Impacts of Urban Planning Strategies on City Logistics

Impacts of Urban Planning Strategies on City Logistics

The urban planning discourse tends to promote strategies leaning on the development of an urban setting significantly different from the existing pattern, which is judged to be inefficient and unsustainable. In particular, low-density, specialized, car-dependent land use developments on greenfield sites are to be avoided. Urban developments are part of a wider cluster of activities that includes freight distribution. Yet, freight distribution concerns are usually not part of the issues that are at the core of urban planning (such as smart growth strategies), which underlines gaps between what is advocated as desirable outcomes and the realities of city logistics. For instance, higher densities are usually advocated as desirable, but from a freight distribution perspective, they are linked with a concentration with the freight demand and parking difficulties for deliveries. The promotion of public transit, walking, and cycling is seen as eminently positive, but it must also consider that it could lead to parking difficulties, conflicts for curb access, and even an increase in home deliveries because of e-commerce.