The CEO of kerbside management technology company Grid Smarter Cities says a major study into the concept of bookable loading bays proves that they are a “proven tool” to deliver more efficient, greener and safer deliveries on the high street.
Neil Herron was reacting to the Cross River Partnership’s report SGL Unpacked: Kerbside Management Trial report which analysed the value of its recent trial of Virtual Loading Bays in London.
Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) are pre-approved loading spaces that can be booked via Grid’s Kerb® Delivery platform in advance in areas where loading and parking activity is usually prohibited. Restrictions such as yellow or red lines are then lifted for bookings made via the platform by commercial delivery drivers.
Analysis of data gathered in the trial found that the trial alone led a reduction in vehicle kilometres travelled that delivered significant air quality benefits. Operators highlighted the value of VLBs in providing a guaranteed delivery space, supporting more efficient freight activities, with a user-friendly booking platform. It also found that “there is a clear appetite from Local Authorities to look at the use of kerbside space and different innovative approaches to management.”
The trial involved the Cross River Partnership (CRP) working with Grid Smarter Cities, the City of London Corporation, the London Boroughs of Camden, Lambeth and Richmond along with Transport for London to deliver the Smarter Greener Logistics Kerbside Management Trial. They tested the concept of VLBs as a kerbside management technology, to understand the operational, congestion and air quality impacts.
VLBs were selected as the technology to test for the Smarter Greener Logistics (SGL) Kerbside Management Trial as they have the ability to dynamically manage kerbside space at selected locations without the need for highways infrastructure, which could not have been installed within the time constraints of the trial.
“This in-depth study confirmed what we at Grid Smarter Cities have always believed – that Virtual Loading Bays are a powerful tool in kerbside management in busy areas, particularly suited to deliveries that require close proximity to the recipient’s venue to be able to carry out the delivery safely, such as brewery logistics and frozen and chilled goods,” continued Mr Herron. “The independent analysis proves the benefits of the scheme include less congestion and cleaner air, because they remove the need for vehicles to have to circle the area waiting to find a space. Seeing the results from individual neighbourhoods proves that this is a solution that would work both in major cities like London and also smaller places with congestion challenges.”
“The Virtual Loading Bays are a game changer for the safety of our staff delivering into pubs in London,” commented Jonathan Penfold of logistics company Tradeteam. “They allow us to park closer to the delivery point meaning the manual handling of products is reduced.”
Grid Smarter Cities’ Kerb® Delivery solution also works with physical loading bays, where freight drivers to book their kerbside loading slots in advance. This trial was delivered as part of CRP’s Defra-funded Smarter Greener Logistics (SGL) programme.
“With this report, people don’t just have to take our word for it,” concluded Mr Herron. “We now know that this is a proven tool for local authorities and the logistics industry. As the Brewery Logistics Group told the researchers, by providing a virtual space at the kerb deliveries can now be made without the fear of delivery failure, Grid’s booking platform provides the basis for a completely new way for operators to plan and action their deliveries.”
(Picture – Grid Smarter Cities)
