The idea of 15-minute cities is horrifying. Who in their right mind would want to be able to walk to work, walk to the shops, walk to parks, restaurants, cinemas? Who would want to be able to walk your kids to school everyday?

Don’t we all prefer being stuck in traffic, spending significant amounts of our hard earned income on a large hunk of metal that spends the majority of the time parked, being useless, and the rest of the time costing us how much in fuel that gives us  pollution so toxic that in an enclosed space it will kill us.

I mean I don’t know about you but doesn’t that sound better?

Oh, and I forgot the best bit, these hunks of metal not only cost us enough to keep running, but say something goes wrong, more expense. And then, even better, something goes truly wrong, and we get injured, and if lucky end up with a hospital stay, and worst case scenario, well, game over.

I mean not only for ourselves, but don’t we all want our kids to experience that as well?

Yeah, that idea of 15 minute cities sounds absolutely horrible. Give me traffic jams, fuel prices, car accidents and potential death every time.

Oh, and the pollution. Let's not forget the pollution. Oh, I’m sorry, we are getting rid of the pollution. Not the death, obviously.

That is, and will always be, an option.

But hey, who want to be able to simply walk places.

That would be ridiculous.

And safer. Healthier.

Yeah, no one in their right mind would want that.

Zainab Carver - Speech at Livable Cities Rally