New urban goods distribution systems

Urban goods distribution is essential for the prosperity of urban areas but at the same time poses problems related to the environment, traffic safety and accessibility. One way to overcome these problems is to implement a totally new designed logistical system that optimizes the efficiency from a business as well as societal perspective. The new system is based on physically separating intra-city transport from goods transport outside the cities. This opens the opportunity of optimizing both intra and 'inter' urban goods transport systems independently. Within urban areas lightweight, small, highly maneuverable, noiseless, safe and low-emission vehicles can be used. And in the further future, maybe underground goods distribution systems. Outside cities larger trucks (up to road-train combinations), rail transport and in some cases even shipping can be used. The system requires a physical transfer, somewhere at the frames of a city (or in a region). Such a physical transfer is normally regarded as an important disadvantage as it is time consuming, costly, and inserts additional risk factors in the process. This disadvantage can be reduced by using standardized load units and by automating transshipment processes. Further more, the transshipment should be integrated neatly in adapted logistical systems. Thus far, most initiatives on improving urban distribution have been more or less 'stand alone' solutions and often have failed. The proposed new system should incorporate various cities and regions and should be supported by private and public parties.