Case Study - TRAILBLAZER project

TRAILBLAZER (Transport And Innovation
Logistics by Local Authorities with a Zest for
Efficiency and Realization)
O2.1
CASE STUDY
Bordeaux, France
Urban delivery of goods
with cargocycles
Date: May 2011
Author: Climate Protection Agency Sweden
Theme: Delivering goods with zero emissions
The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the
opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that
may be made of the information contained therein.
O2.1 Case study Bordeaux
Contents
Contents
Abstract
Introduction and summary
Background
Results
Main success factors
Main pitfalls
Future plans
Transferability
Conclusion
Contacts
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O2.1 Case study Bordeaux
Abstract
Bordeaux city centre is a busy commercial area, with large numbers of retail shops
and stores, and a heavy flow of pedestrians. As a result, delivery vehicle access is
restricted, with vehicles not permitted to enter streets within the city centre after
10:00. To meet the requirements of shops and stores, delivery vehicles deliver prior
to this, with the morning period typified by large numebrs of vehicles. In 2000, a
large-scale construction project (associated with a tramway) was initiated in the city
centre, causing disruption to both general traffic, and to goods transport.
In 2005, La Petite Reine, a specialist urban goods transport operator, set up an
urban distribution centre (UDC) just outside of Bordeaux city centre. The aim was to
reduce the number of delivery vehicles entering the city, through the consolidation of
goods at the UDC facility. The consolidated loads were delivered using electrically
assisted tricycles called “cargocycles” and small electric vans. These vehicles were
granted permission to access and deliver goods in the pedestrian centre.
Since the implementation of the UDC and delivery of consolidated loads, the number
of delivery vehicles accessing Bordeaux city centre has been reduced and this has
led to a reduction in the CO2 emissions associated with delivery activity. As a city
with large pedestrian flows, the environment for pedestrians has also improved
through reduced numbers of delivery vehicles and air quality improvements.
Introduction and summary
The implementation of consolidated loads delivered using cargo cycles and electric
vans from a UDC originated from arrangements put in place for the delivering of
goods during the construction of a tramway, which used dedicated loading/unloading
facilities. The delivery service using cargocycle and delivery vehicles is provided by
La Petite Reine, a specialist urban goods transport operator,
Background
Bordeaux city centre is a busy commercial area, with large numbers of retail shops
and stores, and a heavy flow of pedestrians. As a result, delivery vehicle access is
restricted, with vehicles not permitted to enter streets within the city centre after
10:00. Being such a busy commercial area with a large number of shops and stores,
there are difficulties with supplying every shop with goods within this short period of
time. Furthermore, the city of Bordeaux initiated a large-scale construction project in
2000 when a tramway was to be built. The first phase of the tramway construction in
the city centre lasted for a period of 5 years. This had a significant effect on traffic
conditions and made it difficult for transport operators to reach the city centre.
In an attempt to resolve the issue, an initial project was launched during the tramway
construction - special guarded areas were created and were dedicated solely to
delivery vehicles. The purpose of the “Espace de Livraison de Proximité” (ELP), was
to guarantee a parking space for the delivery vehicles, from which drivers were able
to park and deliver goods and packages on foot. This project was initially supported
by the city of Bordeaux but at the end of the tramway construction, it had developed
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O2.1 Case study Bordeaux
into a large-scale urban freight management facility. In 2005, a company called La
Petite Reine set up an urban distribution centre (UDC) just outside the city centre of
Bordeaux. The aim was to reduce the number of delivery vehicles entering the city
through consolidation of goods on a platform at the UDC facility. The consolidated
loads were then delivered using electrically assisted tricycles called “cargocycles”
and small electric vans. These vehicles were granted permission to access and
deliver goods in the pedestrian centre..
Results
The development of La Petite Reine’s UDC took longer than had been initially
expected. In 2005, the environmental impact of freight transport was not as high a
priority as it might be considered today. It took about 2 years to convince local freight
transporters about the benefits of such a system. Twelve people are working in the
Bordeaux UDC, delivering more than 1000 packages each day.
