Researchers are delivering a new trial to investigate whether a workforce of ‘parcel porters’ could help to reduce the current demand for kerbside space by delivery vans.
To be carried out in central London over a four-month period, the trial is expected to fundamentally change parcel deliveries by combining the use of porters with electric delivery vans.
Porters will meet with van drivers at the kerbside and receive pre-prepared bags of parcels to deliver on-foot over defined geographical ‘patches’ to offices and homes. This is expected to significantly reduce the amount of time spent out on delivery, while reducing carbon emissions and local air pollution due to the decreased mileage driven per round per van.
Read the complete article published by Lancaster University, 21 March 2018