Reversing Last-Mile Footprints: Strategies for Sustainable Practices by Roberta Rosa

REVERSING LAST-MILE'S FOOTPRINTS: STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

CONTENT

LAST-MILE FACILITIES: COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ONLINE RETAIL DEMAND INCREASE Context overview

First Approach: -Values -Focus

Timeline research

Background overview -Insights

Action -Actionable Insights

Strategy diagram -Strategy to sustainability

Situations -Current situation -Preferred situation

PROJECT STRATEGY 1 - PHYTOREMEDIATION Pedagogy tool

Challenges

Stakeholders involved

Partnership constellations

Infrastructure -Vacancy & infrastructure -Stewardship

PHYTOREMEDIATION TOOL GUIDE -Phytoremediation -5 best plants -Phytostabilization -Phytodegradation -Phytohidraulics -Phytoextraction -Phytovolatilization -Toolguide framework: workflow

Project promotion

PROJECT STRATEGY 2 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION Cargo bike delivery system

Challenges

Stakeholders involved

Partnership constellations

TOOL SYSTEM GUIDE: WORKFLOW 1- Site Analysis 2- Policy & regulations 3- Ground Installations 4- E-Bikes 5- Delivery Bikers 6- Packages 7- Payment system 8- Safety & health 9- Project funding

Hunts Point Cargo Bikers Office

Project promotion

LAST MILE FACILITIES COSTS AND CONSEQUENCE OF ONLINE RETAIL DEMAND INCREASE

CONTEXT OVERVIEW

The situation of mobility I am looking at, is last-mile facility storages logistics movement evolution and how the storage warehouses are moving back into the cities, the land selection, and what does this change imply. Present times are evolving to move faster, being adaptable and flexible to advercity and survival. Covid-19 has changed consumers behaviors and shopping has shifted entirely to online, the digital world is quickly arising. Therefore big online retail businesses have to respond quicker to consumers demands, this is done by having same-day deliveries or deliveries within hours of the request, so, how is this posible? By moving storage and warehouses back into the cities. This movement manifests directly into the city’s environment affecting the population and the nature around it. In October 2009, the e-commerce giant Amazon introduced SAME-DAY DELIVERY SERVICE. Initially, it restricted orders after a certain time of the day, and was only limited to seven cities, including New York. Same-day deliveries have become key for online retail platforms, building new customer expectations, creating new labor issues, and reconfiguring the geography of how things move from one place to another. I choose to focus on the South Bronx and its coasts, as it has become an industrial zone with different warehouses such as Amazon's last-mile facility, being the most affected neighborhood in a low income residential area attacking minority groups. Hunts Point in the south Bronx has historically been a high air pollution area. Looking at it with a wider scope, New York has experienced uncountable severe episodes of air pollution throughout history, for example; the air pollutioin incident in November 1953, where concentrations of sulfur dioxide were considerably greater than those of the previous day and above the range which was considered normal for New York City's air; and the major air-pollution episode and environmental disaster in 1966, where smog covered the city and the surrounding areas with toxic pollutants at very high level. That was the third major smog event in New York City. For three days the city was covered by a black cloud of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, smoke, and haze. After

INTRODUCTION

these terrible tragedies, the Clean Air Act was created as a result of heightened public concerns about deteriorating the city air, the natural areas littered with debris, and the urban water supplies contaminated with dangerous impurities. Presently, densely built cities are being reconfigured to meet spatial challenges imposed by the logistics of delivering more goods in less time. Historically, there has been an established system of large-scale, pancake style warehouses occupying multiple acres of land in the suburbs or along highways, nowadays this does not function anymore. Many empty, vertical urban warehouses and factories were renovated into self-storage facilities because of the new demand of instant satisfaction. The old factory spaces are now back to the real estate market in the service of high-speed urban logistics. Everythig is about consumers and where they consume. These free benefits come with a hidden environmental cost that doesn’t show up on the daily page. Faster shipping means that your packages may not be as consolidated as they could be, leading to more cars and trucks required to deliver them, and an increase in packaging waste, which researchers have found is adding more congestion to our cities, pollutants to our air, and cardboard to our landfills. As e-commerce continues to grow and expand across the New York City region, more and more companies are looking towards The Bronx for their “last-mile” distribution facilities. This will add nightmarish traffic and truck pollution which contributes to the area having some of the worst asthma rates in the nation. Furthermore, the South Bronx is an area filled with warehouses, factories and last mile facilities that throughout history have been polluting the soil with metals and all types of pollutants, that is why the area lacks public green spaces. Mott Haven and Hunts Point in the South Bronx, are a classic example where black and Hispanic residents experience a particularly insidious environmental inequality, there is a current existing racialethnic disparity in pollution.

“LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT is that part of the supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flows and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ requirements.” (CSCMP 2010)

FIRST APPROACH

VALUES I am aiming to raise awareness and value about environmental justice in South Bronx. Also, focus on giving all members of the community a chance to be healthy, everybody deserves to be healthy. In other words, to reduce impact, then reduce harm and heath inequalities for minority groups. The world is moving towards technology development, neoliberalism and capitalism are growing exponentially, focusing mainly in the quick response to consumers demands, producing and producing, so we –the designers– are the ones in charge of including and involving the minority groups that are being left behind in this excluding systems. I WANT TO REDUCE IMPACT AND THEREFORE REDUCE HARM. EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE HEALTHY. Based on the Design Justice Network Principles and the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing my working principles are: 1) Empower communities to stand and express their needs to the sometimes discouraging system. 2) Sustainable design, through environmental justice. 3) Inclusive decision-making, including the community. Design with them not for them. 4) Help communities speak up, to be heard by the system. Be recognized and able to express. 5) Universal and inclusive language. 6) Community centeredness. Designers as facilitators between communities and the system, share design tools. 7) Holistic involvement and commitment by unity and support. 8) Community-led outcomes and consciousness about design’s impact.

FOCUS The environmental and health cost of online retail and its physical infrastructure and logistics are distributed unevenly. This is particularly prominent in South Bronx. My goal is to reduce the pollution from occurring, focusing on policy planning regulations and implementations. Evaluating different modes of transportation as well as community pedagogy through community gardens. The focus of this project is environmental justice, environmental justice advocacy, government policies, pollution/emissions of last-mile, how low-income and minority groups are left behind, therefore reduce health inequities.

SITUATION

LAST-MILE FACILITIES MOVE BACK INTO THE CITIES TO KEEP UPWITH THE

DEMAND INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY

NO NO NO EMISSIONS GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS HEALTH REPORT ADVOCACY TRUCK CONTROL

ARE OUT OF CONTROL

SOUTH BRONX COMMUNITY SUFFERS

12 BACKGROUND OVERVIEW

INSIGHTS “Logistics management is that part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the effi cient, effective forward and reverse fl ows and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ requirements.” (CSCMP 2010) The situation of mobility we are looking at is last-mile facility storages logistics movement evolution and how the storage warehouses are moving back into the cities, the land selection, and what does this change imply. Present times are evolving to move faster, being adaptable and flexible to advercity and survive. Covid-19 has changed consumers behaviours and shopping has shifted entirely to online, the digital world is quickly arising. Therefore big online retail businesses have to respond quicker to consumers demands, this is done by having same-day deliveries or deliver within hours of the request, and how is this posible? By moving storage and warehouses back into the cities. This movement manifests directly into the city’s environment affecting the population and the nature around it. I choose to focus on South Bronx and its coast, as it has become and industrial zone with different warehouses such as Amazons last-mile facility, and it is the most affected neighborhood being a low income residential area attacking minority groups.

1.LOGISTICS

STORAGE

Logistics plays a leading role when talking about delivery service and retail stock management, even more so now, during covid times. The logistics system has evolved to become more effective and time saver; beginning with the transportation era, then the physical distribution, the physical supply, the business logistics and finally supply chain management. During the physical distribution era factories and warehouses moved out of the city to be near the airports and along highway corridors, where there was more land available and a quick access. Consequently, during the business logistics era in 1987, the demand for products increased, so people started using empty apartments as small warehouse storage inside the cities, and a law was created to discourage this process. Furthermore, many empty vertical urban warehouses and factories were renovated into self-storage facilities. the old factory spaces are now back to the real estate market in the service of highspeed urban logistics. Everythig is about consumers and where they consume. New spacial arrangement; tall floorto-ceiling heights, longer spans for flexible movement, thicker floors for less vibration, fireproofing, and critically, spiral ramps and truck elevators. Vertical warehouses are

strongly prepared to meet consumers fast delivery orders. Hunts Point will be the site of a new Amazon “last mile” facility in The Bronx. Many will be excited at the prospect of having more jobs in The Bronx but on the other hand there will be a high impact on already overly congested roadways. Truck routes are overly congested mainly at night, doubling emissions creating air pollution, noise pollution for the population surrouding the area and even visual pollution too.

2.EMISSIONS AIR POLLUTION

LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS

Minority groups and low socio economic groups located in The South Bronx are affected by the warehouses and last mile facilities moving back into the city. To respond faster to the delivery demand, last mile facilities are build inside the city, in low income areas affecting primarily the poor population. Bronx presents the highest severe asthma cases above all other boroughs having 403 to 853 severe cases. It also has the highest child severe asthma cases, and this has been a problem throughout many years. The area contains high concentration of air pollution due to all the truck/vehicle emissions. More demand brings more vehicles, leading to more emissions. This non-stop cyclical process increasing especially during the overnight hours, with an overall traffic increase between 10 and 40 percent. Mott Haven has multiple major sources of air pollution, including two interstate highways, a large food distribution hub in nearby Hunts Point, and two waste transfer stations. As a result, the neighborhood experiences a higher average of air pollution levels than The Bronx or New York City as a whole.

