Sustainability of Urban Consumption Practices
Overview
Urban logistics are becoming increasingly complex: in addition to the heterogeneity of goods transported and of the means of transportation, urban logistics encompass diverse multiple stakeholders (local authorities, transporters, retailers). The sustainability of goods transported and personal mobility will be a major challenge for both public and private sectors. The NYU Rudin Center for Transportation will conduct research aiming to understand the sustainability challenges associated with freight and passenger mobility in cities, and recommend policies for sustainable consumption practices at the local level. The sustainability research will deepen understanding of the true sustainability of urban residents who commute by public transportation, but regularly receive packages from online retailers, and recommend corresponding policies.
This work will be conducted with the research group 6-t: Bureau de Recherche, based in Paris. The project aims to better understand and compare the consumption practices and mobility behaviors of the residents living in two of the major cities in the world (Paris and NYC). The work will be conducted through a simultaneous survey in both cities, analysis, stakeholder meeting and narrative.
Outreach
As part of this project’s outreach efforts, Principal Investigator Sarah Kaufman, Assistant Director of the Rudin Center for Transportation and principal investigator for the project, presented initial findings to Marianne Daude, Paris Deputy Mayor for Transportation, at Paris City Hall.
L to R: Marianne Daude, Paris Deputy Mayor for Transportation, Nicolas Louvet, CEO of 6-t, Alia Verloes, Business Development and U.S. Manager for 6-t, and Sarah Kaufman, Assistant Director of the Rudin Center for Transportation, meet to discuss initial research findings.
Deliverables
Research findings will be written as recommendations for policymakers to improve sustainable mobility in the complex environment of both passengers and goods. Data analysis will be accompanied by a working group meeting with stakeholders (urban planners, freight managers, sustainability experts) to discuss challenges and areas of opportunity. The research outcomes will be presented both to New York and Paris officials with achievable recommendations.
The research results of this project will help policymakers to better understand the consumption practices and mobility behaviors of the residents living in two of the major cities in the world (Paris and NYC). This work will benefit planners determining curb space policy, which is highly contested; policymakers seeking to corral delivery vehicles by number and time of day; and planners seeking to mitigate street congestion. The NYU Rudin Center will conduct outreach to local officials and knowledge exchange with Paris and other major cities.
| Principal Investigator | Sarah Kaufman, New York University |
| Funding Source | C2SMART |
| Total Project Cost | $37,500 |
| USDOT Award # | 69A3551747124 |
| Start and End Dates | 06/01/2017 – 10/31/2018 |
| Implementation of Research Outcomes | Research findings will be written as recommendations for policymakers to improve sustainable mobility in the complex environment of both passengers and goods. Data analysis will be accompanied by a working group meeting with stakeholders (urban planners, freight managers, sustainability experts) to discuss challenges and areas of opportunity. The research outcomes will be presented both to New York and Paris officials with achievable recommendations. |
| Impacts/Benefits of Implementation | The research results of this project will help policymakers to better understand the consumption practices and mobility behaviors of the residents living in two of the major cities in the world (Paris and NYC). This work will benefit planners determining curb space policy, which is highly contested; policymakers seeking to corral delivery vehicles by number and time of day; and planners seeking to mitigate street congestion. The NYU Rudin Center will conduct outreach to local officials and a knowledge exchange with Paris and other major cities. |
