Demand for deliveries is surging. Relying upon cars, vans and trucks for the last mile risks clogging up our local places and adding to emissions. Transitioning to micromobility, like e-bikes and cargo bikes, in our city centres offers an alternative that is better for people, places and businesses. The Future of Delivery uncovers five big moves that city leaders can make to unleash the potential of micromobility for deliveries.
Increasing demand for deliveries
Over two billion people purchased goods or services online in 2020 – that’s a quarter of the global population. Enabled by technology and new delivery players, people now consider fast and efficient deliveries a ‘must have’ service.Demand for deliveries of almost everything from ready-to-eat meals to home improvement items is on the rise. Parcel deliveries are the largest market segment followed by grocery and food deliveries. The resulting freight task, especially the ‘last mile’ that brings the service or product directly to customers, adds pressure to our cities and places resulting in pollution, congestion, and negative impacts on health and wellbeing. For freight operators, the last mile is the most complex in terms of cost and efficiency, accounting for 53% of the delivery cost.
The last mile delivery challenge
A legacy of designing cities for cars is that the majority of deliveries reach their final destination by cars, vans and trucks, even over short distances. This has resulted in competition for space and crowding on our roads and streets. Relying upon cars, vans and trucks for the last mile risks clogging up our local places and adding to emissions. Transitioning to micromobility in our city centres offers an alternative that is better for people, places and businesses.
Micromobility is a smarter way to move freight in city centres
Micromobility is emerging as the smart way to move freight in our city centres. Small, environmentally-friendly and space-efficient vehicles can have a competitive advantage over cars, vans and trucks in busy and dense city centres, where space to move and to park is increasingly at a premium.
