REIMAGINING URBAN LOGISTICS IN RAPIDLY URBANISING CITIES: WALKABILITY, SHARED MOBILITY, AND GREEN LAST-MILE CORRIDORS

Maja Rosi, Marina Nikšić, Bojan Rosi

Abstract


There is an urgent need to decarbonise urban freight systems, which has fueled growing interest in sustainable models for last-mile delivery. This trend is especially pronounced in rapidly urbanising cities that face infrastructural, regulatory, and resource constraints. Concepts such as the 15-minute city, micro-consolidation centres (MCCs), and shared mobility platforms have each contributed to advancing urban sustainability. However, few frameworks integrate all these innovations into a single, unified logistics model that can adapt to diverse urban contexts. This paper presents the Green Urban Logistics Corridor (GULC) model - a modular, scalable framework centred on five core elements: walkable urban form, micro-consolidation infrastructure, low-emission last-mile fleets, shared logistics platforms, and governance-enabled data integration. By synthesising academic literature with a comparative case study of selected cities, this paper illustrates how both rapidly urbanising and developed cities are using parts of the GULC model to reconfigure their last-mile delivery systems. The findings indicate that the GULC model provides a flexible blueprint for integrating sustainability and accessibility into urban logistics, thereby supporting decarbonisation targets as well as broader livability goals. This study's primary contribution is to fill a gap in the research by articulating a comprehensive, theoretically grounded model that aligns logistics innovation with pedestrian-oriented city planning. 

Keywords


urban logistics, walkability, last-mile delivery, supply chain economics, micro-consolidation, shared mobility, GULC model

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References


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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21622/MARLOG.2026.15.1.85

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The International Maritime Transport and Logistics Journal (MARLOG)

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