by Walther Ploos van Amstel
Living Labs (LLs) are collaborative spaces where governments, companies, researchers, and citizens come together to co-create and test innovative solutions for complex urban challenges. In the context of city logistics, LLs offer a unique opportunity to rethink and improve urban freight systems by facilitating shared learning, experimentation, and cooperation across sectors, free from short-term agendas …
Platform work has become deeply embedded in everyday life in Germany. Whether it’s ordering groceries via Flink, hailing a ride with Uber, or hiring a cleaner through Helpling, millions rely on digital platforms for convenience. Yet, behind this convenience lies a growing concern: the workers powering these services often lack basic labour protections. The Fairwork …
The growth of e-commerce has reshaped retail and city streets. Today, more than 20% of global retail sales happen online, a trend that shows no sign of slowing. This has brought undeniable convenience to consumers and economic gains for retailers and logistics providers. However, it has also led to a surge in delivery vehicles on …
As cities grow denser and online shopping continues to rise, the demand for efficient logistics is increasing rapidly. Urban space is limited, and logistics hubs offer a promising solution: they consolidate goods and enable zero-emission transport into city centers. Some hubs also support shared mobility. To explore viable models, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences …
What if you parked your car for an entire month, and didn’t look back? That’s precisely what more than 170 volunteers did in Uber’s One Less Car Challenge, a bold experiment across seven cities in the U.S. and Canada. The idea was simple: give up your personal car for four weeks, rely on other modes …
The European Commission has greenlit a new support package that will see France’s national postal provider, La Poste, receive up to €531 million between 2023 and 2025 to help maintain its vast network of post offices and delivery services, even in remote or less profitable areas. This funding is part of La Poste’s public service …
The energy and mobility sectors are increasingly interlinked, offering new opportunities for synergies in infrastructure use. However, the governance processes that underlie such cross-sectoral innovation are often overlooked. This case study examines the intricate decision-making process behind the development of an E-PT-hub. This initiative, undertaken by a Dutch public transport operator, aims to repurpose its metro power …
As cities grow denser and more complex, we’re seeing a notable shift: logistics activities are increasingly coexisting with residential areas. This merging is not accidental; it’s driven by a combination of spatial, economic, and functional pressures that reshape how we plan and use urban space. First, space is at a premium. Urban land is scarce …
Many cities around the world are missing out on significant development opportunities by ignoring, underutilizing, or mismanaging their public-space assets. Yet there is enormous potential to use these spaces more strategically and to unlock the hidden value they generate for communities, neighborhoods, and cities as a whole. The World Bank’s report, The Hidden Wealth of …
The rapid growth of warehousing and distribution (W&D) centers across U.S. cities is reshaping urban freight systems. As demand for fast deliveries climbs, logistics facilities are moving closer to residential areas, raising serious concerns about health risks from increased freight traffic. Communities already burdened by industrial activity are particularly vulnerable to the noise, air pollution, …