Cities, SI Urban 2/2020
Paris: The 15-minute city?
In an age of climate change and its catastrophic effects, city growth is regarded as far more critical than for example in the 1990s, when it was still possible to rely on a perfect urban mobility network. Carlos Moreno, Professor at Sorbonne University, is looking intensively at the concept of the smart city (which is already standard in Groningen and Utrecht) and attempting to suggest it to France’s political decision-makers, in order to promote more sustainable handling of urban development. His concept has been taken on board by socialist Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo. In the last six years, she has already introduced an intensive green transformation of the city, in which not only have numerous cycle paths been created in place of car lanes but former roundabouts have also been transformed into pedestrian-friendly locations (such as at Place de la République, Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation). The exceptionally consistent politician has made Moreno’s ideas her central promise for the local elections. Under the slogan “la ville du quart d’heure” (the 15-minute city), based on Moreno’s concept of chrono-urbanism (inspired by Jane Jacobs’ living city), decentralised urban organisation would be implemented with the aim of being able to reach all the areas necessary for everyday life within quarter of an hour – if possible by bicycle. These include shopping, medical treatment, school, work, leisure, sports and culture.