Micro-hubs
in the city quarter
Östliche Kaiserstraße
Urban development has seen a noticeable increase in e-commerce and online ordering of goods in recent years. While this trend offers many advantages, such as convenient shopping from home, it also poses logistical challenges, particularly in city centers. In this context, the "Citylogistik ÖKa" project was launched, focusing on the introduction of micro-hubs in the Östliche Kaiserstraße city district.
City transformation for a sustainable future
Under the umbrella of "City Transformation", the city of Karlsruhe is initiating a feasibility study focusing on the implementation of micro-hubs. But what exactly are micro-hubs? Basically, they are decentralized transshipment warehouses that act as an interface between large delivery centers and the last mile. They make it possible to transfer deliveries to environmentally friendly means of transport such as cargo bikes and thus make logistics in city centers more efficient and sustainable. The Östliche Kaiserstraße city quarter in Karlsruhe is thus becoming a testing ground for an innovative solution that aims to reduce traffic congestion and minimize CO2 emissions in the long term.
More than just parcel delivery: an integrated approach
"Citylogistik ÖKa" goes beyond pure parcel delivery. It is a comprehensive approach that aims to optimize all delivery logistics in the city centre. The feasibility study is being carried out by Urban Logistics Solution and PB Consult, who are jointly researching the potential of sustainable logistics. The focus is not only on efficiency, but also on maintaining or even increasing the quality of service for businesses and customers.
Public participation as the key to success
Businesses, residents and all interested parties are invited to take part in a survey to gather their views and concerns about the new city logistics solution. This survey offers the opportunity to provide valuable feedback and ensure that the new measures meet the needs and expectations of the community.
Outlook for a sustainable future
The introduction of micro-hubs in the Östliche Kaiserstraße city quarter represents a significant step towards sustainable delivery logistics. It shows that cities are actively looking for innovative solutions to meet the increasing logistical challenges in the age of online retail. The "Citylogistik ÖKa" demonstrates how an intelligent combination of technology, citizen participation and sustainable practices can help to make our cities more liveable and environmentally friendly.
Join the movement
The future of urban delivery logistics is in our hands. If you are a business owner in downtown Karlsruhe or are simply interested in how goods are delivered in our city, please take part in the survey (Please note: the survey is already closed!). Your participation is voluntary and your opinion will be taken into account anonymously. Thank you for your support in shaping sustainable and efficient city logistics in Karlsruhe!
Results of the survey (as at March 14, 2024)
The completed study comes to various conclusions, which can be found at www.karlsruhe.de/city-transformation . For example, the report certifies the Kronenplatz parking garage as a suitable potential micro-hub location. Up to three companies in the courier, express, and parcel (CEP) industry could use the additional goods handling capacity of up to 14 cargo bikes to deliver to various city districts locally without emissions. Cargo bike logistics can enable the increasing number of parcel deliveries to be handled in a way that is as environmentally friendly as possible and compatible with the pedestrian zone.
Whether and to what extent cargo bike logistics can be realized using micro-hubs depends largely on the players in the CEP sector. The city administration is prepared to create the necessary framework conditions for this.
A project as part of the City Transformation Process of the City of Karlsruhe. The program is supported by funding from the federal program "Sustainable inner cities and centers" program.
