Freight seminar and study visit: POSTPONED - CANCELLED (22/11/2011)

distribution has become increasingly important in the development of sustainable urban transport. Compared to other topics such as cycling, public transport etc urban freight has long been overlooked. During the latest years, freight distribution has however rightly been recognised as central to improving the quality of life in European city centres. EC documents such as the Urban Mobility Action Plan (2009) and the revised White paper on Transport (2012) recognise the vital role that freight transport plays  within  today´s  cities  and  the  need  to  get a  balance  between  the  freight  transport demands of the economy and the air quality and safety for our citizens.

Gothenburg worked within the CIVITAS TELLUS project between 2002 and 2006 with, among other things, developing the Environmental zone and testing different city logistics solutions. The city now continues to spread the experiences gained to other cities as leaders of the CIVITAS CATALIST urban freight group. The CIVITAS CATALIST urban freight group consists of cities that have identified some key challenges to work with in the field of urban freight. Two examples are how to raise the issue of urban goods in overall transport- and city planning and how to improve the understanding of transport flows and patterns in cities. Improved cooperation with local stakeholders, who play different roles in the logistics chain, is also important. There is also the crucial question of ensuring a balance between reduced goods transports for improved environment and congestion but without causing negative consequences for local businesses.

Gothenburg has worked during the past years with city distribution in close collaboration with local stakeholders in a Freight network. Focus has also been on enforcement which has considerably improved the inner-city accessibility for heavy vehicles.

The site visit to Gothenburg will provide visitors, both presentations and on site examples of how Gothenburg has worked on freight for the last years. It will also provide information from other cities, European networks such as POLIS and EUROCITIES. Finally, the CATALIST project aims to bring political representatives from different cities together to discuss sustainable transport, in this case on freight.

CIVITAS CATALIST aims at promoting sustainable transport solutions and to facilitate the transfer of best practice among European cities. As part of this ambition the project will be able to reimburse 50% of the travel and accommodation costs for participants.

Author: Holding Graz Linien

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