Adapting the 15-Minute City Model for Suburban Areas: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Multimodal Mobility Strategies

Abstract

This paper examines how the principles of the 15-minute city can be adapted to suburban areas through the development of a comprehensive framework of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and multimodal mobility strategies. Based on six case studies from Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Italy, Germany, and Turkey, the research identifies common and context-specific mobility priorities and evaluates how digitalisation, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), active transport, and public transport integration can support proximity-based urban development in lower-density environments. The study combines comparative policy analysis, stakeholder workshops, SWOT assessments, and collaborative KPI design to produce a structured set of indicators covering accessibility, modal share, land-use diversity, inclusivity, governance, sustainability, digitalisation, and economic impacts. The findings demonstrate that while active and sustainable mobility is a shared priority across all case studies, suburban implementation requires locally adapted indicators reflecting differences in urban structure, governance, and mobility patterns. The proposed KPI framework provides a practical tool for evaluating and guiding the transition towards more accessible, sustainable, and resilient suburban communities through Urban Living Labs and data-driven planning approaches.