| Abstract |
An overarching concept for logistics and mobility may significantly contribute to a sustainable intelligent transport system in such a way that other sectors and the European economy as a whole will benefit. This requires an integrated view on a wide range of topics such as passenger mobility, the supply chains and flows of goods, related passenger, freight and traffic flows, land use planning, policy development, technological development, and economic, legal, and financial issues. Moreover, proper understanding of the behaviour and policies of individuals, companies and governments is needed. Urban logistics is defined as all movements of goods (as distinct from people) in to, out from, through or within the urban area made by light or heavy vehicles, including also service transport and demolition traffic, shopping trips made by private households and waste (reverse logistics). The paper presents an innovative solution for creating a reliable, robust and sustainable system for mobility and logistics in urban areas by taking a holistic view. The movement of people and goods share (information and physical) infrastructure. The paper presents some of the good practices of ITS applications in the field of urban freight transport in several European logistics clusters. In addition, it addresses the needs for cooperation between logistics clusters to create a systemic improvement in urban logistics in Europe for sustainable urban areas, to better establish the contribution of urban logistics to the economy and to determine the role of the urban authorities. |