3.POLLUTION

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

New york city suffered from many drastic situations regarding air pollution such as the "Killer smog cloud" and the "NYC Soot cloud." The high concentration of air pollution led to many deaths due to the imposibility to breathe, government and the EPA have taken serious measures to clean the air in NYC, but there is still a lot to be done. This happened back in 1966 in New York, when the whole city was covered in a black smog cloud, followed by the Clean Air Act in 1970 to renew and clean the air of the city. South Bronx is the neighborhood that presents most severe cases of asthma due to all the last mile facilities and warehouses in the area, concentrating high volumes of truck traffic.

INSIGHTS

While air pollution has been decreasing in NYC over time, there are some specific communities, in particular those that already have higher than average amounts of pollutants from traffic and other sources, may not benefit from this trend in a higher degree as others. Even more now with last mile facility storages growing in lockstep with demand in that neighborhood, for example fresh direct's last mile facility storage. Studies show that asthma rates in the area have increased drastically alongside with the carbon emisions and noise pollution, affecting mostly the population in low socio-economic situations. There is an estimate of an average noise increase of 0.06 dBA from the increased traffic due to the online grocery delivery service warehouse. This increase in traffic translated into a mean predicted increase in BC of 0.003 µg/m3 and in noise of 0.06 dBA.

4.LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS LAND USE According to land use, warehouses move into neighborhoods where the land costs less and this results in low-income residential areas being the most impacted. Last mile facility storage are near city centers to respond quicker to sameday deliveries, so their main goal is to find low cost land to settle the storage facilities. Last-mile distribution is a big business across the globe. Nearly 25% of consumers in China, Germany and the U.S. will pay major premiums for same-day or instant delivery, according to a 2016 report from McKinsey & Co. South Bronx is associated with the massive crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s, the image of the South Bronx that has been portrayed as an image of a “war zone” and an example of inner-city ghetto developed as a result of demographic changes and marginalization that occurred between the 1920s and the 1980s. By the beginning of the 1980s, the South Bronx had become a desolate slum. Once crack cocaine was established in the South Bronx, the usage and selling patterns of the drug created new meanings and appropriation of built space. This directly relates to the low income residenial areas previously mentioned, in this case South Bronx, because where the land cost less, low socio economic groups and communities settle down to live. The most affordable neighborhoods in Bronx are Kingsbridge, where the average rent goes for $1,658/month, Kingsbridge Heights - Jerome Park, where renters pay $1,658/mo on average, and Riverdale, where the average rent goes for $1,658/mo. The average rent for an apartment in Bronx is $1,658. There is a link between the low cost of lands and the low-income population, leaving them to be the most affected. Warehouses bring about loads of night truck traffic therefore noise pollution, visual pollution, air pollution and discomfort within communities.

5.LAWREGULATIONS

ENVIRONMENAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY

There are no government regulations to protect local comunties (usually being minority and low socio economic groups) therefore being affected in many diffefent ways. No government protection exists on this matter. There are mechanisms of complaints for disturbances in each neighborhood (NYC311) it offers help in 175 languages for non native english speakers but on the other hand, it doesen't provide aid in a report for health advocacy. Everybody deserves to be healthy regarding the design principles, but no health reports or complaints are available to be done by any means. On the other hand, Bronx is ranked New York's sickest county, although this was originated before last mile facilities, their present settlement in South Bronx is not aiding in the persisting issue of poor health. This also links to the persistent gaps and disparities in healthy outcomes, particularly along racial lines and low income residential areas. Concequently, there are no government laws that help regulate this health issues nor a medium to be able to generate reviews or reports about health advocacy. Although, there are organizations involved to help in this matter, with the support of the Kresge Foundation’s Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative, a national competitive process, NYC Environmental justice alliance has partnered with its member organization THE POINT CDC to create The South Bronx Community Resiliency Agenda.

