Electric cargo bike depot (Prague, Czech Republic)
Area: urban
Date implemented: June 2020
How long from concept to implementation: 3 months (pilot)
Relation between efforts undertaken and benefits achieved: good
What was done and how: Prague set out to install micro-depots in the city centre to contribute to streamlining logistics delivery, so that goods always arrive from the shortest possible distance. The idea of the city’s bicycle depot was conceived of as a response to a rapidly growing volume of deliveries by transport companies during the COVID-19 lockdown, paired with the city administration’s interest in freeing up public space, especially in the city centre. The City Council decided to implement this as a pilot, which ran for 6 months with regular evaluations. In spring 2021, an expansion of the services with a Logistics Hub, equipped with automatic parcel lockers and pick-up points, was planned. Currently, over 10 different types of cargo e-bikes can be seen in operation, including Larry vs Harry Bullitt, Velove Armadillo, Hinterher bike trailers, and Rytle cargo delivery systems. The entire space is nicely protected under a bridge against direct weather in a central area within Prague. The depot offers heated facilities for couriers, including a kitchenette and showers, a universal charging station for e-bikes and a service station.
The measure lowered the number of cargo vehicles in the city centre, as the shipments were collated in the depot outside of rush hours, and then delivered only by cargo bikes. The couriers have delivered over 50,000 parcels and covered more than 23,000 kilometres, demonstrating tangible success of the depot. Thus another important milestone was that the City of Prague decided to expand the pilot project with the second location, Anděl, which will allow companies to focus on Prague and its surroundings.
Why it worked to 'fast track' the innovation/measure: The cargo depot was the first location of this kind in Prague, offering a central space from which eight major delivery and logistics companies could move parcels from vans to cargo-bikes. Accelerating factors included: political support (the area selected was already owned by the city administration, which allowed for the rapid building and set-up of the depot), and good cooperation and coordination between the public and the private actors, which was key to rapidly making decisions and implementing the measure.
Lessons learnt: The key enabler for the cargo depot was the clear support and willingness from local politicians to find a quick and sustainable solution to the rising number of parcel deliveries.
Tips for replication: The most critical and important milestone of the project was the selection of the suitable land for the depot. Once the right spot had been selected, the implementation itself was much easier, as the City of Prague was the owner of the land. The depot was then built swiftly thanks to cooperation between the companies involved.
Sources or links:
- The project was nominated for a Eurocities Award, which rewards innvoative measures:
- https://www.depot.bike/English
- For more details, contact Jaroslav Mach, Head of Department for Transport Development: jaroslav.mach@praha.eu
Date implemented: June 2020
How long from concept to implementation: 3 months (pilot)
Relation between efforts undertaken and benefits achieved: good
What was done and how: Prague set out to install micro-depots in the city centre to contribute to streamlining logistics delivery, so that goods always arrive from the shortest possible distance. The idea of the city’s bicycle depot was conceived of as a response to a rapidly growing volume of deliveries by transport companies during the COVID-19 lockdown, paired with the city administration’s interest in freeing up public space, especially in the city centre. The City Council decided to implement this as a pilot, which ran for 6 months with regular evaluations. In spring 2021, an expansion of the services with a Logistics Hub, equipped with automatic parcel lockers and pick-up points, was planned. Currently, over 10 different types of cargo e-bikes can be seen in operation, including Larry vs Harry Bullitt, Velove Armadillo, Hinterher bike trailers, and Rytle cargo delivery systems. The entire space is nicely protected under a bridge against direct weather in a central area within Prague. The depot offers heated facilities for couriers, including a kitchenette and showers, a universal charging station for e-bikes and a service station.
The measure lowered the number of cargo vehicles in the city centre, as the shipments were collated in the depot outside of rush hours, and then delivered only by cargo bikes. The couriers have delivered over 50,000 parcels and covered more than 23,000 kilometres, demonstrating tangible success of the depot. Thus another important milestone was that the City of Prague decided to expand the pilot project with the second location, Anděl, which will allow companies to focus on Prague and its surroundings.
Why it worked to 'fast track' the innovation/measure: The cargo depot was the first location of this kind in Prague, offering a central space from which eight major delivery and logistics companies could move parcels from vans to cargo-bikes. Accelerating factors included: political support (the area selected was already owned by the city administration, which allowed for the rapid building and set-up of the depot), and good cooperation and coordination between the public and the private actors, which was key to rapidly making decisions and implementing the measure.
Lessons learnt: The key enabler for the cargo depot was the clear support and willingness from local politicians to find a quick and sustainable solution to the rising number of parcel deliveries.
Tips for replication: The most critical and important milestone of the project was the selection of the suitable land for the depot. Once the right spot had been selected, the implementation itself was much easier, as the City of Prague was the owner of the land. The depot was then built swiftly thanks to cooperation between the companies involved.
Sources or links:
