#09 DISCO: Making Space for Deliveries: Rethinking the Curb in Padua
How can cities make better use of limited curbside space for urban deliveries?
2026-09-24 63 min
Episode Video
;
Description & Show Notes
Making Space for Deliveries: Rethinking the Curb in Padua
Loading and unloading areas are essential for urban logistics, but they compete with many other uses of public space. In dense and historic cities, finding suitable space for deliveries is becoming increasingly difficult. Welcome to the first episode of the DISCO Podcast Series! As part of the DISCO project, this series shares practical experiences from the project´s Living Labs, lessons and insights from cities testing innovative urban logistics solutions.
In this episode, we look at the experience of the Padua Living Lab, where the city tested new approaches to managing loading and unloading areas. We discuss how the original proximity logistics concept had to be adapted to local regulatory conditions, what the demonstration revealed about flexible curbside management, and the practical challenges related to regulation, enforcement and digitalisation.
Katy Huaylla and Thato Motloung speak with Dr Luca Braidotti from the University of Trieste, who introduces the Padua Living Lab and shares lessons from its implementation. They are joined by Laurence Bannerman from the European Parking Association and Anne Goodchild from the Urban Freight Lab, who bring wider perspectives on parking regulation, digital enforcement, standardisation and how cities can introduce more effective curbside management. The discussion raises a simple but important question: how can cities move towards smarter curbside management without needing to digitalise everything from the start? If you would like to find out more about this episode, check the links below. And of course, subscribe to our podcast to keep up with new episodes and hear more about the future of urban mobility.
Links for this episode:
Loading and unloading areas are essential for urban logistics, but they compete with many other uses of public space. In dense and historic cities, finding suitable space for deliveries is becoming increasingly difficult. Welcome to the first episode of the DISCO Podcast Series! As part of the DISCO project, this series shares practical experiences from the project´s Living Labs, lessons and insights from cities testing innovative urban logistics solutions.
In this episode, we look at the experience of the Padua Living Lab, where the city tested new approaches to managing loading and unloading areas. We discuss how the original proximity logistics concept had to be adapted to local regulatory conditions, what the demonstration revealed about flexible curbside management, and the practical challenges related to regulation, enforcement and digitalisation.
Katy Huaylla and Thato Motloung speak with Dr Luca Braidotti from the University of Trieste, who introduces the Padua Living Lab and shares lessons from its implementation. They are joined by Laurence Bannerman from the European Parking Association and Anne Goodchild from the Urban Freight Lab, who bring wider perspectives on parking regulation, digital enforcement, standardisation and how cities can introduce more effective curbside management. The discussion raises a simple but important question: how can cities move towards smarter curbside management without needing to digitalise everything from the start? If you would like to find out more about this episode, check the links below. And of course, subscribe to our podcast to keep up with new episodes and hear more about the future of urban mobility.
Links for this episode:
- DISCO project – Comune di Padova·
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUOsiTkXCiRIDISCO x UNCHAIN webinar on curb side management and efficient deliveries | Unchain·
- DISCO Padua Living Lab – Main Results and Perspectives
- Watch this episode on YouTube
Contributors:
- Dr Luca Braidotti, Venice International University
- Laurence Bannerman, European Parking Association
- Anne Goodchild, Urban Freight Lab
Jingle: Santiago Campos, Musicbox
Visuals: DISCO project
Disclaimer:
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101103954. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the INEA nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.