China’s 15-Minute Cities: What You Need To Know.
In recent years, the concept of “15-Minute Cities” has gained significant traction worldwide, and China is at the forefront of embracing this innovative urban planning approach.
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In recent years, the concept of “15-Minute Cities” has gained significant traction worldwide, and China is at the forefront of embracing this innovative urban planning approach. Developed by French urbanist Carlos Moreno, 15-minute city refers to a place where all the necessities of daily life – shops, schools, workplaces, doctor’s offices, parks, libraries, restaurants and other amenities – are located in a short 15-minute walk or bike ride from home.
China’s rapid urbanization and population growth have posed significant challenges for city planners, resulting in issues such as congestion, pollution, and reduced quality of life. The 15-Minute City concept sought to address these challenges by promoting a more decentralized and community-focused urban layout.
However, there is a cleverly diabolical design feature inherent to China’s 15-Minute Cities. Within these expansive areas, these cities accommodate tens of thousands of people, yet they only offer a few exit points where everyone must scan their QR code for entry and exit. One of the clever and diabolical features of this system is that it enables governments to closely monitor everyone as well as swiftly lock down large groups of people with just a few simple steps. Although it appears to be an oasis, it is very dystopian in nature.
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There is no shame in the left-wing propaganda that surrounds China’s 15-Minute Cities. Some proponents refer to these little prisons as “life circles,” if you can believe that.
According to pro-China Sixth Tone (emphasis mine):
That’s why cities with a high proportion of service industries, like Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, have begun floating goals like building 15-minute community life circles. The idea is to blend urban functions in smaller spaces, obviating the need for long commutes. As envisioned in Paris, the plan would allow people to fulfill a dozen needs within 15 minutes’ travel time.
The benefits of the 15-minute city are numerous. It reduces the cost of commuting, increases productivity, and allows people to spend more time with their families, enjoying life, or learning. (To that end, Paris has made libraries an essential part of their 15-minute range.) Shortened commutes also have environmental implications, and cities like Barcelona have included similar schemes in their climate change initiatives.
It is important to note that this is not only happening in China. There are already plans for 15-Minute Cities throughout the United States, including Florida.
These prion-like cities are presented by the liberal media in the U.S. as a much-needed “solution” to a growing population and climate change problems, in the same way that their Chinese counterparts do.
But, as it turns out, the concept is not always a fit. For one, the 15-minute neighborhood doesn’t work so well for a suburban nation, like the United States. But this won’t stop liberals from pushing this concept as a counter-solution.