06 July 2026
Bilbao
Being able to walk to the supermarket, enjoy a nearby park or have a public transport stop just a few minutes’ walk from home. That is the model of city preferred by the majority of European citizens, according to research led by the University of Deusto and published in the scientific journal Sustainable Development.
The study, carried out as part of the European V2G-QUEST project, coordinated by researcher Cruz Borges, analysed the responses of 650 people from various European countries to find out how they would like to get around in their daily lives and to what extent those preferences align with the model of the so-called ‘15-minute city’.
The results send a clear message: people want everyday services to be close to home and within walking distance, but they believe that activities such as going to work or university still require longer journeys and the use of a car or public transport. "Urban sustainability does not depend solely on changing people’s habits, but also on providing cities that make it possible to live differently," explains the research team.
Three ways of understanding mobility
The analysis identified three main mobility profiles amongst the European population. The first group comprises those who prefer to walk whenever possible. The second group comprises people who combine walking with regular car use. The third group consists of people who rely mainly on private cars or public transport for many of their daily journeys.
One of the most significant findings is that there is broad consensus on the benefits of having services such as local shops, green spaces, children’s playgrounds and public transport stops nearby. Conversely, work and university appear to be the main obstacles to progress towards an urban model based on proximity.
For researchers, these findings provide invaluable information for those planning the cities of the future. The fact is that urban policies cannot be based on the assumption that all citizens have the same needs. Understanding how people move around and what they consider a reasonable distance to travel to access each service makes it possible to design more accessible neighbourhoods, reduce emissions, improve quality of life and promote healthier mobility.
Furthermore, the study highlights that many transport choices are not determined solely by personal preferences, but by the opportunities offered by the urban environment. In other words, people often use their cars because the city does not yet offer them alternatives that are convenient, nearby or efficient enough.
European research with social impact
This work forms part of the European project funded by the European association Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The study was led at the University of Deusto by researcher Cruz Borges, together with the Deusto Sustainable Research Group, and reflects the University's commitment to research excellence aimed at addressing the major challenges facing society, such as the transition to more sustainable, resilient and inclusive cities.
Through European research and innovation projects, the University of Deusto develops scientific knowledge that helps public authorities, businesses and policy-makers to make evidence-based decisions aimed at creating urban environments that improve people’s quality of life and contribute to the fight against climate change.
The study shows that moving towards more sustainable cities is not just about transforming the urban environment, but also about understanding how people live, how they get around, and what they really need. Listening to the public and turning that knowledge into public policy will be one of the keys to designing the cities of the future.
