Author: Ilia Chrisantoni, Dimitra Tsakanika / DAEM
Major cities of Greece are severely affected by logistics challenges, while the delivery of goods and products is also delayed due to traffic congestion in city centers, creating a combination of two interconnected problems. Despite these issues, Greek cities have not yet advanced in implementing countermeasures to mitigate the described challenges. On one side cities are hesitant to enforce strict traffic measures, and traffic restrictions are not often feasible for city life. On the other side logistic companies are reluctant to collaborate with other companies to explore possibilities for joint deliveries. Adding up to this state-of-the-art, the replacement of vehicles with hybrid and electric alternatives has only recently started to take place in Greece, both for private and professional use. The impact on public health is also significant, particularly in urban areas, due to air pollution and the proximity of residential buildings to road networks. As a result, advancements in logistics activities and traffic arrangements require special attention.
The general conditions of Greece, as expected – highly affect and are maximized in Athens, the country’s largest municipality. In terms of existing traffic restrictions and measures, Athens has had a designated area since 1982 where vehicles are permitted to move according to specific regulations on weekdays (Monday-Friday), particularly for large tracks (1). The restriction in the center is based on the odd-even license plate system. Additionally, the Athens Trigono area, established in 1997, is located in the city center and is subject to stringent vehicle restrictions.
Photo Credits: Athens Trigono image – source odigostoupoliti.eu
Athens’ city center has suffered from illegally parked vehicles encroaching on public space, impacting businesses, the livelihood of community members, and tourism. To address this, a range of measures has been implemented, including infrastructure improvements, pollution reduction goals, smart garbage collection, and Smart LED lighting. In terms of traffic arrangements, the area is a historic commercial location and currently only vehicles for the supplies of commercial stores are allowed for 2.5 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon. Finally, the Blue Zone, established in Athens in 2014, aims to facilitate the mobility of vehicles as well as the mobility that is related to commercial activities such as shop deliveries, logistics, courier services etc.
Photo Credits:
Blue Zone Athens image – source https://www.dianeosis.org/
Despite these measures related to limited mobility and initiatives for managing traffic, Athens still faces significant challenges. Several approaches and countermeasures have been proposed for European cities to tackle green mobility, advanced logistics services, and the reduction of urban pollution. One of the primary solutions is the creation of urban Micro Consolidation Centers (MCCs) in the city-centers to manage last-mile delivery (2). MCCs can highly contribute to:
- Reducing traffic congestion in cities
- Reducing air pollution and emissions
- Reducing noise pollution from large trucks
- Facilitating mobility and daily life for citizens active in the center whom their residence and/or their professional activities are located there.
Another adopted measure is the use of cargo bikes in the center of cities. Given that many European cities have created pedestrian areas and reduced road access for cars and trucks, cargo bikes ensure the distribution of goods and products at less time, lower costs, and with zero emissions.
In this context, the GREEN-LOG project in Athens aims to create an innovative testbed in terms of multistakeholder collaboration. The city cooperates with two major logistics companies, ACS and FedEx, to experiment with collaboration models among private actors and municipal agencies in the logistics field. The three parties (DAEM, ACS, and FedEx) create a Living Lab and an MCC at a central municipal location, which will serve as the hub for courier companies to jointly organise last-mile logistics in the city center.
The objective is to experiment with collaborative business models, utilise green delivery methods, and assess the level of decongestion in the nearby streets of Athens in terms of traffic and emissions. The innovative experimentation will be further supported by:
- Lockers at municipal locations of interest,
- Forecasting of demand from the GREEN-LOG platform,
- A mobile depot in Athens for dynamic deliveries at several locations offered by the city (e.g. squares) and
- Valuable outputs and reports to be used for urban planning and decision-making by the city.
This testbed is the first to be experimented in Athens, and the outputs are highly anticipated.
References:
- chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dianeosis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PP_City_logistics.pdf
- https://www.capital.gr/me-apopsi/3746012/city-logistics-astika-kentra-enopoiisis-emporeumaton-xorothetisi-organosi-kai-leitourgia-stin-attiki/
Photo credits (title picture): Natee Meepian/Shutterstock