Is your mobility program ready for the “15-minute city?”

Last year, I wrote about the “15-minute city” concept, where residents of a given area would have everything they need — such as housing, shops, parks and cultural venues — within a 15-minute walk or bike ride.

This idea is being turned into reality in Draper, Utah, where a development called The Point is being built with a 10- to 15-minute walk in mind, with the goal of being a “one-car community,” according to developers.

The 600-acre site will feature a series of interconnected parks that residents will be able to easily walk through. Streets will allow cars, but they’ll be optimized for bikes and walkers. A bus rapid-transit system will connect the neighborhood to other nearby cities, and a shuttle — which may run autonomously — will provide another option for getting around quickly. The Point is expected to contain around 7,400 households when completed.

It's another glimpse at what “cities of the future” might look like — a greater focus on green spaces and shared transit, with a decreased focus on commuting by car. It also offers a good reminder to mobility teams that relocating employees will likely have shifting priorities in this environment. Many may feel less inclined to transport a vehicle (or even own a car at all) and would prefer to have support shipping a bike or getting reimbursed for bus rides.

However, it’s unlikely that everyone moves away from car commuting in the near future, especially in areas that aren’t quite as walkable as a 15-minute city. Mobility teams need to be agile and offer the right range of benefits to meet the needs of both groups of people.