6.DIGITAL SHIFT TO ONLINE SHOPPING

Consumers' behaviors have changed, online shopping becomes much more prominent with covid. Because of COVID, revealed by the flight to online, shock to loyalty, hygiene transparency, essentials value, and the homebody economy's rise. online shopping is here to stay; lockdown and stay at home orders have made the virtual world the most suitable way to shop. There was a 35% growth in many different categories, such as medicine, groceries, household supplies, and personal care products. The skincare, makeup, apparel, and jewelry expect to grow by 15% (McKinsey & Company, 2020). Millennials and high-income earners are leading the way in this shift. Quarantine has helped reduce time shortages, and people stay at home, so they have more time to invest in home leisure equipment. This shift to online has forced big retail companies such as Amazon to move their warehouses back into the cities and create the last mile facilities storages to respond with faster one-day deliveries. The online shopping giant said it emitted 51.17 million metric tons of carbon dioxide last year, the equivalent of 13 coal burning power plants running for a year. That's up from 2018, when it emitted 44.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.”During pandemic times, online shopping orders increased significantly. To keep up, Amazon said earlier that it leased 12 additional Boeing 767s.

14 ACTION

ACTION

ACTIONABLE

INSIGHTS

I will focus on insight 2 about emissions and minority groups or low socio-economic groups, on how they are affected in the South Bronx (Significant Maritime and Industrial Area SMIA) due to pollution. Last-mile facilities increase truck emissions and noise pollution. I want to reduce impact, therefore, reduce harm and health inequities by implementing community pedagogy through community garden and plant remediation. There is a significant increase of air pollution in the South Bronx area, populations lifestyles are shifting during covid times as well as last-mile facilities. Regarding insight 5, regulations don’t adapt to this new era, there are no government regulations to protect local communities. I want to focus on regulation of truck traffic through alternative transport modalities. Everybody deserves to be healthy. Through sustainable alternative transport, local communities should be able to experience a healthier lifestyle.

16 STRATEGY DIAGRAM

STRATEGY DIAGRAM

STRATEGY TO SUSTAINABILITY GREEN PUBLIC SPACE Wasted land and infrastructure No plant remediation in industrial land Poor land management

LOGISTICS NETWORK Unsustainable ractices Inaccesible transport network Unregulated pollution and emissions

RESOURCES:

Community garden infrastructure Vacancy Gardening grant programs

Alternative transport programs Developed requirements and regulations Private sector funding

PROPOSITION:

REDUCING POLLUTION

CURRENT SITUATION:

FOCUS:

PREFERRED CONDITIONS:

STRATEGY 1: COMMUNITY PEDAGOGY -Phytoremediation -Identify resources -Achieve permanency -Gardens achieve full potential

REDUCE POLLUTION IMPACT PUBLIC GREEN LAND PERMAMENCY

STRATEGY 2: SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT -Cargo E-bikes System -Accesible transoprt network -Create job opportunities -Planning and regulations

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY PRACTICES

18 SITE LOCATION FOCUS

SITE LOCATION FOCUS

PROJECT SITE

SOUTH BRONX

HUNTS POINT MOTT HAVEN

STRATEGY 1:

COMMUNITY PEDAGOGY -Phytoremediation in community gardens

STRATEGY 2:

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT -Cargo E-bikes system

20 SITUATIONS

PROJECT - STRATEGY 1

2 STRATEGIES

CURRENT SITUATION 01 POPULATION USING ONLINE RETAIL PLATFORMS

02 CONSUMER DEMAND - SAME DAY DELIVERIES

LAST-MILE FACILTIES STORAGES MOVE BACK INTO CITIES

INCREASE TRUCK TRAFFIC - INCREASE EMISSIONS

NO GOVERNMENT PLANS OR REGULATIONS ON THE AREA

NO ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATIONS

02 IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS - EMISSIONS

03 REDUCE EMISSIONS, BY TRUCK CONTROL

04 SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY PRACTICES

05 PHYTOREMEDIATION

STRATEGY 1: PEDAGOGY TOOL GUIDE FOR GARDENERS The system is locally connected to the Community Gardens in South Bronx. Creation of more realized examples of dynamic and resilient development. A major drawback is the general contamination of the sites as a result of the former industrial area as it was south Bronx.

OBJECTIVE

PREFERRED SITUATION PERMANENCY OF GREEN PUBLIC SPACES

FOR REMEDIATION AND POLLUTION RESILIENCE

I want to create a design and pedagogy guide for the gardeners in all the South Bronx community gardens to understand pollution and extend their gardening practices to phytoremediation. I want to reduce the pollution that stays on the ground with plants that capture it, absorb it, and break the pollution into less offensive particles. Therefore, not only beautifying the gardens with design and landscape, but supporting it to achieve their full potential of active and clean public space. This guide will help in thinking about remediation, cleaning, and using this opportunity to discuss pollution and environmental justice. Lastly, help identify resources of community gardens to achieve permanency in terms of community ownership.

