Since the beginning of the 1990s, we have been observing the development of urbanization processes resulting from civilizational progress, the opening of borders, and globalization. Currently, about 40% of the world’s population lives in cities, and it is predicted that by 2050, about 4.5 billion people will live in cities [Rijenbrij 2004]. In 1950, there was only one city with more than 10 million inhabitants – New York. It is estimated that in 2015 there will be about 21 [Rijenbrij 2004]. The quality of life for most people will therefore depend on the quality of cities in the future. The growing number of their users leads to an increased demand for the transport of goods – raw materials, semi-finished products, finished goods, as well as industrial and municipal waste.
Issues of freight transport through urban areas
Studies conducted in London indicate that about 18% of road traffic in the city belongs to vehicles supplying businesses [Browne et al. 2004]. Another 22% of traffic on urban roads consists of delivery vehicles and freight forwarding companies serving individual customers by delivering orders directly to their hands [Browne et al. 2004]. Research conducted in Germany shows that 80% of all transport carried out in urban areas is done by road transport [Sonntag et al. 1996]. The choice of this mode of transport for deliveries in urban areas leads to many negative consequences, mainly related to environmental pollution, road safety, the city’s image, and its functionality, which are particularly important for towns providing services in the field of leisure, tourism, and recreation.
The urban transport system combines the freight transport system and the system for moving people living in or arriving at a given agglomeration. Table 1 presents the main determinants conditioning the behavior of the 4 main groups directly involved in this system. Each of them has its own specific requirements and aspirations, the satisfaction of which it considers most important.
Selected solutions
Intelligent Transport Systems. Implementing projects based on tools from the group of intelligent transport systems (ITS – Intelligent Transport System), related to telematic systems for traffic, safety, and fleet management, enables the optimization of goods flows within logistics chains. ITS used for the purpose of controlling the flow of cargo in cities should consist of a combination of several subsystems, namely: ATIS (Advanced Traffic Information System), ATMS (Advanced Traffic Management System), AVCS (Advanced Vehicle Control System), and CVO (Commercial Vehicle Operation) [Russo et al. 2009].
One of the European cities using ITS is Dresden (Intermobil project). The system is based on 16 industrial cameras recording the current traffic situation, placed at key points in the city. After analysis and processing, and supplemented with information such as parking spaces, current weather conditions, and accident reports, the data is made available on an open internet platform. The system was introduced in 1996 and is constantly being improved [Taniguchi 2001].
Restricting traffic in the central part of the city by introducing charges. The first application of such solutions in the world took place in Singapore in the late 1970s and was limited to charging for entering the city center by a passenger car carrying only the driver during the morning rush hour. A transponder for chip cards was installed in each vehicle. The amount registered on the card was reduced after passing the toll point. Drivers of vehicles from outside Singapore had the option of renting a transponder [Suchorzewski 2003]. In Europe, one of the first countries to implement a charging system is Norway. Fees have been collected since 1990 in Oslo, and later they were introduced in Bergen and Trondheim. They are collected using the AutoPass system [Suchorzewski 2003].
Another interesting project is the toll system used in London since 2003. Entering the city center involves a fee paid for any period, in many ways (on-line, in selected stores, gas stations, by phone, via SMS). Residents of the area covered by the charge receive a 90% discount. Vehicles powered by alternative energy sources and vehicles with at least 9 seats are completely exempt from fees. This system is combined with monitoring, which allows for comparing vehicle registration numbers with the register of paid fees and rights to move freely around the center. The introduction of the system led to a 16 – 20% reduction in traffic intensity [Baybaras et al. 2004].
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 5/2010.