Toward a Healthy Urban Living Environment: Assessing 15-Minute Green-Blue Space Accessibility

Exposure to green-blue space has been shown to be associated with better physical and mental health outcomes. The advent of COVID-19 has underlined the importance for people to have access to green-blue spaces in proximity to their residences due to pandemic-related restrictions on activity space. The implementation of the 15-min concept, which advocates that people should be able to reach locations of essential functions like green-blue spaces within 15 min of active travel, can bring green-blue spaces nearer to where people live. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of understanding of the social and spatial (in)equality in 15-min green-blue space accessibility by active travel in cities seeking to embrace the concept, such as Hong Kong. This study explores 15-min green-blue space accessibility by walking and cycling in Hong Kong to reveal the distribution of disadvantaged neighborhoods. The results show that neighborhoods in Kowloon's districts are the most disadvantaged in accessing green-blue spaces within 15 min of active travel. Our study provides policymakers with valuable insights and knowledge conducive to formulating policies aimed at reducing inequality in 15-min accessibility.

Automated summary

Exposure to green-blue space is linked with better physical and mental health. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is important for people to have access to green-blue spaces near their homes. The implementation of the 15-min concept aims to bring green-blue spaces closer to where people live. However, the social and spatial inequality in 15-min green-blue space accessibility in cities like Hong Kong is not well understood. This study examines walking and cycling accessibility to green-blue spaces within 15 minutes in Hong Kong to identify disadvantaged neighborhoods.