Dec 29, 2021 7:00 AM

The Future of Cities? Fewer Cars, Better Homes

Picking up the pieces after Covid-19, cities are reinventing themselves to be more inclusive, sustainable and liveable.

Cities were hit hard by Covid-19, which raised questions about their long-term futures. Many urban areas saw an exodus of the privileged, who chose to work remotely in their second homes, as rents tumbled and the decrease in human activity lowered air pollution.

In 2022, cities will bounce back, becoming more liveable, inclusive areas. Downtowns will become more focused on prioritising mixed-use developments, comprising residential, commercial and open space. We are already seeing moves in this direction in London. Coworking spaces and hybrid ways of working will reduce the need to live close to offices in central districts, which often came at the expense of high rents and small units.

Importantly, cities will prioritise liveability. Cultural amenities, museums, public services such as transport, educational institutions, open spaces and access to nature will be major determinants in attracting people back to urban living. City authorities are already investing in greening their cities, adding open space and cycle lanes, and expanding pedestrianisation at the expense of roadways. They are also improving public transport and public amenities, and prioritising support for the art, culture and creative industries. In February 2020, Bogotá announced a four-year plan to add 280km of bicycle lanes, a 50 per cent increase of its existing network; within one month, the city had added 84km of emergency lanes. Freetown has begun a three-year project to plant one million trees. Auckland is widening pavements. Paris is transforming the iconic Champs-Elysées into a green and mostly pedestrian boulevard. Barcelona has closed off many streets to cars in its historic centre, converting them into pedestrian spaces accessible to residents.

Some cities are taking liveability further by developing “15-minute city” plans where day-to-day needs – shopping, education, leisure and (sometimes) work – are within a 15-minute distance from home. Paris and Milan are aggressively pursuing such plans for self-sufficient neighbourhoods to reduce unnecessary commutes, while also promoting walking and cycling.

Cities will also invest in sustainability. Loss of land, nature and biodiversity to urban expansion has had negative environmental and public-health impacts in many cities across the world, leading to increased flooding, an urban “heat island” effect, worsening air pollution, lower access to fresh food and the spread of zoonotic diseases. Rapidly growing Asian cities – Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok – are already investing in reducing air pollution and integrating nature to tackle flooding and heat. This will continue in 2022.

But the most important foundation of the post-Covid city will be inclusivity. While some may live in gated communities to avoid city crime, no equivalent ring-fencing exists to contain a pandemic. As long as there are still slums and poor neighbourhoods where people lack decent housing and sanitation, and with no public space, pandemics, social unrest and violence will continue to find fertile ground. Cities will realise the need to invest in upgrading slums and expanding access to housing and infrastructure. They will see that affordable housing is a must for essential workers – police, teachers, nurses, rubbish collectors, restaurant workers and baristas – without whom the city cannot function. And without a diversity of people and cultures, cities will miss out on creativity, innovation and resilience.

The demise of cities is nowhere in sight, even after a global pandemic, but to thrive, they will need to work hard to become liveable, sustainable and inclusive places.

Get more expert predictions for the year ahead. The WIRED World in 2022 features intelligence and need-to-know insights sourced from the smartest minds in the WIRED network. Available now on newsstands, as a digital download, or you can order your copy online.