A modelling framework to support the development of last-mile urban freight distribution systems based on the use of cargo bikes

Abstract

Nowadays there is a growing interest in cargo bikes to mitigate the detrimental effects of urban freight transport, since the last-mile segment of freight delivery process is being challenged to reduce the number of vehicles, the distance travelled and the environmental impacts. This paper presents a modelling framework that, starting from the key reference units (freight demand, deliveries, and vehicles) and defining the relationship among stakeholders and choice dimensions, can support the implementation of freight distribution systems based on cargo bikes. In detail, the work follows a general approach and is focused on the estimation of the share of demand that can be satisfied by cargo bikes, freight flows in terms of number of deliveries and trips, obtained by assigning freight demand to the transport network. The model has been applied to the test case of the city of Ravenna by implementing several scenarios.