Managing the Urban Curb Will Require Good Data, Innovation

Two plenary speakers at the Urbanism Next 2021 Virtual Forum, Anne Goodchild and Regina Clewlow were quoted in this article by Skip Descant about curb management strategies.

“The way we shop… is continually evolving. E-commerce is a dramatic shift,” said Anne Goodchild, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington, speaking during the recent Urbanism Next conference.

“This changing nature is really challenging for urban planners. Because the built environment, and our governance structures have to adapt to these changes in behavior,” said Goodchild, noting that this becomes difficult when changes happen rapidly.

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This mobility data allows cities to play a larger role as “mobility managers,” said Clewlow, in her remarks at the Urbanism Next conference.

“They can see real-time information about vehicles parked in the public right-of-way,” she added. “Fundamentally, without data, many cities were essentially blind to how their streets, curbs and sidewalks were being used by new fleet services. With data, they’re now empowered to create policies, and more quickly establish new infrastructure that’s cleaner, that’s safer, and that’s more equitable.”