by Walther Ploos van Amstel
Urban Freight at a Crossroads: What the EU’s new Transport Study tells us about the future of city logistics. A new exploratory study commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) has shed light on one of the most pressing challenges in urban mobility: getting freight smarter, cleaner, and better connected …
If you’ve ever sat through a transport planning meeting, you’ll recognize the pattern. Slides on walking, cycling, public transit, maybe some discussion of electric vehicles, and then, right at the end, almost apologetically: “…and freight.” Dr Daniela Paddeu has spent her career pushing back against exactly that dynamic. As Associate Professor of Sustainable Freight Futures …
Electric cargo bike market hits growth milestone A new market analysis published on 23 April reports that the global electric cargo bike market, valued at USD 4.8 billion in 2025, is projected to reach USD 18 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 14.2%. Analysts note that for logistics providers and urban mobility planners, …
Last-mile delivery is a critical component of the logistics and supply chain industry, especially in densely populated urban areas like Mumbai. This study aims to analyze the key challenges affecting last-mile delivery efficiency and evaluate the role of technology and operational strategies in improving performance. Recent research was based on primary data collected through a structured survey of delivery personnel and consumers in Mumbai. Key factors such …
Deposits, design, and EPR are the three keys to better material recovery in Europe. A new report by the Coordination and Support Office of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI-CSO) sets out policy recommendations for the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act (CEA). A recurring concern throughout the report is the persistently poor collection performance …
Urban logistics is in crisis. As city populations grow and e-commerce expands, the volume of goods moving through urban areas has risen sharply, leading to congestion, pollution, escalating delivery costs, and a diminished quality of life for residents. Logistics service providers (LSPs) are under mounting pressure to deliver goods faster and more cheaply, while municipalities …
The introduction of zero-emission zones across Dutch city centers has triggered a wave of legal challenges from logistics operators and business owners. The outcomes offer important lessons for city logistics professionals navigating the transition to emission-free urban freight. Since 1 January 2025, 14 Dutch municipalities (including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht) have implemented zero-emission zones that …
The Dutch Jaarbeurs has won a legal case against the Municipality of Utrecht (NL) concerning the establishment of a zero-emission zone. The area surrounding the event complex is no longer subject to the stringent emission standards applicable to freight traffic. Utrecht introduced a zero-emission zone for delivery vehicles and trucks one year ago. The Jaarbeurs …
A new study published in the European Transport Research Review (Fernando et al., 2026) offers a comparative look at how shopping-related travel behavior has changed across France, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland from the early 2000s to the 2020s. For those working in city logistics, the findings are both reassuring and challenging. Fewer Trips, but Not …
City logistics research has a problem. Not a shortage of data, not a lack of clever algorithms, and not an absence of ambitious pilots. The problem is simpler and more stubborn: too much knowledge stays on the shelf. Reports get written, conferences get filled, and meanwhile, the delivery van is still double-parked on the bike …