RAKO Donaukanal – Bike-transport-combination Danube canal – modern city logistics by water and bike

RAKO-Donaukanal analyses how urban freight transport can be organsised in a sustainable way by using a combination of urban waterways and cargo bikes. A boat is used to transport goods along the Donaukanal into the city centre and cargo bikes take over the last mile distribution.

Short Description

Starting point/motivation

Goods transport, particularly in cities, is increasing despite the fact that the limit of the transport system is almost reached, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a world-wide objective. For these reasons it is important to find new innovative and eco-friendly solutions for urban goods transport. Eco-friendly modes of transport like rail and water in combination with bicycle-related last mile solutions - represent such innovative logistic solutions.

The French company Vert Chez Vous explores just such a model. A cargo boat functions as a floating warehouse. Goods as well as 20 cargo bikes are loaded on the boat. The parcels are sorted on and loaded on the bikes according to their delivery tours. In total the boat stops 5 times along the Seine in Paris. With this system it is possible to deliver up to 2500 packages a day.
The advantages of such a city logistic are clear:

it is emission free
faster than delivery by motorized vans
economic advantage
raising the image of all participating companies

Contents and goals

The current project aims to investigate if such an innovative city logistic system would be suitable for Vienna. It will explore limiting factors and necessary requirements and prepare the ground for a Research & Development follower project.

Methods

During the project, the necessary requirements to utilize the Donaukanal for the transport of goods were established, the existing freight transportation systems per boat and bike analyzed, stakeholder surveys (businesses, retailers, logistics experts and CEP-services, etc.) and a detailed study of the delivery chain, particularly of parcels, from the sender to the recipient carried out.

Results and Conclusions

The resulting proposed implementation model focuses on the delivery of parcels to end users (Business-to-Business as well as Business-to-Consumer). The concept described in detail in this study proposes that existing logistics companies hand over parcels to the RAKO logistics service for distribution at the last mile.

This requires additional transshipment of the goods from the existing distribution centers around Vienna to the RAKO depot at the harbor in Vienna. This additional element within the logistics chain also causes additional cost. In order to assure cost equivalence, the other parts of the last mile delivery from the RAKO depot need to be more cost-efficient compared to the vans of the existing delivery system. Also, it needs to be insured that the additional transshipment does not delay delivery to the final customer. In order to be competitive, delivery has to take place on the same day as in the traditional system.

Publications

RAKO-Donaukanal analyses how urban freight transport can be organized in a sustainable way by using a combination of urban waterways and cargo bikes. A boat is used to transport goods along the Donaukanal into the city centre and cargo bikes take over the last mile distribution. 1
Mag. Reinhard Jellinek, DI Willy Raimund, Mag. Judith Schübl, DI Christine Zopf-Renner (Österreichische Energieagentur) DI Karl Reiter, Dr. Susanne Wrighton (FGM-AMOR) DI Richard Anzböck Zivilingenieur für Schiffstechnik Florian Weber, Heavy Pedals Lastenradtransport und -verkauf OG
Publisher: Österreichische Energieagentur – Austrian Energy Agency, Mariahilfer Straße 136, A-1150 Wien, T. +43 (1) 586 15 24, Fax DW - 340, office@energyagency.at | www.energyagency.at
German, 103 Seiten

Project Partners

DI. Richard Anzböck - Kanzlei Anzböck
Dr. Susanne Wrighton - Forschungsgesellschaft Mobilität - Austrian Mobility Research FGM-Amor gemeinnützige Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Florian Weber - Heavy Pedals Lastenradtransport und -verkauf OG
Mag. Reinhard Jellinek - Österreichische Energieagentur - Austrian Energy Agency

Contact Address

Österreichische Energieagentur – Austrian Energy Agency (AEA)
Mag. Reinhard Jellinek
Tel.: +43 (1) 5861524-138,
E-mail: reinhard.jellinek@energyagency.at