Time in the city. Qualitative study summary

Description

The city is a confined area because of the varied offer of activities.
The movement generated by these activities is a concentration factor, which canresult in setbacks or inconveniences.
On the one hand, three elements structure the “time constraints” framework:work, children and travel.
On the other hand, certain resources can be implemented to modulate the “timeconstraints” matrix, for example money, age, health, family and culturalcircumstances or the ability to take a step back.
However, these resources are not evenly distributed. The time constraint createsexpectations in terms of urban planning, rhythm desynchronization, mobility,range of services.

Proposition

The study was carried out as part of a contract from the ministry for Urbanaffairs.

Methodology

Twenty individual interviews were conducted with people from working-class orintermediate categories and with unemployed people or people on the MinimumIntegration Income (RMI) (see glossary).
A group meeting was organised with ten men and women aged 25 to 55, all with anoccupation, with children, living in Paris or the Paris area and who commuterelatively long distances.

Conclusions

Time is a dimension which structures the day-to-day life of urban dwellersand is often a source of significant suffering. City dwellers’ perception oftime, which varies depending on many parameters, determines the quality of life.
Public authorities have an obvious role to play in the improvement of everyone’stime. However, they must not get involved in the “personal time” that urbandwellers aspire to.

Contact info

Délégation Interministérielle à la Ville (DIV)
Sylvère Géniaux

Délégation Interministérielle à la Ville (DIV)
Luc Faraldi

Publication date

Researcher

Brice Teinturier, SOFRES for the Ministry for Urban Affairs

Document type

research