PARIS — The phrase “15‑minute city” started as a planning slogan. This year it is showing up in budgets, zoning maps, and transit timetables. City halls from Europe to Latin America are funding neighborhood clinics, expanding bike lanes, and converting key corridors into pedestrian-first streets.

Supporters say the payoff is measurable: cleaner air, lower household transport costs, and more foot traffic for local businesses. Critics worry about uneven investment—some districts gain amenities while others wait years for basic upgrades.

Urban planners argue the concept succeeds only when paired with housing supply. Without it, the best-connected neighborhoods become more expensive, pushing workers farther away and undermining the very convenience the model promises.