A NETWORK OF URBAN HUBS
IS Required

NYC has networks for libraries, schools, and emergency services but lacks specialized hubs to streamline operations. Carbon Zero City proposes Urban Hubs to manage micro cargo, transit, waste, and sanitation.

hub

MICRO CARGO
A Paradigm Shift is Underway

INCREASING NUMBER OF DAILY DELIVERIES
NYC's package deliveries doubled in two years, hitting 3.6 million daily. Trucks, handling 90% of freight, worsen air quality, congestion, and safety. Roads are under strain from this rapid growth.

INCREASING ANNUAL TONNAGE
NYC's cargo tonnage will rise from 365 million tons in 2020 to 540 million by 2045. Trucks will still handle 89% of freight, driving a 68% increase in total volume (NYC DOT).

Quads are leading the shift in delivery modes, replacing vans with double the capacity. As package demand rises, companies are turning to quads for bigger loads, while basic bikes handle smaller deliveries. Quads from Europe are gaining traction, and when paired with Urban Hubs, they boost efficiency and optimize infrastructure.

BIKES
Perfect for couriers, food deliveries, and local shops. Joco, Whizz, and Zoomo are leading the market in NYC.

BIKES AND TRAILERS
Cargo bike-trailer combos offer reinforced frames and larger capacity, making them ideal for efficient transport.

TRIKES
Trikes excel in last-mile urban deliveries, offering more agility and capacity than e-bikes and vans.

QUADS
Quads are built for higher capacity, doubling the load of vans, ideal for both urban and industrial logistics.

MICRO TRANSIT
NYC Needs Much More than Citibike

NYC Comptroller Lander highlights the risks associated with a potential shift in ownership from Lyft and rising maintenance costs that could destabilize the service. Urban Hubs aim to address these long-term concerns with CitiBike by offering more options and alternative surface transit solutions, especially in response to subway disruptions from climate-related events.

MICRO TRANSIT COMPONENTS
Secure Bike Parking
Last-Mile Cargo Relay Facilities
Last-Mile Bike Rentals
Bike Retail and Rental
Bike Supply, Recovery, and Repair
Small-Scale Bike Repair
Cargo Bike Rental
Traffic Gardens and Amusements
traffic

EXPAND THE BIKE ECOSYSTEM
In September 2022, NYC's Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to enhance NYC's cycling ecosystem.

GARBAGE
Does Not Disappear by Itself
(— Mayor Bloomberg)

NYC's garbage problem threatens public health and urban competitiveness. Waste attracts pests, spreads disease, and harms respiratory health, while also tarnishing the city’s global image and deterring business and tourism. Innovative waste management hubs and better recycling can improve sanitation, waste collection, and disease control.

Garbage Component Offerings
Store Garbage Off the Street
Compact the Garbage
Divert Composting
Remove Large Trucks from the Streets
Enable Future DSNY Clean Curbs Initiative
Facilitate Commercial Waste Zones
Showcase Innovation in Waste Management
Urban Populations
NYC, GARBAGE CAPITAL
NYC generates 12 thousand tons of waste daily, an increase of 375 tons in five years, driven by population growth and e-commerce.

PUBLIC TOILETS
An Urban Necessity

Need a Loo in NYC? Expanding public toilet access is key to improving quality of life and the city's image. Borough President Levine’s initiative pushes for clean, accessible restrooms citywide. In FiDi, Carbon Zero’s Urban Hubs project enhances sanitation, boosts tourism, supports businesses, and makes the city more welcoming.

PUBLIC TOILETS OFFERINGS
Visitor Comfort
Extended Stay
Inclusivity
Emergency Preparedness
Visitor Experience
Support for Local Businesses
Health and Hygiene
NYC's Image
MANHATTAN BORO PRESIDENT ON TOILETS
Urban Populations

TOILETS IN UNUSED RETAIL
FiDi has 22% retail vacancy, much of which is in tired buildings. Pedestrianization and transformation of FiDi into a carbon zero capital would likely make public toilets economically viable.

Toilets

LOSING THE TOILET CHALLENGE
Pedestrianization and transformation of FiDi into a carbon zero capital would likely make public toilets economically viable. Source: Digg..

Roadmap

MICRO CARGO

MICRO TRANSIT

GARBAGE

PUBLIC TOILETS