Disconnecting a city centre to prevent through traffic: An a priori evaluation with a focus on freight transport

There has been a growing interest from public authorities around the world in implementing measures aimed at preventing through traffic in city centres and establishing car-free zones. One of these initiatives has recently been proposed by the City of Bergen, aiming to zone the city centre in such a way that, in the long run, only public transport and emergency vehicles can pass through. While the zoning is primarily focused on mobility to make the city centre more attractive to residents by reducing traffic and parking, its effects on freight delivery in relation to city liveability is not thoroughly discussed. This paper investigates the implications of this zoning decision on freight transport, offering authorities a broader understanding of its impact through the utilization of clustering and routing models of freight carriers at a holistic level. Our analysis reveals that alongside the anticipated increase in total driving for freight deliveries throughout the city, there would also be a rise in traffic within the city centre itself, which may not have been intended or expected. As a remedy, we analyse the effect of introducing a micro-hub for consolidation, and bicycles for the last mile delivery, another policy that is presently being considered by the city. Our study highlights the importance of integrating freight transport into decision-making processes from the initial stages, rather than treating it as a secondary concern relative to mobility.