IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v199y2025ics0965856425002071.html

Assessing the applicability of the 15-minute city: Insights from a spatial accessibility perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Feng, Xuan
  • Jia, Ning
  • Su, Xiaohan
  • Adams, Matthew D.
  • Deng, Yongqi
  • Ling, Shuai

Abstract

The concept of a 15-minute city proposes that residents should have access to all basic services within a short walking distance from their homes. However, most previous studies have focused on macro-level urban planning or land use configurations, while fine-grained, community-level evaluations that integrate actual travel constraints such as road network structures and the spatial distribution of service facilities remain underdeveloped. To explore the current state of the 15-minute city’s implementation at the community level and identify potential improvements, this study takes City of Toronto as an empirical case, and incorporates road network-based isochrones into an improved two-step floating catchment area model to calculate the spatial distribution of accessibility. A geographically weighted regression (GWR) model is used to analyze the impact of road network structure and the number of facilities on accessibility. The analysis results indicate that current urban infrastructure cannot meet the travel demands of the 15-minute city, particularly for walking. In the case of other “x-minute cities,” extending the travel time threshold is associated with improved accessibility in certain urban areas, but these benefits are limited to regions around service hubs, while accessibility in other areas tends to show a decrease in accessibility. This study offers recommendations for improving the 15-minute accessibility. Namely, if policymakers aim to encourage more residents to meet their daily needs within a 15-minute radius, a targeted increase in the number of facilities in specific areas is necessary. This is particularly crucial for pedestrians in suburban areas, where adding more facilities is essential to enhance accessibility. Lastly, in areas where facilities are lacking, the benefits of solely promoting walkable communities are limited to the urban environment, and encouraging cycling could be a more effective strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng, Xuan & Jia, Ning & Su, Xiaohan & Adams, Matthew D. & Deng, Yongqi & Ling, Shuai, 2025. "Assessing the applicability of the 15-minute city: Insights from a spatial accessibility perspective," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:199:y:2025:i:c:s0965856425002071
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104579
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856425002071
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104579?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zaheer Allam & Simon Elias Bibri & Didier Chabaud & Carlos Moreno, 2022. "The Theoretical, Practical, and Technological Foundations of the 15-Minute City Model: Proximity and Its Environmental, Social and Economic Benefits for Sustainability," Post-Print hal-03997394, HAL.
    2. Li, Zhiming & Fan, Zhengxi & Song, Yan & Chai, Yangbo, 2021. "Assessing equity in park accessibility using a travel behavior-based G2SFCA method in Nanjing, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    3. Hasnine, Md Sami & Hawkins, Jason & Habib, Khandker Nurul, 2021. "Effects of built environment and weather on demands for transportation network company trips," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 171-185.
    4. Aleix Bassolas & Hugo Barbosa-Filho & Brian Dickinson & Xerxes Dotiwalla & Paul Eastham & Riccardo Gallotti & Gourab Ghoshal & Bryant Gipson & Surendra A. Hazarie & Henry Kautz & Onur Kucuktunc & Alli, 2019. "Hierarchical organization of urban mobility and its connection with city livability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Pan, Shouzheng & Ling, Shuai & Jia, Ning & Liu, Yiliu & He, Zhengbing, 2024. "On the dynamic vulnerability of an urban rail transit system and the impact of human mobility," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Zhang, Shanqi & Hu, Zhuomin & Zhen, Feng & Kong, Yu & Tong, Ziyu, 2025. "Assessing the (in)equality of an x-minute city accounting for human mobility patterns," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    7. Bi Yu Chen & Yafei Wang & Donggen Wang & Qingquan Li & William H. K. Lam & Shih-Lung Shaw, 2018. "Understanding the Impacts of Human Mobility on Accessibility Using Massive Mobile Phone Tracking Data," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 108(4), pages 1115-1133, July.
    8. Burke, Jeremy & Gras Alomà, Ramon & Yu, Fernando & Kruguer, Jordan, 2022. "Geospatial analysis framework for evaluating urban design typologies in relation with the 15-minute city standards," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 651-667.
    9. Feng, Xuan & Lin, Qinping & Jia, Ning & Tian, Junfang, 2024. "The actual impact of ride-splitting: An empirical study based on large-scale GPS data," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 94-112.
    10. Carlos Moreno & Catherine Gall & Junghyun Woo & Doyun Lee & Madiha Bencekri, 2025. "Assessing accessibility of cultural sites through the 15-minute city framework in Seoul," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 8-39, January.
    11. Ibraeva, Anna & Correia, Gonçalo Homem de Almeida & Silva, Cecília & Antunes, António Pais, 2020. "Transit-oriented development: A review of research achievements and challenges," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 110-130.
    12. Zaheer Allam & Simon Elias Bibri & Didier Chabaud & Carlos Moreno, 2022. "The Theoretical, Practical, and Technological Foundations of the 15-Minute City Model: Proximity and Its Environmental, Social and Economic Benefits for Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Denise Capasso Da Silva & David A. King & Shea Lemar, 2019. "Accessibility in Practice: 20-Minute City as a Sustainability Planning Goal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    14. Hossain, Sanjana & Habib, Khandker Nurul, 2022. "Inferring origin and destination zones of transit trips through fusion of smart card transactions, travel surveys, and land-use data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 267-284.
    15. Du, Mingyang & Cheng, Lin & Li, Xuefeng & Liu, Qiyang & Yang, Jingzong, 2022. "Spatial variation of ridesplitting adoption rate in Chicago," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 13-37.
    16. Jiang, Peng & Fan, Yee Van & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír, 2021. "Impacts of COVID-19 on energy demand and consumption: Challenges, lessons and emerging opportunities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    17. Chen, Yue & Jia, Shunping & Xu, Qi & Xiao, Zhongsheng & Zhang, Shujing, 2023. "Measuring the dynamic accessibility to COVID-19 testing sites in the 15-min city: A focus on service congestion and mobility difference," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    18. Klar, Ben & Lee, Jinhyung & Long, Jed A. & Diab, Ehab, 2023. "The impacts of accessibility measure choice on public transit project evaluation: A comparative study of cumulative, gravity-based, and hybrid approaches," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    19. Mina Di Marino & Elisabete Tomaz & Cristina Henriques & Seyed Hossein Chavoshi, 2023. "The 15-minute city concept and new working spaces: a planning perspective from Oslo and Lisbon," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 598-620, March.
    20. Kanuganti, Shalini & Sarkar, Ashoke Kumar & Singh, Ajit Pratap, 2016. "Evaluation of access to health care in rural areas using enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 45-52.
    21. Jin, Tanhua & Wang, Kailai & Xin, Yanan & Shi, Jian & Hong, Ye & Witlox, Frank, 2024. "Is a 15-Minute City Within Reach? Measuring Multimodal Accessibility and Carbon Footprint in 12 Major American Cities," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ermagun, Alireza & Janatabadi, Fatemeh & Witlox, Frank, 2025. "Beyond the 15-minute city dichotomy: Time-denominated access to essential services in Chicago," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    2. Zhang, Shanqi & Hu, Zhuomin & Zhen, Feng & Kong, Yu & Tong, Ziyu, 2025. "Assessing the (in)equality of an x-minute city accounting for human mobility patterns," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Lorenzo Barbieri & Roberto D’Autilia & Paola Marrone & Ilaria Montella, 2023. "Graph Representation of the 15-Minute City: A Comparison between Rome, London, and Paris," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Rahman, Fabiha & Oliver, Robert & Buehler, Ralph & Lee, Jinhyung & Crawford, Thomas & Kim, Junghwan, 2025. "Impacts of point of interest (POI) data selection on 15-Minute City (15-MC) accessibility scores and inequality assessments," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    5. Li, Chuanyao & Wang, Junren, 2022. "A hierarchical two-step floating catchment area analysis for high-tier hospital accessibility in an urban agglomeration region," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Cui, Pengfei & Abdel-Aty, Mohamed & Wang, Chenzhu & Yang, Xiaobao & Song, Dongdong, 2025. "Examining the impact of spatial inequality in socio-demographic and commute patterns on traffic crash rates: Insights from interpretable machine learning and spatial statistical models," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 222-245.
    7. Riepl, Tobias & Schaffartzik, Anke & Grabow, Simon & Banabak, Selim, 2025. "Living well with the foundational economy: Assessing the spatial accessibility of foundational infrastructures in Vienna and the relationship to socio-economic status," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    8. Fan, Ye & Wang, Yuqi & Yu, Yongda & Liang, Jing, 2025. "Shenzhen’s 15-minute city initiative: A model for high-quality urban development," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    9. Wang, Hui & Tsoi, Ka Ho & Loo, Becky P.Y., 2025. "An assessment framework for 15-minute Cities: Progress worldwide and the impact of urban form," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    10. G. Bertrando Bonfantini & Beatrice Galimberti & Erica Ventura, 2025. "There Are No ‘Solutions’ in Urban Planning: Against the Idea of a Ready-Made Urbanism and the 15-Minute City’s Uncritical Branding," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-31, October.
    11. Sigit D. Arifwidodo & Orana Chandrasiri & Putthipanya Rueangsom, 2025. "Is Proximity to Parks Associated with Physical Activity and Well-Being? Insights from 15-Minute Parks Policy Initiative in Bangkok, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-22, August.
    12. Gao, Wenxiu & Cui, Miaocun & Pan, Entong & Loo, Becky P.Y., 2024. "Green commuting within the x-minute city: Towards a systematic evaluation of its feasibility," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    13. Najmeh Mozaffaree Pour & Jenni Partanen, 2024. "Planning for the urban future: two-level spatial analysis to discover 15-Minute City potential in urban area and expansion in Tallinn, Estonia," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 777-807, April.
    14. Soukhov, Anastasia & Ravensbergen, Léa & Dorantes, Lucía Mejía & Páez, Antonio, 2025. "Towards completely caring 15-minute neighbourhoods," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    15. Liu, Dong & Wei, Jiaomin & Kan, Zihan, 2025. "Integrated transit service status assessment using smart transit card big data under the x-minute city framework," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    16. Dubé, Jean & Le Gallo, Julie & Champagne, Marie-Pier & Hilal, Mohamed & Legros, Diègo, 2026. "Can public investment in transport influence densification and land use? Evidence from the tramway of Dijon (France)," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    17. Profiroiu, Constantin Marius & Constantin, Daniela-Luminița & Profiroiu, Alina Georgiana & Delcea, Camelia & Nica, Ionuț & Ionescu, Ștefan & Cotfas, Liviu-Adrian, 2025. "The 15-minute challenge: Evaluating the gaps in accessibility and urban mobility," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    18. Miklós Radics & Panayotis Christidis & Borja Alonso & Luigi dell’Olio, 2024. "The X-Minute City: Analysing Accessibility to Essential Daily Destinations by Active Mobility in Seville," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-36, October.
    19. Lu, Michael & Diab, Ehab, 2025. "Developing a 15-minute city policy? Understanding differences between policies and physical barriers," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    20. Changqi Liu & Huan Xu, 2025. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Anticipating Ecological Challenges in the Era of Constructive Land Expansion: A Dynamic Approach to Early Ecological Warnings for Sustainable Urban Development," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 5909-5944, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:199:y:2025:i:c:s0965856425002071. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.