by Walther Ploos van Amstel
Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled the new London Safety Standard for Cargo Bikes, fulfilling a key commitment from its Cargo Bike Action Plan (CBAP) published in March 2023. The standard was developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders and aims to promote safe practices as cargo bike usage grows across the capital. Raising Safety Standards …
Cities are becoming increasingly crowded. Keeping them livable and accessible is a major challenge. Cars, in particular, occupy a significant amount of the scarce urban space. That’s why municipalities aim to encourage residents and visitors to travel differently—by raising parking fees. If you want to park in downtown Amsterdam (NL), you’ll pay €7.50 per hour, …
One of the causes of congested city centers is the increase in traffic movements for catering supply. According to a study by Topsector Logistiek, the more than 52,000 food and beverage establishments in the Netherlands receive an average of up to twelve weekly deliveries. Governments are implementing zero-emission zones and delivery time windows to reduce …
During a consortium meeting of the Circular Foam research project, there was a vigorous debate about digitalization in the circular supply chain. Participants view digitalization as a critical factor for success (alongside other crucial aspects such as regulation and technology). But what exactly does digitalization mean for circularity? There are barriers to digitalization for large-scale, …
Vans are the pillar of urban logistics. In the UK, they account for 89% of urban road traffic from commercial vehicles (2023). However, they are predominantly fuelled by diesel. They are responsible for 14% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from inner city traffic in European cities and 12% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road transportation in the European Union and …
According to McKinsey, battery electric vehicle technology will be key to reducing road freight emissions and achieving global climate targets. The McKinsey analysis emphasizes the need to reduce CO2 emissions from road freight vehicles, significantly contributing to global emissions. The best way to achieve this is by transitioning from combustion engines powered by fossil fuels …
After attending the European Conference on Sustainable Cities in Aalborg (DK), I am puzzled. Many presentations were about sustainable mobility. How can people get on a bike, in public transport, and out of their cars? But there were no presentations about taming the growing mobility monster. Some of our mobility is necessary for work or study, but …
Dutch Cycloon is stopping its parcel delivery service, resulting in 440 employees losing their jobs. The parcel market has been under pressure for some time. Cycloon says it can no longer compete in that market, pointing to rising costs due to inflation and competitors that could become more sustainable and grow faster. Cycloon (and its …
Paris 2024 Games: 754 competitions and ceremonies, 41 Olympic sites, and 20 Paralympic venues in Paris, involving 10,500 athletes, over 10 million spectators, and 45,000 accredited journalists. Goods: 900,000 pieces of sports equipment, 1.3 million other items, 170,000 pallets, 60,000 luggage, and 14,000 last-mile trips. These figures underscore the immense complexity of organizing such a …
On July 10, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched The Digital Economy Report 2024, highlighting the global digital sector’s significant environmental impact and the disproportionate burden developed by developing countries. The report underscores that while digitalization fuels global economic growth and presents unique opportunities for developing nations, its environmental consequences are becoming increasingly severe. Due …