Mohammad Hamed Abdi, Thomas Vanoutrive
Proximity-based planning has gained traction as a powerful concept for neighborhood planning and design in response to the mobility restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic—evidenced by the global enthusiasm for the 15-Minute City. However, deterministic strategies and objective measurements of physical proximity have left little room for understanding how people perceive a city of proximity, as well as their desires and needs. The present study seeks to uncover the perceptual dimensions of the concept by examining how these perceptions influence travel and consumption behavior, moving beyond mere consideration of objective proximity. To do so, this research employs structural equation modeling, based on data from an online survey conducted in the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), to analyze how public perceptions and individual preferences impact perceived proximity and, subsequently, self-reported travel and consumption behaviors in a complex relationship. The results show that preferences toward urban facilities and mobility are stronger contributors to behaviors than perceptions of facilities and built environments. Another key finding confirms that the perception of proximity is a central mediating factor in understanding what influences behavior. This is especially relevant when objective factors like physical environments and availability of opportunities provide an insufficient explanation. The research also cautions against overemphasizing specific thresholds, soft mobility, and neighborhood self-sufficiency, as this may negatively impact travel behavior and reduce the concept's inclusiveness. These results add to the rapidly expanding field of proximity-based planning by enhancing our understanding of how perceptual determinants are associated with the concept of the city of proximity and behaviors.