15MinCities

You may have seen some animated videos about city projects and thought, ‘that looks like science fiction, and perhaps even laughed at the scale or absurdity of the project’. ‘The Line’ in Saudi Arabia is a recent example aiming for zero emissions, low carbon, and being car-free. But what can cities learn from these projects? In this 15-minute episode, mobility expert Augustin Friedel shares how cities can benefit from the experience, knowledge and thinking of these aspirational projects.

With a reputation that many cities strive to not have, Marseille is a hilly city that isn’t really a biking city so it’s an unlikely place to have such great cycling success. In this 15-minute episode, Jessica Jones-Langley spoke with Stefanie and Francesco from the Fifteen team about the company’s most challenging project yet—which when implemented, also helped to triple bike-sharing trips within 3 months.

Many thanks to Francesco Cusimano and Stefanie Journel (Fifteen) for taking the time to talk to me about the exciting project at Fifteen that the company can’t stop talking about.

"If we don't get cities on board, we will not achieve the Paris Agreement." In this 15 minute episode, Jessica Jones-Langley shares highlights of a conversation with Lea Ranalder who is working on the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable future, and believes the role of cities is fundamental to addressing climate change.

Many thanks to Lea Ranalder (UN Habitat) for taking the time to talk about the future of cities, the impact of climate change on urban environments, and what needs to be done to ensure we attain our climate goals.

How can we ensure that when creating 15MinCities and neighbourhoods, we avoid the planning mistakes we’ve made in the past? In this 15 minute episode, Jessica Jones-Langley shares highlights of a previous 15MinCities event focusing on what inclusive communities look like and what we need to consider to achieve healthier, happier and more inclusive places to live. 

Many thanks to Christine Boston (Sustrans Cymru) and Josh James (Living Streets) for taking the time to talk about 15MinCities and neighbourhoods, and sharing their insights on building inclusive communities that encourage walking and wheeling.

What is the one event which people travel from all over the world for? Velo-City. In this 15 minute episode, Jessica Jones-Langley speaks to the cities who will be hosting the cycling event of the year in the coming years, including the Deputy Mayor of Ghent who gave some advice for future host cities.

Many thanks to Jill Warren (European Cyclists’ Federation), Filip Watteeuw (Belgian City of Ghent), Lukasz Klos (Polish City of Gdansk) & Kirsten Pfaue (German City of Hamburg) for taking the time to talk about their cities and Velo-City during the event.

Europe is home to some of the most cyclable cities in the world: 32% of people who live in Amsterdam cycle to work, 62% in Copenhagen. In this episode, Philip Amaral (ECF) talks about what’s happening in Europe to make cities more cyclable, and what cities can do today to replicate the success of Dutch cities.

Many thanks to Philip Amaral, who works at the European Cyclists’ Federation as the Policy & Development Director, and is the person who knows what cities can do to become more cyclable.

Step or cycle into the world of mobility at the Autonomy World Expo, the largest gathering of experts and innovators dedicated to shaping the future of transportation. In this 15 minute episode, we dive into the latest trends and technology on display, and hear firsthand from attendees about their work, what’s happening in their city or company, and their thoughts on the future of mobility. 

Many thanks to the guest speakers of this episode—Ross Douglas (Autonomy), Artur Munne (Fifteen); Damian Weinzierl (P3), Sanne Van Breukelen (Cenex Nederland), Sacha Voulon-Tibboel (Chargewell), Isobel Duxfield (POLIS), Edgardo Bolio Arceo (Merida city, Mexico), Terry Albronda (Groningen), Óscar Julián Gómez Cortés (Bogota), Alex Gilbert (Transport for London) & Benoit Yameundjeu (Fifteen), & a shout-out to the Autonomy for hosting such a great event.

Clean Air Zones are set to change the way we move. Furthermore, they aim to transform cities to become better, cleaner, and more accessible. Hear firsthand from experts about how these schemes came about, the challenges cities face in implementing these schemes and what the future holds.

Many thanks to the guest speakers of this episode—Sandra Cavalieri (Climate and Clean Air Coalition), Huw Russell (Local Partnerships), & Councillor Jane Byrne (Newcastle upon Tyne).

Welcome to 15 Min Cities, the podcast that explores the challenges and opportunities facing local governments as they strive to create healthier and happier communities. Join Fifteen's Jessica Jones-Langley as she talks to experts from Washington to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, digging into topics like sustainable transportation, urban innovations, and ways to improve health and well-being in our cities.

Each episode is just 15 minutes long, perfect for your commute, a quick break, or a walk in the park. Whether you're a policymaker, transport planner, active travel manager, or just curious about the future of our urban spaces, 15MinCities is the podcast for you. Dive into an episode now recapping the highlights of conversations about creating happier and healthier cities.