The 15-minute city strategy has been discussed in the public sphere and media in the context of Vilnius more than once. The municipality itself has included this issue in the strategic development plan of Vilnius until 2030. The Vilnius Citizens’ Assembly has also shared its recommendations. So, is Vilnius ready to become a “15-minute city”?

The “15-minute city” is an urban concept that places all essential daily needs, such as work, school, shopping or healthcare, within 15 minutes of home on foot or by bike. The idea aims to create more convenient, sustainable and community-based cities by reducing car use and pollution.

The municipality itself has repeatedly mentioned the “15-minute city” in the context of Vilnius. The first Vilnius Citizens’ Assembly also shared its recommendations in December: “In order to create a “15-minute city”, in the old town“In the city center and in apartment blocks, new buildings must be multifunctional, providing services to local residents. When planning the “15-minute city”, it is necessary to limit the construction of offices and shopping centers in the city center and the old town, and to encourage their development outside the center,” the recommendations read.

“Multifunctional and interesting residential areas are one of the objectives of the Vilnius Strategic Development Plan 2030. This objective is implemented in the strategic plan through measures such as “expanding and promoting the supply of cultural, artistic, social services and jobs in residential areas (sub-centers)”. Thus, although not named as a “15-minute city”, the goal of creating multifunctional residential areas is part of the Vilnius strategy”, comments Gabrielius Grubinskas, Vilnius city municipalities Media relations specialist.

The municipality has already started developing urban concepts to make the city districts more complex. The first such district is Naujieji Pašilaičiai. It is here that the idea of ​​a polycentric city is being developed, the aim of which is to concentrate various functions in one district. The basis of the idea would be that the district center would be convenient and quick to reach by public transport from any point in the district within 15 minutes. In the future, such urban concepts will be developed for various city territories.

Vilnius already has districts where the “15-minute city” concept can be applied, for better or worse.

“Last year, a “15-minute” service accessibility index was prepared in Vilnius. The collected data reveals that the central districts of the capital – Old town, New town, Zoo, Šnipiškės and Žirmūnas – are characterized by the highest level of accessibility of services, these places already meet the principles of the “15-minute city” – they are convenient to live, work and relax in without the need to get into a car every day,” says a representative of the municipality.

Average service availability is still in Šeškinė, Karoliniškės and Lazdynas. Some services here still require longer journeys. Due to natural features, services are unevenly distributed, even in several districts of the city: in Antakalni, Verkiai, Naujininkai, Rasas and WolffootHere, to get various services, you still have to drive closer to the city center.

friends, Pilaitte, New Vilnius or Grigiškės are characterized by greater differences in the availability of services. In some places, local centers can already boast good accessibility and a variety of services. For some, however, such a variety of services is still lacking and in order to receive them, one has to travel further from their district. The greatest lack of diversity dominates in the neighborhoods of private houses.

Although in the context of Vilnius, the concept of a “15-minute” city is already improving and developing, shortcomings can still be seen. However, it is likely that new city districts will no longer have this deficiency, and by 2030 the situation will also improve in the current city districts.