Thread by @BrentToderian

You know who DOESN’T get to decide if the concept of 15-Minute Cities, which supports MORE CHOICE & LESS CAR DEPENDENCY, is good public policy?

The same alt-right conspiracy theorists & cynical opportunists who brought us truck occupations in neighbourhoods, Jan. 5th, & Brexit.

Unhinged conspiracy theorists are attacking the idea of more walkable communities & less car dependency. I for one have no intention of letting them reframe effective public policy with the equivalent of “chips in vaccines.” You shouldn’t either. Via @VICE vice.com/en/article/m7g…

If you REALLY want to understand more about the “15-Minute City” concept — what it is, what it isn’t — then check out this older thread. It’s not a new idea. What’s new is that Paris branded it better than anyone else had, so now it’s become a strategic target among extremists.

https://twitter.com/BrentToderian/status/1364767903837429762

“Now we’re afraid of reasonable walking distances?!?”

Well, some folks really want you to be.

HT @CriticalMassAKL

Notable urbanists are weighing in & pushing back on the recent conspiracy theories from extremists about the concept of 15-Minute Cities (aka communities where you have the ability to access more of the things you need nearby without being car dependent). Here’s @charlesincities.

https://twitter.com/charlesincities/status/1625546873665908740

In praise of the ‘15-minute city’ – the mundane planning theory terrifying conspiracists. “The frightening prospect of greener, people-friendly streets & convenient amenities has sent the online right into a tailspin.” Via @ollywainwright @guardiancities theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

LISTEN: ‘We're afraid of walkable distances now?' — conspiracies & the '15-minute city,’ my NEW interview on @abcnews National Australian Radio @RadioNational. I don’t JUST explain with the concept really IS and ISN’T, I also call out the lies & tactics.
abc.net.au/radionational/…

“While the 15-minute city has nothing to do with creating ghettos where people will be locked in, fake news like this circulates broadly and quickly, making it crucial for policymakers to convey clear messages about what’s at stake.” Via @ConversationUK theconversation.com/15-minute-citi…

"There's always going to be debate in city planning. Always. But there's good faith debate, based on disagreements, and then there's deliberate lies and misinformation." Print article of my @abcnews interview on the truth and lies about “15-Minute Cities.”
abc.net.au/news/2023-02-2…

“The legitimate concerns of those wishing to quite-rightly engage in robust, reasoned & constructive dialogue around development of 15-minute cities appears to have been hijacked by those seeking to make broader and more extreme political points.” @TheB1M
theb1m.com/video/15-minut…

“There are no plots to create concentration camps. No city will be divided into Hunger Games-style quarters where residents can’t leave. Nobody will be electronically chained to neighborhoods & fed ground-up grasshoppers. 

The truth is far more mundane.”

forbes.com/sites/carltonr…

“Melbourne man says there’s no way he’s going to become part of the government’s grand mind-control experiment by arriving at work within a manageable commute time.”

He’s also suspicious of the supermarket near his apartment.

Well played, @TheShovel.

theshovel.com.au/2023/02/23/15-…

“Unfortunately, urban planning — for cities are always planned, one way or another — is yet another casualty of the politics of grievance & paranoia.” — @paulkrugman

It’s not a casualty, because we’re pushing back & winning against the irrational attacks. nytimes.com/2023/03/06/opi…

Yet another excellent take-down of the ridiculous and manipulative conspiracy theories about the “15-Minute City” concept, via @annaholligan @BBCNews. Plus explore this whole thread.

If you DON’T live in a walkable, complete community, you’re restricted.

“If we want to save the time we currently spend in cars, the simplest way to do that is to reduce the distance cars have created in our built environment: Proximity, not horsepower, enables freedom and convenience.” — @BrooklynSpoke in @newrepublic
newrepublic.com/article/171917…