The 15-Minute City: Utopia or Control? HC E25| Carlos Moreno | Ruchita Bansal

About the Episode: Can cities be redesigned so everything you need — schools, shops, parks, healthcare — is within a 15-minute walk or bike ride? Carlos Moreno, creator of the 15-minute city concept, joins Ruchita Bansal to discuss how Paris transformed 300 streets into mini-parks, why housing should be a right not a business, and what it takes to break free from car dependency and social isolation.Some call it revolutionary. Others call it dystopian control. This is the conversation everyone's avoiding — honest, critical, and grounded. This conversation doesn't shy away from tough questions:Is the 15-minute city just rebranding what traditional cities already do?Can it work in car-dependent sprawl like Houston or Phoenix?What about technology — does remote work and delivery apps make proximity more or less important?And crucially: What are the limits? Carlos is honest about what local urban policy can and cannot solve — macro economics, national housing authority, and corporate control over where people work.Whether you see the 15-minute city as a climate solution or a step toward surveillance, this episode gives you the full picture — not the slogan, but the reality of how cities shape daily life.------------------------Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Teaser01:44 The Concept of the 15-Minute City05:48 Historical Context and Modern Relevance09:09 Walkable Neighborhoods vs. 15-Minute City11:54 Zoning Laws and Proximity Living13:48 Regulation: The Backbone of Transformation15:20 Global Examples of the 15-Minute City18:41 Proximity and Quality of Urban Life22:42 Technology's Role in Urban Proximity25:34 Limits of the 15-Minute CityAbout the Guest: Carlos Moreno is a Professor at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and the creator of the 15-Minute City concept, which has influenced urban policy in Paris, Milan, and cities worldwide. His work focuses on transforming cities through proximity, social mixity, and decarbonized mobility. As Director of the Entrepreneurship, Territory & Innovation Chair, Carlos has advised mayors and governments on sustainable urban development. He is also the founder of the Global Observatory of Sustainable Proximities (UN Habitat, UCLG, MIT) and author of The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet. His ideas have sparked both admiration and controversy globally.Connect with her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-moreno-71b34420/Know more about her work here: https://www.moreno-web.net/------------------------About the Host:The Human City Podcast is hosted by Ruchita Bansal, an accomplished urban planner and project management professional with 15+ years of experience. She has led multi-billion-dollar development projects and sustainable mobility programs across India, including her leadership role at the Ayodhya Development Authority.Ruchita is also the founder of SheCity India, a platform for gender-inclusive urban planning, storytelling, and data-driven advocacy.--------------------------About The Human City Podcast:This podcast brings together global voices and local insights to explore how cities can be made more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered. Each episode uncovers what it takes to design cities that truly work for people.“The Human City Podcast is an initiative of SheCity India — building gender-inclusive, human-centered cities.”