22 CHALLENGES - STRATEGY 1

EXISTING CHALLENGES 01 02 03

STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED - STRATEGY 1

STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED PUBLIC ENTITIES -Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -NYC Government -NYC Parks Department -Community Board 6 -NYCHA > Moore, el Jardín de -Greenthumb Los Amigos de Moore (Intermediary

between NYC Parks and the community garden)

-SeedMoney

04 05 06 07 08

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

STATE: -NYC Environmental Justice Alliance (NYCEJA) CITY: -Grow NYC -New Yorkers For Parks -Brooklyn College NEIGHBORHOOD: -The point CDC -Nos Quedamos -South Bronx Unite -Friends od Brook

COMMUNITY GARDENS

-La Finca del Sur -United we stand -138th street community garden -Bruckner Mott Haven Garden -Wanaqua Garden -Padre Plaza -Bryant hill garden -Friends of Brook community garden -Willies Avenue community garden -Caldwell Youth garden

24 PARTNERSHIPS - STRATEGY 1

INFRASTRUCTURE - STRATEGY 1

PARTNERSHIP CONSTELLATIONS Organizations that are available out there, working in different capacities stated and connected for the project to succeed.

VACANCY & INFRASTRUCTURE Provided by the Community Gardens in South Bronx, mapped in the following image.

PHYTOREMEDIATION - PEDAGOGY TOOL PUBLIC ENTITIES: GREENTHUMB

PRECEDENTS: Currently offers the "Community gardening program" from NYC Parks. Community Garden Liaison, requires each garden to select a primary and a secondary contact person.

PROPOSAL: FOR FUNDING, ORGANIZING AND HELP SPREAD THE GUIDE. Offers workshops, which are the access point for supplies, are held every month of the year, covering gardening basics to more advanced farming and community organizing topics.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Currently offers the “Green Infrastructure Grant Program”, for funding. Provides online application, grant workshops Also provides the "phytoremediaton resource guide"

I PROPOSE TO CREATE THE “PHYTOREMEDIATION GRANT PROGRAM” To offer grants and aid in the phytoremediation resiliency strategy development.

SEED MONEY

Provides Community Gardening resources.

I WILL PROPOSE TO SPREAD PHYTOREMEDIATION GUIDE THROUGH THEIR “GROWING STRATEGIES” PROGRAM. They have a “Garden Rules” program to promote a clean, good-looking green space that is inviting and grows.

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS: BROOKLYN COLLEGE

COMMUNITY GARDENS: LA FINCA DEL SUR

UNITED WE STAND AND 138TH STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN

PRECEDENTS: Affordable soil testing service. They accept samples from all states. Customer must agree that the data may be used for research and analysis.

PRECEDENTS:

PROPOSAL: I WILL PROPOSE TO CREATE "THE PHYTOREMEDIATION SOIL TESTING SERVICE" Using Brooklyn College lab. Collect soil samples following "Sampling Instructions." Download and complete the "Submission Form." Submission form(s), place in a package with the soil sample

PROPOSAL:

Organizing, established gardening infrastructure.

I PROPOSE TO UTILIZE THE SPACE (VACANCY) AND GARDENING INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN THE GARDEN.

Organizing, established gardening infrastructure.

I PROPOSE TO UTILIZE THE SPACE (VACANCY) AND GARDENING INFRASTRUCTURE. ALSO TAKE REMEDIATION EXPERIENCE FOR STUDIES AND APPLIANCE.

Two gardens form one large 32,500 ft2 space. The space was formerly four Green Thumb gardens: El Flamboyan, Sunflower Garden, St. Luke's Park, and United We Stand. After successful use, fire amaged several structures, the space was rebuilt in 2016. 300 cubic yards of clean fill material provided by The Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation's Clean Soil Bank program was added as a base for the site.

STEWARDSHIP All the infrastructure to repair and maintenance of the phytoremediation will already be established by the on working community garden infrastructure.

PHYTOREMEDIATION TOOL GUIDE METHOD: IT IS COST EFFICIENT AND VIABLE. ADDS NEW VALUE TO GARDENS.

26 ACTION

PROJECT

WORKFLOW - STRATEGY 1

TOOL GUIDE FRAMEWORK Before starting the workflow Guide: Conduct the community garden field data collection, visit each community garden in The South Bronx, update information in websites, update garden status to start phytoremediation work, to impulse community gardens for an area that lacks open space.

WORKFLOW: 1) SITE ANALYSIS:

-Background site research. -Mapping landscape. -Catalogue of plants to use.

Phytoremediation works as a cycle during the seasons, the process runs from WINTER TO FALL.

2) INVESTIGATION:

FALL

-Investigations of the pollution situation -See site potential. -If possible, scientists/ researchers lead a technical survey of ground/ soil to establish base-line levels of pollution in the ground.

