Urban Logistics

The way forward: Options for dealing with urban logistics

Traffic Management

Enforcement

Avoiding through-traffic

Introducing access restrictions

Selective road pricing and permits

Avoidance of orientation traffic

General traffic space management

Traffic Engineering

Provision of adequate loading zones

Unloading goods: organization of the “Last Yard”

Urban Planning

Involve the local business community

Promote intermodality on a metropolitan level

Land-banking for future infrastructure requirements

Spaces for the installation of urban logistics distribution centers

National Development Policy and Legislation

Legal framework

Environmental Policy

Introduction of fixed or progressive emission standards

Push and Pull measures

Deployment restrictions

Tightened vehicle inspection regime

Summary

The relevance of urban freight traffic is increasingly recognized in developed and developing cities alike. Efforts to reduce its negative impacts are driven by a wide range of motivations, which very much depend on the local context. There is a need for co-operation between public and private actors to improve the efficiency of urban freight operations and, as a consequence, to mitigate its negative impacts. As goods transport in urban areas is mostly in the hands of a multitude of private companies, ranging from micro businesses to global players, the importance of dialogue between all stakeholders cannot be underestimated. There is no single master plan, and no predefined set of necessary measures to reduce negative impacts of urban freight traffic. Policy-makers will have to choose actions suitable to solve to most urgent problems, and may have to adapt them to the specific local context. However, there are certain aims a municipal authority can strive to achieve. They characterize a situation in which urban logistics can be managed in an efficient and sustainable manner. Whatever the approach may be: cities and metropolitan areas have to develop and implement a viable strategy for the optimisation of the urban freight system. The environmental sustainability, economic development and overall quality of urban living depend on it.

Further Information

Further and more detailed information can be found on the homepage of the Sustainable Urban Transport Project. The Sustainable Urban Transport Project aims to help developing world cities achieve their sustainable transport goals, through the dissemination of information about international experience, policy advice, training and capacity building.

References

Bernhard O. Herzog 2010, Urban Freight in Developing Cities