The 15 min city concept seeks to promote health, well-being, and quality of life by ensuring that essential services are located within a 15 min walking or cycling distance from housing and are accessible through sustainable modes of transportation. This study aims to evaluate the compliance of this concept in a developing country context and provide supporting evidence by examining if residing within the 15 min reach to basic services affects perceived health, perceived accessibility, and life satisfaction. To assess pedestrian accessibility in Lahore, Pakistan, we adapted the NEXT proximity index-originally developed as part of the Landscape Metropolis Project in Italy-which scores 15 min access using open data sources. A network analysis was conducted to determine the shortest travel times to various points of interest, including education, transportation, healthcare, shops, restaurants, leisure spaces, places of worship, and financial services. Each hexagonal unit in the study area was assigned an access score proportional to its proximity to these facilities. These access scores were then analyzed using multiple regression models, based on survey data collected from 519 university students regarding their perceived health, perceived accessibility, and life satisfaction. According to the network analysis conducted using WorldPop estimates of Lahore’s population, only up to 30% of the population resides in areas that qualify as a 15 min city for each facility type. Moreover, access to bus stops significantly enhances both perceived accessibility and life satisfaction, while proximity to healthcare services shows the strongest positive association with life satisfaction.
The 15 min city concept seeks to promote health, well-being, and quality of life by ensuring that essential services are located within a 15 min walking or cycling distance from housing and are accessible through sustainable modes of transportation. This study aims to evaluate the compliance of this concept in a developing country context and provide supporting evidence by examining if residing within the 15 min reach to basic services affects perceived health, perceived accessibility, and life satisfaction. To assess pedestrian accessibility in Lahore, Pakistan, we adapted the NEXT proximity index-originally developed as part of the Landscape Metropolis Project in Italy-which scores 15 min access using open data sources. A network analysis was conducted to determine the shortest travel times to various points of interest, including education, transportation, healthcare, shops, restaurants, leisure spaces, places of worship, and financial services. Each hexagonal unit in the study area was assigned an access score proportional to its proximity to these facilities. These access scores were then analyzed using multiple regression models, based on survey data collected from 519 university students regarding their perceived health, perceived accessibility, and life satisfaction. According to the network analysis conducted using WorldPop estimates of Lahore’s population, only up to 30% of the population resides in areas that qualify as a 15 min city for each facility type. Moreover, access to bus stops significantly enhances both perceived accessibility and life satisfaction, while proximity to healthcare services shows the strongest positive association with life satisfaction. Read More
Related posts:
Spatial Analysis of Territorial Connectivity and Accessibility in the Province of Coclé in Panama
Analysing the acceptance of autonomous buses in real-life traffic environments pilot project with tourists in Malaga, Spain
Forecasting moped scooter-sharing travel demand using a machine learning approach
Book of Abstract. Proximity Planning International Congress
Exploring the role of configurational accessibility of alleyways on facilitating wayfinding transportation within the organic street network systems
Assessing Service Imbalances as Contributing Factors to Mobility Issues in the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador