Imagine a city where everything you need - work, grocery stores, healthcare, schools, and entertainment - is within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from your home. This is the vision behind the "15-minute city," an urban planning concept that has gained traction worldwide, including in Montreal and some of its municipalities. But is this utopian idea practical in a city with harsh winters and sprawling suburbs? Let’s explore the pros and cons.

What exactly is it? 

A 15-minute city is an urban planning model that aims to make city living more efficient by ensuring that residents can meet most of their daily needs within a short walk or bike ride. The idea is to reduce car dependency, promote local economies, and enhance community life. Cities like Paris, Melbourne, and Portland have embraced this concept, and Montreal has shown interest, particularly in its central boroughs.

However, the 15-minute city has sparked controversy. Some critics see it as an unrealistic attempt to reshape cities and towns in ways that ignore geographical, climatic, and economic realities. Others worry it could limit personal freedoms by restricting car use or forcing people into densely populated areas. Take the recently proposed trials of traffic filters in Oxford, UK, where plans to reduce congestion and promote walkability were met with mass protests and fierce opposition from local residents. Detractors worried that these measures would limit their ability to move freely, despite assurances that no one would be confined to specific zones. This backlash highlights the challenges of balancing sustainability goals with public trust, as many skeptics see 15-minute cities not as a genuine effort to improve urban life, but as a form of social control cleverly disguised as a solution for the “greater good”.

Advantages of a 15-Minute City in Montreal

1. Reduced Traffic Congestion and Pollution

By making it easier to walk and cycle, the 15-minute city reduces reliance on cars, leading to lower emissions and less traffic congestion. This is particularly relevant in Montreal, where rush-hour traffic can be a nightmare. Frankly, spending 15 minutes moving just one block up the Decarie Expressway is already a pretty authentic local experience.

2. Better Community Life

When people shop and work close to home, they interact more with their neighbors and support local businesses, fostering a sense of belonging.

3. Health Benefits

Walking or biking instead of driving encourages physical activity, reducing health risks like obesity and heart disease. Bonus: Your quads will be in peak winter shape from trudging through knee-deep snow every day.

4. More Efficient Public Transport

A city designed around shorter distances makes it easier to develop efficient public transit routes, improving accessibility for residents who don't own cars. 

5. Winter Adaptation Possibilities

If done right, a 15-minute city could work even in winter, with heated sidewalks, underground pathways, and better snow removal making it easier to navigate neighborhoods year-round. Montrealers already treat the underground city like a cozy hibernation den, so why not expand it?

Disadvantages of a 15-Minute City in Montreal

1. Winter Challenges

Montreal’s long, snowy winters make walking and biking less appealing. Icy sidewalks and freezing temperatures mean that many residents prefer driving, making the 15-minute concept harder to implement. 

2. Not Feasible for All Neighbourhoods

While central boroughs like Plateau-Mont-Royal and Rosemont could thrive under this model, suburban areas like the West Island or Laval are much more car-dependent, making a full transition nearly impossible.

3. High Costs Creating walkable, or even bike-friendly neighborhoods requires significant investment in infrastructure. 

This pipe-dream of heated sidewalks, underground pathways, and better snow removal would cost an absolute fortune! This coming from a city administration that already struggles to clear the roads and keep the trains running on time.

4. Gentrification Risks

In areas where the 15-minute city is successfully implemented, property values could spike, potentially pushing out lower-income residents. Suddenly, your cute, walkable neighborhood comes with a price tag steeper than a third-floor walk-up.

4. Resistance from Car Users

Many Montrealers rely on cars due to work locations or family needs. Restricting cars in favor of biking and public transit will frustrate drivers, especially in areas with inadequate transit options. And let’s face it, some people just love their cars. For them, the only true 15-minute city is the one that gets them to a Tim Hortons drive-thru in record time.

5. Economic Disruptions

Businesses that rely on customers from outside a neighborhood, such as large retail stores, could suffer if access becomes more localized. The future may hold fewer big-box stores and more charming bakeries. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all.

Is the 15-Minute City Right for Us?

In theory, the concept offers many benefits, particularly for sustainability and quality of life. However, Montreal's winters and suburban sprawl pose significant challenges. While the idea may work well in downtown and certain boroughs, a one-size-fits-all approach might not be realistic for the entire metropolitan area. Instead, a hybrid model that balances walkability with the realities of car dependency may be the best path forward.

What do you think? Could Montreal successfully become a 15-minute city, or would it cause more problems than it solves? We’d love to hear from you!