Urban Logistics & Street Design

RESEARCH

Last-mile delivery and urban logistics are evolving. Whether it’s about food, books, technology, or other goods and services, our shopping habits are increasingly shifting online. This trend extends to Business-to-Business (B2B) deliveries, such as supplying shops, restaurants, and supermarkets. And, as urban renovation and densification become more important, this also has an effect on construction flows and waste collection.

These changes present serious challenges to conventional shopping models and significantly impact how and when deliveries are demanded—and, by extension, how streets are used.

In existing cities, where public space is limited, achieving a balanced allocation among diverse users and demands is critical. This is particularly evident in narrow urban streets. To ensure these spaces prioritize people’s well-being, it’s crucial to design them as shared spaces accommodating various uses, with reduced speed limits of 30 or even 15 km/h, and more room for ecology and climate adaptation.

To achieve this, integrating future urban logistics into urban planning, strategies, and projects is essential.

This research project is funded by the Creative Industries Fund NL, as part of the program De Nieuwe Ruimte – Ways to Wellbeing, and by the City of Leiden. The research project is led by Daniel Casas-Valle and Giacomo Gallo, in collaboration with Goudappel (mobility consultancy).