minutowa

Minutowa is a term used in urban planning to denote a design principle or proposed urban form in which residents can access essential services within a short amount of time, typically by walking or cycling. The concept emphasizes proximity, mixed-use development, and efficient transport networks as ways to reduce travel time and increase daily productivity and well-being. In Polish usage, minutowa functions as an adjective form of minutowy, meaning minute or of small scale, and is often seen in phrases such as minutowa dostępność (minute-level accessibility) and minutowa odległość (minute-distance).

Origins and context: Minutowa as a planning concept is associated with the broader movement around the 15-minute city and similar ideas that advocate compact, walkable neighborhoods. While the exact term minutowa is not universally standardized, it appears in planning literature, policy proposals, and academic discussions in Poland and Central Europe during the 2010s and 2020s. It is used to describe urban forms where essential amenities—workplaces, schools, healthcare, shops, and recreation—are reachable within a short time by non-motorized modes.

Implementation: Typical strategies aim to create smaller, interconnected neighborhoods with higher density, street networks that prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, and land-use zoning that supports local services. Transportation planning emphasizes transit-oriented development and safe, continuous cycling routes to minimize reliance on cars.

Criticism and challenges: Critics point to potential trade-offs between housing density and green space, the risk of service clustering in wealthier districts, and measurement challenges in defining what counts as “minute-based” accessibility. Nonetheless, minutowa remains part of a larger conversation about reducing time poverty and promoting sustainable, human-scale cities.

See also: 15-minute city, walkability, time poverty, mixed-use development.