When it comes to reducing congestion, most people think of the street – but what about the curb? When we come out on the other side of this pandemic, demand for curb space will still exist! In this episode, I’m chatting with the CEO of Coord, Stephen Smyth about curb management, gig companies’ relationships with the curb and how cities can proactively manage this space using technology.
Shout out to another mobility podcast – Wunder Mobility podcast. This one is a new one for me, but it’s really great – covers the mobility sectors, mobility businesses and more. Check out the link in the Show Notes below!
Listen to this episode on your phone here.
Intro to Stephen Smyth
- CEO and Co-founder of Coord
- Only comprehensive curb management company
- Goal is to create safe, equitable streets
- Partners include Pittsburgh, Boulder, West Palm Beach and more
Why the Curb?
- Helping cities manage curb space, efficiency
- Now working with more fleet companies
- Commercial loading, for example
- Think of the curb as a flow – it’s more than ‘just’ the curb
Impediments to Traffic Flow: Who Creates Curb Congestion?
- Passenger vehicle traffic
- Delivery traffic
- Commercial loading, freight
- In the next 10 years, because of e-commerce, over 30% increase of delivery vehicles on city streets
Technology + The Curb
- Using sensors to determine curb management
- Working with cities to manage and encourage efficiency
- Also worked with fleet companies
- Cities reallocating space to meet demand – supply isn’t static
Future of Curb Management
- Food delivery trend is expected to continue
- Parcel delivery will continue to grow as well
- Cities struggle with curb management – it’s property management
- Curb management propelled by technology – make the whole experience a win-win
Outro
- Thanks to Stephen for coming on the podcast and sharing his perspective on the curb
- A lot of increasing demand on curb space – that’s why companies like Coord exist!