WINTER SPRING SUMMER

5) HARVEST & TESTING:

-First small sample of plants is harvested for testing (partial harvesting), and evaluate methodology. -Reach Urban Soils Lab at Brooklyn College, for affordable soil testing. -Evaluation of remediation and adaptation. -Supplement planting. -Planning for second season, season planning.

3) PLANTING:

-Plants are selected. -Arranged and planted. -Integration of remediation.

4) EFFECTS:

-Survey conducted among visitors. -Evaluate effects of new phytoremediation landscape. The process above is repeated.

7) BUDGETING:

-Greenthumb community gardening program. -Propose Phytoremediation Grant program to EPA that already has a green infrastructure program. -Seed Money, provides grant for garden projects, Phytoremediation Grant program.

6) REPAIR & MAINTENANCE:

-From infrastructure of the community garden

32 PROJECT - STRATEGY 2

STRATEGY 2: ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION CARGO BIKE DELIVERY SYSTEM This proposal replaces some of the last mile delivery trucks with cargo bikes. It is not going to replace the volume of the deliveries by the exact amount, as this is fixed, but the behaviour needs to change, it needs to be limited and regulated, because the damage will grow exponentially as well as the online retail that is currently increasing. This proposal aims both a systemic change with a shift in the policy and regulations around last mile delivery and storage facilities and also the local landscape for the bike delivery and commuting infrastructure.

OBJECTIVE My objective is to reduce environmental pollution which is connected to the increase of digital retail and unregulated planning in the area, by limiting the truck traffic and storage spaces. By shifting to bike delivery service and reduced capacity of packages I will reduce the ongoing harm, therefore reducing the issue of high delivery congestion in the neighbourhood, increasing mobility and accessibility. Lastly, I will provide numerous accessible jobs and sustained professional development for minority groups suffering constant inequalities.

CHALLENGES - STRATEGY 2

EXISTING CHALLENGES 01 02 03 04 05 06

34 STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED - STRATEGY 2

PARTNERSHIPS - STRATEGY 2

STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED

PARTNERSHIP CONSTELLATIONS Organizations that are available out there, working on different capacities stated and connected for the project to work.

CARGO BIKE DELIVERY SYSTEM - ALT. TRANSPORT

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Go Smart NYC

PUBLIC ENTITIES:

AVAILABLE RESOURCES:

DOT - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

-Hunts Point Clean Truck Program: The newer trucks, release 97 percent less particulate matter (PM) and 90 percent fewer nitrogen oxides. Hunts point is the priority community. -Electric vehicle charging stations: -Street recurficing operations -Install energy efficient street lights and signals -Low carbon modes: safe, convenient, and connected bike and pedestrian networks -Neighborhood Loading Zone (NLZ) program: Package deliveries by commercial vehicles, Taxi and car service pick-up and drop-off, Active loading and unloading of personal vehicles. Providing dedicated curb space for these activities during daytime and evening hours will help to reduce double parking as well as other unwanted standing behaviors.

NYC GOV. - CITY HALL

-Commercial Cargo Bike Program: safety, requirements, regulations, rules. Pedal-assisted cargo e-bikes with a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour. Companies send data to DOT on speed, size of cargo bikes, and the use of bike lanes. -Safety training sessions

PRIVATE ENTITIES:

AVAILABLE RESOURCES:

AMAZON

-Currently uses 90 bikes for delivering groceries in Manhattan and Brooklyn. According to Amazon rep, every bike replaces a truck. -Last-mile delivery is handled by delivery stations, such as the one in Hunts Point. These facilities typically average 129,000 square feet and employ 200-300 workers. Amazon has about 200 delivery stations in the U.S. and plans to open another 84 in 2020, according to MWPVL.

CITY CIVIC ORG.:

AVAILABLE RESOURCES:

GO SMART

-Guaranteed Ride Program (GRP): unexpected leaving, gosmaprt provides an uber, lyft etc. -Resources: Propose for South Bronx, already exists in queens. -Bikeshare: A short-term bicycle rental service that is great for connecting to the transit or making a quick trip around town. -Bike parking: Many local transit agencies offer bike parking at transit hubs, making multimodal trips more convenient. -Bikes on transit: Many transit agencies allow you to take your bike onboard, making it easier and more convenient to combine bike and transit trips. -Bike routes: New York offers many great local and regional trails and routes for commuting or a leisurely ride.

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES

-Protected bike lanes, curb extensions, and dedicated bus lanes

BICYCLE WORKER ADVOCACY PROJECT (BWAP)

-”Justice and equality through the self-help and mutual aid of bike shop employees, messengers, food delivery bikers, and other bicycle related workers, and is rooted in the principles of community economic development, labor organizing and solidarity.”

w ar eh ou se

ile M t

Am azo n’s

La s

Local Government

PUBLIC ENTITIES PRIVATE ENTITIES STATE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS CITY CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

36 WORKFLOW - STRATEGY 2

TOOL SYSTEM GUIDE

PROJECT - STRATEGY 2

1.SITE ANALYSIS

METHOD: SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY PRACTICE Bikes are an inexpensive, fast, and efficient way to deliver goods. We are looking at only non perishable products that don’t go bad, so it works perfectly.

