The Washington, D.C. Department of Transportation, and the Curb Space Management Company, called “Curb Flow,” have conducted a three-month pilot study to better manage curb space in Washington, D.C.
While the Department of Transportation is still evaluating the full results, the highlights seem to indicate that double parking in urban D.C. decreased by 64%. The study also found that commercial drivers use their apps to make space reservations more than 15,000 times. As it stands, over 6,300 drivers from more than 900 companies have registered to use the service.
As part of the pilot program, curb parking was removed at nine locations where commercial deliveries often result in double parking and where drivers could reserve loading zone time online either on demand or in advance. The urgency in finding curb space management is dramatic. You need to only look at the amount of packages that are being delivered each and every day by USPS, UPS, FedEx, and other delivery services even to your own home or office and understand that congestion and package delivery go hand and hand.
We are not in the position to widen streets or to reduce sidewalks and, therefore, curb management, as a technology, is a vital process that is going to need to occur in each and every major urban area in the United States. Congestion is reduced when drivers can save time from not having to circle the block multiple times just to find a parking space. Companies of all sizes – from national delivery providers like UPS to local flower shops – have had their drivers participate in this program.
Merchants are thrilled because the program helps achieve more timely delivery pick-ups and drop-offs from food for restaurants to goods for boutique stores. Knowing when deliveries are going to occur also helps business owners and entrepreneurs schedule their workers to help with deliveries.
Curb Flow, as a company, builds off the old adage “if you build it, they will come.” Curb Flow has truly built a better sandbox. The company will begin their program in Columbus, Ohio and four more cities will be announced in the next several months.
Curb management: an absolutely essential part of reducing urban congestion.