Goods deliveries require access to on-street space for loading and unloading, yet this space is often contested by private vehicle parking, pedestrian walkways, public transport stops, and cycling infrastructure, among others. In his doctoral thesis, Juan Pablo Castrellon examines conflicts over space use between freight and other uses. The thesis develops tools, supported in data analytics, to balance the supply and demand for street space in goods deliveries. It also sheds light on pathways for implementing these solutions, drawing on experiences from cities worldwide.
Cities depend on freight yet often struggle with its presence. Freight vehicles are frequently associated with congestion, traffic hazards, noise, and air pollution. Issues that seem incompatible with the targets of cities’ sustainability. Yet, behind every shop shelf and doorstep delivery lies a freight vehicle that made it possible. With rising demand for goods and services in urban areas, the challenge is no longer whether freight belongs in cities, but how its access can be managed without compromising sustainability and quality of life.
The thesis addresses this problem by examining access conflicts, developing solutions and identifying pathways for implementation in managing freight vehicle access to urban space, particularly at the kerbside level – the narrow space between traffic lanes and the sidewalk used for parking, cycling, or loading and unloading activities. The research offers a guide for managing freight access that balances operational efficiency of urban deliveries with broader targets of cities’ sustainability.
What challenges do you focus on?
“This research focuses on the challenge of managing kerbside space in cities, where demand from multiple users, such as freight vehicles, private cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport, competes for limited capacity. For freight, this competition often results in inadequate access for loading and unloading, leading to inefficiencies such as cruising (driving around searching for parking), illegal stopping, and delivery delays. These issues not only affect freight operations but also contribute to congestion, safety risks, and environmental impacts, making it necessary to find solutions that balance freight access needs to street space with cities’ sustainability goals.”
How do you address the problem?
“The research addresses the problem by first identifying and analysing the conflicts between freight and other kerbside users, then developing data-driven tools to balance the supply and demand of kerbside space for deliveries. These tools use data analytics to support decisions such as where and when to allocate loading zones (reserved on-street space for loading and unloading on the kerbside), how to regulate their use, and how to adapt space use dynamically. The research also examines real-world cases to understand what factors enabled these solutions to move from short-term pilots to long-term, institutionalised practices in cities.”
What are the main findings?
“The research found that many conflicts over kerbside space result from mismatches between how cities regulate access and the actual needs of freight deliveries. For example, loading zones are often too few, too small, or located far from delivery points, forcing drivers to park illegally or circle the block, which increases congestion and emissions.”
“The tools developed in this research show that data-based management of kerbside space, for instance by adjusting loading zone use by time of day or type of business, can reduce delivery times by up to 29%, cut parking violations by 44%, lower greenhouse gas emissions by around 32%, and even free-up space for other street users. The research also shows that successful, long-term solutions require more than technology; they need supportive policies, active support and commitment from all relevant actors, and clear communication of the public benefits of allocating space for freight vehicles.”
What do you hope your research will lead to?
“I hope this work helps cities make better decisions about where and when freight vehicles can load and unload on urban streets. The tools and frameworks developed in this research show how to manage space so that deliveries run smoothly while streets remain liveable. The goal is for cities to meet the space needs of goods deliveries without reducing the quality of life for the people who live there.”
Read the thesis: Kerbside access management for freight deliveries. Conflicts, tools and implementations
Public defence: 22 August 2025 at 13.00, see link above.
- Associate Professor, Supply and Operations Management, Technology Management and Economics