Earlier this year, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson introduced a set of bills to create a smarter, safer, and more sustainable micro-distribution footprint throughout New York. The focus of the bills was directed at the current state of daily logistical operations on the street, at the curb, and in buildings. Many of the proposed solutions are culled from successful pilots in other cities such as London, Paris, Oslo, Buenos Aires, and D.C. This legislative package attempts to address the compounding issues facing cities, delivery operators, residents, and curb management practices across the boroughs. At a more granular level, first and last-mile delivery frictions have been exacerbated by the pandemic, New York City’s population density, parking spaces, and increasingly outmoded public and private infrastructure.
EA Creative Consulting has created a series of think pieces focused on the City Council bills. Over the coming weeks EA Creative Consulting will be releasing further pieces on each of the bills and how they can strengthen New York City’s approach to the urban mobility ecosystem.
The most significant impact of freight delivery in dense urban neighborhoods is what is known as “the last mile,” and is often the last few hundred feet. This final step in the process where the package is placed in the recipients’ hands is often coupled with trucks having to double park, drivers sorting on-street and traffic logjams being created. This is not ideal for the delivery driver or the public but in areas that are short on space and dense in population, it is part of the urban experience. Bill 2253 of the New York City Council, if passed, would pilot sustainable micro-distribution hubs to facilitate the last mile and reduce the impact of this activity on the city.
This is the third in a series of thought pieces focused on the future of urban mobility and how New York City can position itself for innovative and sustainable growth.
There is a growing focus on alternative modes for commuting, recreation and now as the next step of goods delivery. Coupling these modes with appropriate additional capacity is a forward-thinking approach to future-proofing our urban areas.
Download the third think piece here.
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