Do Rideshare and Goods Delivery Need Their Own Curb Space?

On some busy blocks, Uber and Lyft drivers have nowhere safe to park. Neither do parcel delivery personnel. Shared use mobility zones could address the problem.

1 minute read

February 1, 2018, 1:00 PM PST

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Uber Lyft Departure

Paul Sableman / Flickr

"For nearly a century," Greg Rogers writes, "cities have used curb space designations to serve a set of well-defined purposes: mostly short and long term parking, but also freight deliveries, taxi stands, bus stops, and handicap accessibility." But as urban transport evolves, curb space may also require some tweaks.

In short, says Rogers, "TNCs [transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft] do not have a home on our streets, and freight vehicles do not have enough commercial loading zones and parking places to accommodate booming ecommerce."

Designating short stretches of curb as shared use mobility (SUM) zones, particularly at the beginnings and ends of blocks, could reduce the congestion and safety risks of forcing those drivers to pause amidst traffic.

"Outside of peak hours, these spaces could be converted back to regular parking spaces for consumer vehicles or, where needed, be designated as freight and parcel delivery zones to prevent congestion caused by double-parked trucks." While installing SUMs would mean removing some roadside parking, traffic snarls might also clear.

Thursday, January 18, 2018 in Eno Center for Transportation

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

1 hour ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

1 hour ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

3 hours ago - WESH

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA