, where the coat ends at your thighs, your pants are saturated. Walking into the dry building gives you a feeling of accomplishment, that you have arrived and for the rest of the day you will slowly dry off, only to get wet again when you commute home. But, not today, the sun is straining thru the clouds and the rain is tapering off.
Imagine the year is 1950. It’s late fall and winter is approaching fast. Repositioning your body to sit up, sheets get in the way. You reach for your fresh jeans and put on a white t-shirt. It’s 38 degrees. Looking down on the street below you notice yesterday’s snow preventing the rain from draining, puddles are everywhere. Worried, you are not, it’s a short 5 step walk to your car. It takes a while for your car to heat up and defrost. Although the windows are not finished, you reverse out you’re drive way knowing the windows will defrost in a minute or two. You reach over to change the radio station, not interested in the weather report.
Jeez, all the parking spots nearest the entrance are taken up. Frustrated, you park far away, about a minute walk. Too much effort for the umbrella, but far enough away to feel the water as it soaks thru your shirt. You walk fast, even running in some spots. A minute fly’s by quickly.
Imagine the year is 2022, it’s late fall and winter is approaching fast. You roll over and you strain to wake. Drowsiness from your sleeping pill, have not worn off yet. It’s 38 degrees. Looking down on the street below you notice yesterday’s snow preventing the rain from draining, puddles are everywhere. You activate your car auto-start button. The car engine starts with the de-frost on full. After breakfast you trot to your warm car. A feeling of frustration and anxiety as bumper-to-bumper traffic surrounds you. Although, you can’t hear it, you sure feel it. You listen to a podcast hoping the diversion will change your mood.
Imagine the year is 2100, it’s late fall and winter is approaching fast. You roll over and you strain to wake, your house computer senses you are waking and turns on the lights, dimmed at first. The light intensity slowly increases as you stretch while yawning. You shower, put on your work clothes and make your way to the kitchen. The coffee machine started the brewing process just after you finished your shower. You look outside and watch the rain drops, transfixed, you say to yourself, “nature is beautiful”. It’s 38 degrees. Looking down on the street below you notice yesterday’s snow preventing the rain from draining, puddles are everywhere. You reach up and grab your favorite mug. It’s got a picture of you and your kids hiking on a beautiful day. When your mug is full with freshly made coffee, you walk over and step on the circle in the corner, sigh, then say “Ok, Scottie, beam me over.”. The fresh brewed coffee smell fills your office.
I asked you to imagine these scenarios for a reason. Notice that some things are the same in each scenario, like the weather and the need to get to work. However, note there is a dangerous trend occurring. The convenience gained over the years, shielding from the weather and other commuters. Less hassle, I guess.
This worries me because there is a grass roots movement occurring all over the world. Major cities and small communities are committing. It’s called the “15-minute city”. I have been following this for a few months and think this is the way ahead. However, I am concerned that Americans will not embrace this. Our communities are extremely car centric, public transportation is not very comfortable or convenient. Zoning laws will have to change. But, most important, we have been isolated from each other. We may not embrace public transportation, especially in the condition it is in now.
So, to gain some insight into what’s happening now and come up with enhancements to make the change more comfortable, I asked ChatGPT who proposed it, what the concept is, how it took root and also if it would succeed. The result is below.
Who proposed the 15-minute city?
The concept of the 15-minute city was first proposed by Carlos Moreno, a professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He introduced the concept in his 2019 book titled “The 15 Minute City: Urban Innovation in Pursuit of a Healthier, Happier Life.” The idea has gained popularity as a way to create more sustainable and livable cities, where people can access most of their daily needs within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their homes.
What is the concept behind the 15-minute city?
The concept of the 15-minute city is to create more livable, sustainable, and resilient urban areas by designing neighborhoods where people can access most of their daily needs within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their homes. The idea is to reduce people’s reliance on cars and encourage more active modes of transportation, such as walking and cycling, which can help to improve public health, reduce air pollution, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
In a 15-minute city, people can access a range of services and amenities, such as grocery stores, schools, parks, healthcare facilities, and cultural and recreational spaces, all within a short distance from their homes. This can help to create more vibrant and diverse communities, where people can easily connect with each other and build social networks.
The 15-minute city concept is based on the principles of urban design and planning, which prioritize people’s needs and well-being over the needs of cars and other vehicles. By creating more walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods, cities can reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create more resilient and sustainable urban environments for all.
How did the 15-minute city take root?
The concept of the 15-minute city is not new, but it gained significant attention and popularity in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting changes in how people live, work, and interact with their surroundings.
The idea of the 15-minute city was first introduced by the former mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, as part of her re-election campaign in 2020. The concept is based on the idea that all essential services and amenities should be accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from one’s home, including schools, healthcare facilities, grocery stores, parks, and public transportation. The goal is to create more sustainable, livable, and connected neighborhoods that prioritize people over cars and reduce urban sprawl.
The 15-minute city has since gained momentum in cities around the world, including Melbourne, Milan, and Barcelona, as well as in the United States. In 2021, the Biden administration introduced a proposal for a $10 billion investment in community-based infrastructure, including projects that support the 15-minute city concept.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of the 15-minute city concept as people have become more aware of the importance of access to essential services and the benefits of active transportation. Many cities have implemented temporary or permanent measures to prioritize pedestrian and bike infrastructure and limit car traffic, creating more walkable, bikeable, and vibrant neighborhoods.
What are reasons for resistance to the 15-minute city idea?
The 15-minute city idea is a concept that suggests that all the essential amenities and services that people need for their daily lives, such as grocery stores, schools, workplaces, and recreational facilities, should be located within a 15-minute walking or cycling distance from their homes. While this concept has gained popularity in recent years, there are still some reasons for resistance to this idea, which include:
- Infrastructure: In many cities, the infrastructure is not designed to support the 15-minute city concept. For example, many areas do not have proper sidewalks, bike lanes, or public transportation facilities to support active modes of transport like walking or cycling.
- Cost: Building and maintaining the infrastructure needed to support the 15-minute city concept can be expensive. This cost can be a significant barrier, especially for lower-income communities.
- Zoning: The current zoning laws and regulations in many cities do not allow for mixed-use development, making it challenging to build communities with a variety of amenities within a 15-minute radius.
- Culture: People’s lifestyle choices and cultural preferences may not align with the 15-minute city concept. For example, some people may prefer to live in larger homes farther away from the city center, while others may enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city.
- Planning: The 15-minute city concept requires careful planning and coordination between multiple stakeholders, including city planners, developers, community members, and policymakers. This coordination can be challenging to achieve, especially in areas where there are competing priorities and interests.
Will this concept succeed?
The success of the 15-minute city concept depends on several factors, including political will, public support, funding, and infrastructure development. While it is challenging to predict with certainty whether this concept will succeed, there are some promising examples of cities that have implemented similar ideas and have seen positive results.
For example, in Paris, the city government has launched a plan to make the entire city more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, with a goal of having 50% of all trips in the city made by bike or foot by 2030. The city has already started to implement this plan by adding more bike lanes, pedestrianized streets, and public spaces, making it easier for people to walk, bike, or use public transportation to access essential services and amenities.
Similarly, Barcelona, Spain, has implemented a program to create “superblocks,” which are areas of the city where car traffic is limited, and people are encouraged to walk, bike, or use public transportation to move around. These superblocks have been successful in reducing air pollution, noise levels, and traffic accidents while creating more public spaces and promoting active transportation.
Overall, the success of the 15-minute city concept will depend on the willingness of city governments, developers, and communities to work together to create more walkable, bikeable, and livable neighborhoods. With the right policies, investments, and community engagement, it is possible to create cities that prioritize the well-being and quality of life of their residents.
Look, a great public transportation system is going to be crucial in America if we want to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Taking a hydrogen powered fuel cell bus or battery electric bus/train is much cleaner than a car. A typical gasoline passenger car emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The 15-minute city concept and a green public transportation system is perfect for our cities. I believe this would lower crime, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide for a better quality of life
Nobody is going to leave the convenience and safety of their car and endure the hazards of the elements. It is too easy for us to stay the course, by using our cars. Our current convenience and comfort will hamper the transition to the15-minute city concept. Especially in the northern latitudes and high elevation areas weather can make or break your day. We need this to work. If you make changes without anticipating the consequences. Then resistance will ensue. Let’s plan this transition with the human conveniences in mind. Let’s build a great habitable, convenient and safe public transportation staging area. All bus stops should have a roof and walls for comfort from the elements. Every stop should have information signs constantly updated with accurate time of arrival from next bus or train. Plenty of open spaces and benches. The size of the staging stops should be large enough to handle the population density in the area.
Building a great good looking public transportation staging infrastructure with cost-effectiveness in mind will guarantee failure. Not only should the staging stops be convenient and comfortable it should look good, go to Paris, each stop should be a work of art, go to Paris, and pleasing to the eye, go to Paris.
Yes! the busses and trains should be green, comfortable, convenient, environmentally controlled and good looking, yes, good looking. Sure, there should be plenty of them, with trained drivers, trained not only with safety from other drivers in mind, but also to provide a comfortable ride, slow acceleration and deceleration and no jerky movements.
There will be economic disruptions that will occur. To mitigate this there should be a disruptor compensation legislation passed. Let’s not leave anyone behind. I asked other questions to ChatGPT, discussions follow.
How many cities are going to the 15-minute city?
It is difficult to provide an exact number as the concept of the 15-minute city is still relatively new and there is no standardized definition for what constitutes a 15-minute city. Additionally, cities around the world are at different stages in their efforts to implement this concept.
