(opinion article)

The idea of a fifteen-minute city means that everything a person needs in daily life is nearby. This can include a grocery store, a pharmacy, a doctor, a school, a café or a place to walk. There is no need to plan a long trip across town or spend hours in traffic. Everything is close, within walking distance. This idea first appeared in France.

Such a city feels more human. It is easier to understand and nicer to live in. In this kind of place, people want to stay. They make plans. They leave the house without stress. This is a city that respects time and everyday needs.

In Kyiv or Kharkiv, the picture is different. Many new districts still lack schools, kindergartens, parks or clinics. People often spend a lot of time just to reach basic services like education or healthcare. Some areas feel like islands of concrete without real connection to the city. People live there, but do not feel the city cares about them.

Still, the idea of a fifteen-minute city is slowly gaining attention in Ukraine. Urban planners, activists, architects and regular citizens talk more about comfort and accessibility. Community projects, new building rules and new ways of thinking about streets are already shaping a new city culture.

The fifteen-minute city is not just a trend. It is about respect for time and for the way people live. Vinnytsia shows that a city does not have to be large to be friendly and thoughtful. It offers a model that other cities can follow. And perhaps the first step is simply to place the resident at the center of every plan.