#5SmartReads - June 7, 2021

Qudsiya Naqui on rent relief, modern policing, and obesity.

Today’s regular contributor for #5SmartReads is Qudsiya Naqui! Check out her podcast, Down To The Struts, about disability and design.

The ‘15 Minute City’ Isn’t Made For Disabled Bodies (Bloomberg)

As a blind person who is also a runner and a cyclist, I am all about living in urban spaces that don’t prioritize cars, and elevate walking, biking, and public transportation. I love this article because it explains how the aspiration of the “15-minute city” can leave disabled bodies behind—which is especially problematic when many disabled people gravitate towards cities largely because they don’t need cars to get around and can benefit from the access provided by public transportation. This article challenges modern concepts of urban design, and explains how accessible design elements can end up benefiting vast swaths of the urban population, including disabled people.