Curb Space Wars
“ The space between city sidewalks and streets has become a battle ground ,” proclaimed one non-profit dedicated to improving life in urban environment . Fighting for curb space in cities are last-mile carriers , freight delivery services , rideshare companies , food delivery services , buses , taxis and parkers . And this demand for curb space is projected to increase .
To balance these demands and to make urban environments more livable , cities around the globe have brought in tech companies to manage their curb space . Grid Smarter Cities manages curb spaces in the United Kingdom and they ’ re looking to expand to the United States . Curb IQ is working with the city of Toronto . In the US , the curbs in Oakland , Calif are using technology from Populus to transition more than 380 curbside loading zones into “ smart ” loading areas to better manage the increased volume of package delivery occurring there .
“ The positive impact for those of us delivering the final-mile is that these curb management systems create what they call ‘ virtual loading docks ,’” says Chiusano . “ We can log onto an app and reserve curb space during a specified timeframe in advance instead of wasting countless hours physically searching for an available spot .”
An All-Electric Future ?
Electric vehicles are often seen as pivotal tools in the battle against carbon emissions . But the switch to EVs will be a challenge to many companies and drivers in the last-mile space . Current costs and concerns about the lack of charging stations are prohibitive to those in the last-mile . But Chiusano sees those as short-term obstacles , predicting EVs will become key players delivering on the last mile .
“ There ’ s so much innovation around EVs ,” say Chiusano , who saw the future of these vehicles up close and personal as part of a tour of GM ’ s Innovation Lab in the Fall of 2019 . This turned out to be an in-depth walk-through of early concepts which evolved into the beginnings of GM ’ s electric commercial delivery and logistics subsidiary company called BrightDrop . The GM Innovation Lab tour included a look at a number of e-vehicles including e-vans as well as semi-robotic technology designed to simplify the loading / unloading process .
Cornucopia Logistics and affiliate Net Zero Logistics are well ahead of the curve with e-cargo bikes . The companies have partnered with Bonner , Montana based trike / trailer and container manufacturer Coaster Cycles . “ Our ability to partner with Coaster and manufacture customized equipment to meet specific customer needs sets us apart in the micro-mobility space ,” Chiusano says . “ Not only are we reducing our carbon footprint by collaborating with Coaster , we are supporting US jobs , reducing supply chain bottlenecks and delivering solutions to our customers much quicker than our competitors .”
The Future is Now
The need to embrace low-carbon deliveries is no longer in the distant future . New York City has announced that , by 2035 , you will need to achieve zero carbon in order to enter the city . Chiusano said , “ It ’ s going to happen a lot quicker than many in this industry think . I will position my companies now so we are best prepared for the future , and hope other owners
18 customized logistics & delivery Magazine I winter spring 2023