Cargocycles are not affected by the vehicle access restrictions in the city centre, and
as such, La Petite Reine’s cargocycles offer benefits to freight transport operators to
entice them to use the UDC. 80% of all urban freight is composed of packages lighter
than 30 kg. It is these deliveries which are targeted by the company. For heavier
deliveries, small electric vans are available to deliver of the goods.
Figure 1:
A cargocycle from La Petite Reine
The main benefit of the current solution using cargo cycles and electric vans for
freight transport to Bordeaux city centre is environmental. Replacing a motorized van
with a tricycle saves 6 tonnes of CO2 each year, and achieves other environmental
benefits include reduced noise levels. Quantifying these benefits, the company has
assisted with:
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Avoiding 599,393 t-km1 hauled by vans in Paris, not counting the hours of
often non-compliant parking.
Avoiding emissions of 203 tonnes of CO2 and 84 kilos of particulates;
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Tonne kilometer: unit of measurement, which corresponds to the transport of one tonne of goods over a distance of
one kilometer
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O2.1 Case study Bordeaux

Generating a saving of 89.12 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) in fuel
consumption;
Some interesting facts about goods deliveries in Bordeaux:
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The means used for transporting goods by other delivery companies in town
are often larger than the goods they transport.
On average a delivery van weighs more than one metric ton, it delivers less
than 1000 kg of goods while delivering its load within a total distance of only
15km.
La Petite Reine vehicles weigh 100 kg, have a load capacity of 180 kg and
can travel up to 30 km. The cargocycles are capable of delivering all kinds of
goods compatible with the volume of the vehicle body which is 1500 litres.
Main success factors
The vehicle access restrictions of Bordeaux city centre, with the heavy pedestrian
flow provided the impetus for consolidation and delivery of goods by cargocycles.
Main pitfalls
The main difficulty with any project similar to the one in Bordeaux is that of
convincing freight transport operators that the addition of an extra link in the supply
chain will be beneficial to them. This needs to recognise that operators may see this
as adding extra cost to their operation. This is particularly the case whereby
participation is voluntary.
Future plans
The La Petite Reine project in Bordeaux project has expressed an objective to
diversify their customer base in order to become less dependent on subcontracts for
transporters. Commercial negotiations with such transporters may be difficult, and
can be very “cost-oriented” and margins can be small.
Transferability
Cargocycle and electric vehicles for the delivery of goods can assist with improving
traffic problems associated with delivery activity in congested areas, with
environmental improvements arising from reduced emissions and noise. In addition
to congestion and traffic issues, it is important that there are other measures to
support development of consolidation such as restrictions relating to delivery activity.
Further, a suitable location must also be chosen for the urban distribution centre. It
cannot be located too far from the city centre and should easily be reachable for
partners’ transportation shuttles.
In addition to operating in Bordeaux, La Petite Reine is operating cargocycles in a
number of other cities including Paris, Genève, Dijon, Rouen and Lyon.
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O2.1 Case study Bordeaux
Figure 2 – A range of various cargocycles available from La Petite Reine
Conclusion
What originated from a project for delivering goods during the construction of a
tramway (with an ELP) soon became a standardized way of transporting goods in
Bordeaux and the results have been very satisfactory. La Petite Reine has
implemented an innovative and creative approach to a very common problem; that of
delivering to premises in busy city centre environment with a heavy flow of
pedestrians.
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O2.1 Case study Bordeaux
With the help of cargocycles and electric delivery vehicles, shops and stores can
recieve goods in a very effective manner whilst reducing the environmental effects of
such activity. The cargocycles are more than enough for transportation of packages
lighter than 30kg (which account for 80% of all urban freight) and hence optimize
transportation and freight management in urban areas.
It is important to have a well-situated urban distribution centre, UDC. This is to avoid
unnecessarily long journeys for vehicles delivering to the UDC where the cargocycles
receive their goods before they head out to their points of delivery.
Contacts
Samuel ALLAIN-CARONNI – La Petite Reine
E: [email protected]
T: 0033 6 70 71 04 21
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