SITE: Hunts Point, where Amazon Delivery Station (DNJ3 is a last-mile facility) is located.

PROPOSAL -CONDUCT SOUTH BRONX ZONE RESEARCH about street resurfacing, bike lanes, pedestrian lanes, parking zones, loading zones, bike parking, lights and signals. -GATHER INFORMATION for Transportation Alternatives to fight for any changes or measures that have to be taken according to the data collected.

38 PROJECT - STRATEGY 2

PROJECT - STRAGEGY 2

1.SITE ANALYSIS MY VISUAL PROOF

2. POLICY & REGULATIONS PROPOSAL POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH: -NYC GOV - CITY HALL -DOT Visit NYC Gov Commercial Cargo Bike Program requirements: To apply in hunts point 1) Commercial Biciclyst safety course 2) Requirements for a business using bicycle for commercial purpose: Here it would be regulated by community based organization: Entity name: Hunts Point Cargo Bikers Office NO UNLOADING AND LOADING SIGNALLING

NO STREET SIGNALLING

NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS

NO BUS LANES

3) Commercial cyclist safety poster available 4) Roster: Maintain a roster that includes each commercial bicyclist’s name, residence address, date of employment and discharge from employment, unique 3-digit ID number

5) Equipment for cyclist: -A unique three-digit ID number for each bicyclist -Retro-reflective upper-body apparel with the business' name and bicyclist's three-digit ID number on the back -A bicycle helmet in good condition -Business ID card -A bell or other audible device – not a whistle or siren -White headlight and red taillight from dusk to dawn -Reflectors on each wheel and front and back of bicycle -Brakes -A metal or plastic sign at least 3 inches by 5 inches with the business name and a unique bicycle ID number for each bicycle DOT: 1) Has prepared a short brochure and a full guidebook to assist businesses that use bicycles for commercial purposes. 2) Holds interactive workshops for business owners about the commercial bicyclist law.

3.GROUND INSTALLATION PROPOSAL POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH DOT BECAUSE OF: POOR LIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE

NO BIKE NETWORK

POOR SIGNALLING

MY OBSERVATIONS

NO CLEAR SIDEWALKS

VEHICLES BLOCKING SIDEWALKS

-No bikelanes. -No bike network. -Routes are broken because of truck damage to concrete. -Small sidewalks. -Poor signalling for loading and unloading areas. -Vehicles blocking sidewalks and loading zones. -Poor light infrastructure. -No bus lanes to order traffic. -Poor public transportation infrastructure. -Lack of street lanes signalling. -Poor loading and unloading zones.

1) Neighborhood Loading Zone (NLZ) program: Active loading and unloading but adapted for cargo bikes, as it is currently done for vehicles. To provide dedicated curb space for these activities during daytime and evening hours will help to reduce double parking as well as other unwanted standing behaviors. Adding night time hours as most all deliveries in this area happen during night time. Also, provides more job opportunities options. 2) Energy efficient street lights and signals program: Currently retrofitting all of New York City's street lights with energy-efficient LEDs. Also, in this case necessary for night shift deliveries. 3) Electric vehicle charging stations: Propose to create electric vehicle charging stations for cargo E-bikes. 4) Low Carbon Modes: Use it to create a bike network and lanes in hunts point. Delineate streets, create bus lanes to order traffic, street layout for bikes, space for pedestrians and bikes.

40 PROJECT - STRATEGY 2

PROJECT - STRATEGY 2

4. E-BIKES

6. PACKAGES

PROPOSAL

POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH AMAZON BECAUSE OF:

POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH AMAZON FOR:

1) Cargo bikes can carry 150 shipments and 300 pounds: Replaces one of the small delivery trucks, so same-day delivery is not affected, if everybody had these bikes.

-Amazon: Has to redefine DIM weight. It has to reduce the volume of packages to fit more products in the cargo bike.

2) If e-bikes are not allowed, deliveries will be done with normal bikes and the cargo behind. 3) Cargo: Electric bike attached to a cargo behind that can carry 300 pounds. Can be provided by Amazon, already issued 100 of these.

5. DELIVERY BIKERS PROPOSAL POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH: -AMAZON -THE POINT -BICYCLE WORKER ADVOCACY PROJECT (BWAP) -In amazon flex app: Bikers should meet planning and regulations requirements as well as app requirements. -If it is not by amazon flex, workers will apply by themselves: Community organization The point should create local hiring hubs through Hunts Point Cargo Bikers Office (stragegic spots to receive physical application) and offer online application too. Bikers should meet the planning and regulations requirements, if not, it would be provided by amazon. -Access: They will have inmediat acces to Bicycle Worker Advocacy Project BWAP for support.

