Category «Policies»

EU White Paper: zero-emission urban logistics in major city centers by 2030

The overall goal of urban freight logistics is to provide better and more customized last-time logistic services for citizens, fostering local economic development through local logistics businesses while reducing the negative impact the delivery of goods has on our urban environment. The European Commission shows a clear interest in sustainable solutions for urban freight logistics, …

New EU plans for less CO2 in road transport toward 2040

the European Commission has proposed ambitious new CO2 emissions targets for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) from 2030 onwards. These targets will help to reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector. Trucks, city buses, and long-distance buses are responsible for over 6% of total EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and more than 25% of GHG emissions …

Barcelona bans ‘dark stores’ and ‘dark kitchens’

Barcelona approved a total ban on dark stores (distribution hubs used by companies that provide grocery home deliveries), joining other European cities such as Amsterdam that announced restrictions in 2022. Reuters reports about it. Dark stores are like retail shops but without on-site sales, just deliveries from them. Quick commerce delivery services expanded across Europe …

A toolkit is online to support decision-makers in planning and implementing Urban Vehicle Access Regulations

A toolkit is online to support decision-makers in planning and implementing Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVARs). The CIVITAS project ReVeAL aims to help cities in their journey towards people-centered urban spaces by giving urban road space back to people and sustainable mobility. This toolkit was developed and tested within the 6 ReVeAL city pilots during the project’s three and a …

Road safety: trucks versus bikes

Over a third of traffic fatalities and over two-thirds of seriously injured traffic in the Netherlands are cyclists. The death rate of cyclists (the number of traffic fatalities per distance traveled) is more than eight times higher than that of motorists but more than three times lower than that of motorized two-wheelers. Almost three-quarters of …

Train and bike: a marriage made in heaven. But don’t forget walking first!

The Guardian reports about the underwater bike garage that should solve Amsterdam Central Station’s bike parking headache by offering space for 7.000 bicycles. The city of Amsterdam facilitates underwater bike parking to return the public space to pedestrians (residents, visitors, commuters). According to the Guardian, the garage results from a 4-year and €60 million project to clear …

AIANY presents plan for city logistics in NYC

Each year, 365 million tons of freight move through the New York City area. While this flow of goods brings many economic benefits, it also raises complex challenges, especially at the middle-mile and last-mile segments of the delivery supply chain, contributing to traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, public health and safety issues, and the degradation …

How cargo cycle drivers use the urban transport infrastructure

Electric cargo cycles are often considered a viable alternative mode for delivering goods in an urban area. However, cities in the U.S. struggle to regulate cargo cycles, with most authorities applying the same rules for motorized vehicles or traditional bikes. One reason is the lack of understanding of the relationship between existing regulations, transport infrastructure, …