Impact Assessment Model for the Implementation of Cargo Bike Transshipment Points in Urban Districts

Tom Assmann, Sebastian Lang, Florian Müller and Michael Schenk
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Tom Assmann: Institute of Logistics and Material Handling Systems, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Sebastian Lang: Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operations and Automation IFF, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Florian Müller: Institute of Psychology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Michael Schenk: Institute of Logistics and Material Handling Systems, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Mitigating climate change and improving urban livability is prompting cities to improve sustainability of urban transportation and logistics. Cargo bikes, in combination with urban transshipment points, are gaining momentum as a green last mile alternative. Although a wide body of research proves their viability in dense urban areas, knowledge about planning urban transshipment points is very limited. This also entails the siting of such facilities and the assessment of effects on emissions. This study therefore presents a first quantitative scenario-based model that assesses the impacts on a district. It examines different strategies for siting urban transshipment points in a single district and its effect on traffic, the carbon footprint, and air quality to give strategic insights where to create candidate locations for such facilities. Our result contributes to knowledge of planning urban transshipment facilities and assessing the impact of different configurations. The findings demonstrated that the use of cargo bikes to make courier, express, and parcel (CEP) deliveries in urban districts could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG), particulate matter (PM10), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions significantly. However, the choice of vehicles completing inbound and outbound processes and the strategies for siting urban transshipment points display widely differing and even conflicting potential to reduce emissions.

Keywords: urban logistics; cargo bike; urban transshipment point; city logistics; urban planning; urban freight (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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