However, there are several cities that have been recognized for their efforts to create 15-minute cities, including:
- Paris, France
- Melbourne, Australia
- Barcelona, Spain
- Milan, Italy
- Portland, Oregon, USA
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Tallinn, Estonia
These cities have made significant strides in creating more livable, sustainable, and equitable urban environments by prioritizing walkability, access to public transportation, and mixed-use development. Other cities around the world are also exploring or implementing the 15-minute city concept in their urban planning strategies.
Further reading adds Detroit which has organized a 20-minute city project. Addressing the defunct streetcar grid. Ottawa, which include plan to have residents halve their trips with using their feet, bicycle and public transit or by carpooling.
Some 15-minute city realities: requires deconstructing the city. Or mixing as many different uses as possible. Also, called anti zoning, this would undo current urban planning orthodoxy and industrial era economy development. Moreno would like to see more hybrid spaces. Spaces with multi uses., schoolyards as parks, civic facilities will have multiple uses. Multi-use buildings and cultural spaces, i.e., schools that have different uses on the weekends.
When was it invented?
The concept of the 15-minute city was first introduced by Professor Carlos Moreno in 2015. In a paper titled “Towards the ’15-minute city’,” Moreno outlined the idea of creating urban environments where essential services and amenities are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from people’s homes. Since then, the concept has gained traction in urban planning and development circles around the world as a way to create more livable, sustainable, and equitable cities.
Is there any backlash to the concept?
While the 15-minute city concept has gained popularity and support from many urban planners and policymakers, there are also some criticisms and potential challenges associated with the concept.
One criticism is that implementing the 15-minute city concept may be difficult in areas with existing infrastructure and urban layouts that are not conducive to pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhoods. Additionally, some argue that the concept may not be feasible or practical in areas with low population densities or limited resources.
There is also concern that implementing the 15-minute city concept could lead to increased gentrification and displacement, as property values in areas with access to essential services and amenities may rise, making them unaffordable for low-income residents.
Another criticism is that the 15-minute city concept may not adequately address issues of social inequality and access to services for marginalized communities, such as those living in poverty, as they may face barriers such as lack of transportation or affordable housing.
Despite these criticisms and challenges, many cities are still pursuing the 15-minute city concept as a way to create more livable and sustainable urban environments, while also addressing issues of social equity and inclusivity.
Is Boston embracing this concept?
Yes, Boston has been exploring and embracing the concept of the 15-minute city in recent years. In 2019, the city released Imagine Boston 2030, a comprehensive urban planning strategy that includes the goal of creating a 15-minute city. The plan aims to create more vibrant and livable neighborhoods by improving access to essential services and amenities within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit trip from residents’ homes.
To achieve this goal, Boston is working to improve public transportation infrastructure, expand bike and pedestrian networks, and increase access to affordable housing and essential services such as healthcare, education, and cultural institutions. The city is also implementing neighborhood-specific plans that focus on improving walkability, bike ability, and access to local services and amenities.
Additionally, Boston has launched several initiatives to support the 15-minute city concept, including the Go Boston 2030 Transportation Plan, the Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate traffic fatalities, and the Resilient Boston Harbor plan to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Overall, Boston is committed to creating more livable, sustainable, and equitable neighborhoods through the 15-minute city concept and is taking steps to make this vision a reality.
Would you (ChatGPT) recommend the 15-minute city for American cities?
As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions or preferences. However, I can provide some information about the 15-minute city concept.
The 15-minute city is a concept that aims to create more livable and sustainable cities by promoting the idea of having all the essential services and amenities, such as grocery stores, schools, healthcare facilities, and public transportation, within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from every residential neighborhood.
Whether or not the 15-minute city concept would be suitable for American cities depends on various factors, including the size and layout of the cities, the existing transportation infrastructure, and the needs and preferences of the local residents. Some American cities, such as New York City and San Francisco, already have many of the features of a 15-minute city, with dense and walkable neighborhoods and accessible public transportation.
However, other American cities, especially those that are more spread out and automobile-dependent, may face more significant challenges in implementing the 15-minute city concept. It may require significant changes in urban planning, transportation policy, and investment in public infrastructure.
Overall, the 15-minute city concept offers an exciting vision for creating more livable and sustainable cities, but it may not be a one-size-fits-all solution for American cities. It requires careful consideration and planning, taking into account the unique characteristics and challenges of each city.
Quote: “We’ll go down in history as the first society that wouldn’t save itself because it wasn’t cost-effective.” Kurt Vonnegut
References
1. What is a 15-minute city and how will it change how we live, work and socialize?
2. What is a 15-minute city, and why don’t we want them?
3. Wikipedia inventor of 15-minute city concept. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Moreno_(urbanist)
4. Wikipedia defines 15-minute city as. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15-minute_city
5. How ’15-minute city’ became a lockdown conspiracy – BBC Newsnight