15 Minute Cities

[nwgs]

The evidence is not on your side.
View attachment 305490
Note that Germany is higher, probably to them burning dirty coal.
Re the manufacture of the battery:
"An electric vehicle’s higher emissions during the manufacturing stage are paid off after only 2 years compared to driving an average conventional vehicle, a time frame that drops to about one and a half years if the car is charged using renewable energy. Approximately half of a battery’s emissions come from electricity used in the manufacturing process. Battery manufacturing emissions appear to be of similar magnitude to the manufacturing of an average internal combustion engine vehicle, or approximately a quarter of an electric car’s lifetime emissions. However, recent estimates of battery manufacturing emissions vary by a factor of 10, indicating the need for additional research in this field."

Effects of battery manufacturing on electric vehicle life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions - International Council on Clean Transportation

Reviews recent research regarding greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. We analyze this research in the overall context of life-cycle emissions of electric cars as compared to conventional internal combustion vehicles in Europe. Finally...

theicct.org

What is also interesting about the chart is that the Netherlands grid is quite dirty. However, for the average Dutch person, their carbon footprint is lower overall, as they re more able to cycle/walk/use public transport than others. If they cleaned up their electricity supply, their footprint would plummet.

You’ve got to take into account disposal of the batteries. And replacement batteries.

And god help us if one sets on fire!

 

[nwgs]

Bigger items? Washing machine and TVs. Furniture I will buy online or in specialist out of town stores.

The problem for stores in town / city centres is the ever increasing cost of rent without an actual increase in the productivity of the buildings / land.

This rent has to be paid by someone. Rents cannot rise indefinitely without wages rising and if rents are rising faster than wages then something will have to give.

Clothes, meals out, the cinema etc.

The only bus I get on is an airport transfer bus. And that’s only if a private transfer is too expensive.

I’m not sure I can get a washing machine in my car….

 

[wobs]

You’ve got to take into account disposal of the batteries. And replacement batteries.

A small impact compared to an ICE over the lifetime of a vehicle.

And god help us if one sets on fire!

Electric buses have caught fire. A few cars.

Like I said earlier, living in a city with easy access to amenities without a car is better.

 

[wobs]

I’m not sure I can get a washing machine in my car….

This is cheaper than a car:

 

[nwgs]

A small impact compared to an ICE over the lifetime of a vehicle.

Electric buses have caught fire. A few cars.

Like I said earlier, living in a city with easy access to amenities without a car is better.

And a nightmare for anyone working there as a tradesman.

Pros and cons, I know.

 

[wobs]

And a nightmare for anyone working there as a tradesman.

Pros and cons, I know.

And yet:

 

[gant]

And a nightmare for anyone working there as a tradesman.

Pros and cons, I know.

That will all be out of the window a travelling tradesman if the concept is stuck to rigidly.
In these 15 minute cities you'll be working within the parameter of a 15 minute walk. This will obviously limit the choice of tradesman in your area as they compete for your business with go faster stripes on their handcarts.

 

[gant]

And yet:

Are we comparing like for like given Holland's population is 17 million and at conservative guess Britains population is round the 75 million mark.

 

[denso13]

In these 15 minute cities you'll be working within the parameter of a 15 minute walk.

That is just nonsense. You are just making things up now.

 

[gant]

Really, explains what a 15 minute city here a bit way down.
Reads to me it's all there within 15minutes walk, work etc etc.

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-02-20/what-is-a-15-minute-city-and-why-is-the-idea-so-controversial

 

[diy_fun_uk]

I don't understand how building with a focus on less travel impacts your freedom to use a car because you chose to live in less urban areas, these strategies or policies are not aimed at you.

Some people prefer the convenience of living in the city centres others do not, there is no one size that fits all.

Of course they are. The direction of travel (pardon the pun) is engagement with the public in general re leave the car at home whenever possible and walk, cycle or use public transport. Of course people in larger towns and cities might be impacted more and/or sooner e.g. LEZs etc, however we're all now encouraged to use our cars less and this strategy will continue to grow.

 

[denso13]

Really, explains what a 15 minute city here a bit way down.

Do some real research, ITV are conflating a number of different issues like most on here..

 

[gant]

You got a link to this real research.
Can't see how anybody can forecast what happens in the future given so many variables.

 

[JP_]

A bit late to the party ...

They are a good idea. I live where I am based on this rule, and rejected better homes in the past because of location.
If you can get almost everything locally it does make your life easier and nicer, local communities you can walk to are nicer than soulless retail parks or urban areas where you don't know anybody.

Where I live, I can walk to a pub (4 pubs), all the food shops I need, doctors, schools and post office within 15 minutes (most about 10 minutes).
When you have to drive for everything it really sucks and is especially annoying when you have kids that want to be elsewhere.

I grew up in a 60 minute village.

 

[wobs]

Are we comparing like for like given Holland's population is 17 million and at conservative guess Britains population is round the 75 million mark.

We have cities smaller than Amsterdam, and others that are bigger. It doesn't matter whether the overall population is, given we are talking about city scale issues. They have largely succeeded in getting people out of their cars in city areas. As a result of this, the roads are less congested, and more pleasant to live.

Another lesser example I would point to is York. Here urban cycling is hugely popular, and again, they limit car access to the city centre, encourage park & ride. There is no single thing they have done, but a range of ideas to limit car access. its really improved the city.

Amsterdam started from the point of view as viewing a car accident as morally bad as a matter of policy, and worked to design out the chance of them based on this. So they invested in pubic transport, cycle infrastructure etc, and walkability.

There are areas where car use is still too high though. Urban design is an ongoing project.