On the equity of the x-minute city from the perspective of walkability

Abstract

Walkability and equity in transport are crucial aspects of sustainable mobility and social well-being. The x-minute city concept emphasizes the importance of walkability, by fostering the design of a city where people can easily access their daily needs aiming to reduce reliance on private cars. However, such approaches, which generally rely on the idea of an “average resident” can ignore inequalities amongst people and fail to achieve the goal of building urban environments where everyone can participate in city life regardless of their socio-economic characteristics and vulnerability. In this study we propose an approach to assess the equity of the x-minute city, highlighting the limitations of the current application of the concept. The approach includes the computation of x-minute thresholds based on the walkability of pedestrian paths and considering different users’ needs. Home to school trips and social trips are taken as a reference; equity metrics such as the Lorenz Curve and Gini Index are used to assess how the x-minute city concurs with the transport equity of a city. The results of the assessment can help identify potential disparities in access to key destinations among different user groups, and support evidence-based policy recommendations to promote equitable transportation options. The case study of Bari, Italy, is used to illustrate the application of the method; however, the proposed approach can be replicated in different contexts, contributing to the ongoing discourse on walkability and equity in transport.