Assessing Compliance with the X-minute City Concept: A Bikeability and Accessibility Approach in Münster

Abstract

The x-minute city concept ensures that residents can access essential services within a short walking or cycling distance, promoting sustainable urban mobility. While previous research has primarily focused on walkability, bikeability remains underexplored. This study aims to develop a framework to assess compliance with the x-minute city concept by integrating accessibility, bikeability, and service diversity while addressing social inequalities. The methodology combines multiple indicators into a composite x-minute city index. Accessibility is evaluated using a cumulative-opportunity measure across six essential service categories. Bikeability is assessed through an index evaluating infrastructure, safety, comfort, and environmental factors, with weights determined by experts using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Service diversity is analyzed using the Shannon index, while social inequalities are assessed through sufficiency criteria and the Gini index to measure disparities in aligning with the x-minute city concept. Applying this framework to Münster reveals that 99.5%, 99.2%, and 98.3% of residents can access at least one essential destination within 15, 10 and 5 minutes, respectively. The results indicate that aligning with the x-minute concept is well distributed across different population groups, including foreigners, the elderly, and children. While most residents have access to a sufficient variety of amenities within 15 minutes, availability decreases at the 10- and 5-minute thresholds. Peripheral areas have limited access to diverse amenities and bike-friendly infrastructure, highlighting the need for targeted improvements. Overall, Münster aligns with the 15-minute city model and has the potential to transition toward a 10-minute city with further enhancements in accessibility and service distribution in underserved areas. A key contribution of this study is the development of a digital tool that provides real-time, location-specific insights into x-minute city compliance. By supporting urban planners and policymakers, this tool helps optimize accessibility and offers insights into the importance of the x-minute city concept.