November 22, 2025 · View original
We all know the concept. Now here’s an interactive map that allows you to explore cities around the world and see how 15-minute they are. In the default case, it is based on how many points of interest somebody could walk to in under 15 minutes (but there’s also a bike toggle). A blue cell means the walk time is less than 15 minutes. And a red cell means it’s greater than 15 minutes.
Here’s Toronto:
Salt Lake City:
Houston:
Miami:
Paris:
Tokyo:
I tried not to adjust the scale at all, but the amount of blue/red you see will depend on the cropping of each map. Still, it’s pretty clear that Tokyo and Houston are not the same kind of city. What a contrast.
In some cases, though, I think the blue areas could be, in a way, overstated. Technically, I’m sure the data is right, but practically speaking, a blue area may not be very pedestrian oriented, meaning most people still drive. This is where good urban design factors. A 15-minute walk will feel very different depending on what you’re walking on and through.
Maps from 15-min-City; cover photo by HANVIN CHEONG on Unsplash