Beyond proximity: a review and framework to further understanding of greenspace accessibility in the x-minute city

Schendl, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4216-5746; Bullock, James M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0529-4020; Menezes, Ronaldo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6479-6429; Willcock, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9534-9114. 2025 Beyond proximity: a review and framework to further understanding of greenspace accessibility in the x-minute city. People and Nature. 14, pp. 10.1002/pan3.70081

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text People and Nature - 2025 - Schendl - Beyond proximity A review and framework to further understanding of greenspace.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

•1. Urban greenspaces are crucial for public health, climate resilience and community well-being, yet there are inequalities in accessibility in cities across the world. The ‘x-minute city’ framework has been proposed as a potential solution, proposing that essential services and amenities—including greenspace—should be accessible within a short commute from every residence. However, current approaches to measuring and implementing this framework often rely on single dimensional metrics that fail to capture the full complexity of how people actually access and use urban greenspaces. •2. This review synthesizes methods from three distinct fields to develop a more comprehensive understanding of greenspace accessibility: geographic information science (GIScience), which provides spatial analytical tools; behavioural ecology (BE), which offers frameworks for understanding movement decisions; and human mobility analysis, which reveals movement patterns through the urban environment. •3. While GIScience approaches allow for the identification of spatial inequalities in greenspace distribution, they often overlook the behavioural and social factors that influence actual usage, highlighted in BE approaches. Similarly, human mobility models can track movement patterns but may miss environmental and cultural factors. •4. To bridge the gap between these methods, we introduce the Multi-context Inclusive City (MIC) framework, which integrates spatial, behavioural and mobility perspectives to analyse greenspace accessibility. This framework moves beyond proximity measures to incorporate diverse experiences, movement pathways and the environmental and social factors that influence greenspace usage. •5. The MIC framework offers practical guidance for selecting appropriate models and methods based on specific research questions or planning objectives. By providing a more nuanced understanding of how people interact with urban greenspaces, this framework can help planners and policymakers develop more effective strategies for creating equitable, accessible and sustainable cities.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1002/pan3.70081
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity and Land Use (2025-)
ISSN:	2575-8314
Additional Information:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	accessibility, foraging, greenspace, human mobility, modelling, movement, x-minute city
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	24 Jun 2025 13:58 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539657

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...