-The Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Fee is a per-unit fee, based on the dimensions and weight of the item. Propose new dimensional weight standards for Cargo bikes. -The weight: Used in the shipping cost calculation is whichever is larger. The actual weight or the theoretical DIM weight (dimentional weight). DIM weight is not weight – it’s only based on volume. Dimensional weight helps carriers charge based on how much space a parcel takes up on their truck. If charging was based only on weight, you could ship enough air-filled bags to take up an entire truckload, but pay only a few dollars because the weight would be so low.

DIM IBS: LxWxH 166

-Because of this dimensional weight: It would have to be calculated before to charge the shipping cost but not packed with dimensional cost to fit more products in the cargo bike.

7. PAYMENT SYSTEM PROPOSAL POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH AMAZON BECAUSE OF: 1) Amazon Flex APP: App that cargo bikes will utilize for pick up, delivery and final payment. The app does everything from scanning your packages at a pickup center, to figuring out what routes to take, to ultimately confirming that an order has been delivered, which includes taking photos of packages left at a doorstep. -To become a Flex driver for Amazon.com deliveries: Some basic requirements have to be reached; a smartphone and a 4-door vehicle for starters. Amazon also runs a background check and asks to watch a series of instructional videos that are always accessible on the app. I propose E-cargo bikes should be included in this program. 2) If it cannot be included in the app: Amazon should pay the bill because for the company there should be a bigger cost. Its impact is much more, it is exposed in these communities and Amazon is not paying for that. The company is not paying

for pollution, nor for the inconvenience of the traffic. So here I am capturing the cost that they have on communities and the environment, and giving them this solution. -Hiring: In this second case, is done by community organization (The point) through Hunts Points Cargo Bikers Office.

42 PROJECT - STRATEGY 2

8. BIKERS SAFETY & HEALTH PROPOSAL POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH BICYCLE WORKER ADVOCACY PROJECT (BWAP) FOR:

PROJECT - STRATEGY 2

HUNTS POINT CARGO BIKERS OFFICE: IF OFFICE CREATION IF NEEDED...

-Facilities: Add bathrooms stations for bikers, snacks, bike mechanics assistance etc. -Leisure time: Barretto Park 3 blocks away for breaks and free time. I propose to install a Bike parking area for the park, provided by DOT.

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Hunts Point Carg o Bikers Office

-Provide funding by: -NYC Gov for bikes -The Point -Department of Transportation (DOT) -Federeal funding by EPA: It already offers the Green Infrastructure Grant Program, but I propose to adapt it to "Delivery Cargo Bikes Grant Program"

3) Regarding planning and regulations: -Provides Commercial Biciclyst safety course of DOT. -Has the Roster file. -Helps gather the biker equipment from donations. -Printing and issuing id cards for bikes.

Worker A dvoca

PROPOSAL

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9. PROJECT FUNDING

2) Resources: -Provides support for new hired bikers. -Hiring Hubs (for physical application for job) also online platform -Aids to meet the cargo bike program requirements. -Creates a sense of membership and inclusion for the community. Community building.

NYC Environ me nta lJ Go Smart NYC

Bi cy

1) Leading & organization: By local community organization The point.

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Local Government

44 APPRENDIX - PROJECT 1 PROMOTION

APPRENDIX - PROJECT 1 PROMOTION

APPENDIX:

SEED BOX:

PROJECT PROMOTION PROMOTION STRAGEGY: To help promote phytoremediation project in the whole community, not only in community gardens. We will give away products to help the development of the project. With dailylife products of merchandising the project more visible and creates strong community building.

Products funding: Greenthumb and New York City Parks provide gardens with material support. Therefore, I propose include these products in the materials, to help incentivate gardeners and spread phytoremediation behaviors.

PAPERBAG: GARDENING APRON:

TOTE BAG:

46 APPRENDIX - PROJECT 2 PROMOTION

APPRENDIX - PROJECT 2 PROMOTION

PROJECT PROMOTION PROMOTION STRAGEGY: To help promote the cargo bike delivery system. Promote sustainable transportation practices, to make it more visible, reaching different communities and organizations, therefore obtain higher project funding.

FLAGS:

HELMET:

Funding: Products funded by The Point, in charge of leading and organizing the Hunts Point Cargo Bikers Office.

DRY FIT T-SHIRGS:

SUSTAINABILITY IS THE STARTING POINT

ROBERTA WERTHEIN DUE - THE NEW SCHOOL, PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN "STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES"