NYC Delivery ‘Microhubs’ Aim to Cut Down on Truck Pollution

The hubs are designed to provide parking for large delivery trucks, which can pass on their cargo to bikes or other zero-emission vehicles.

1 minute read

May 18, 2025, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


UPS delivery cargo bike with covered front seat in New York City

A UPS delivery bike in New York City. | New York City Department of Transportation / Commercial Cargo Bicycle Pilot

New York City is launching a network of “microhubs” in an effort to reduce traffic and pollution from large delivery trucks and replace last-mile trips with smaller, zero-emission vehicles.

As Danielle McLean explains in Smart Cities Dive, “The city said in an April 22 press release the microhubs will create designated spaces for Amazon, Net Zero Logistics and UPS on the Upper West Side, allowing those companies’ delivery trucks to transfer packages to cargo bikes, pushcarts and zero-emission vehicles to complete the last leg of deliveries.”

Almost 90 percent of goods in New York City are delivered by truck, so consolidating truck parking and distribution could significantly reduce traffic and impacts on neighborhood streets. “The first three locations are within city Smart Curbs’ zones — part of a program launched last year that dedicates curb space for trucks and passenger vehicle loading, bike corrals, electric vehicle charging and pedestrians.”

The city says it plans to expand the program to 36 on- and off-street hubs in the next three years.

Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Smart Cities Dive

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

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.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Woman and young girl looking at subway map, woman pointing.

Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?

Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.

June 9, 2025 - John Pobojewski

Close-up of cracked and damaged two-lane roadway with double yellow stripes on a bright sunny day.

Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?

With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.

June 19 - Transportation for America

Group of e-scooters messily parked on street in London with black cab in background.

The European Cities That Love E-Scooters — And Those That Don’t

Where they're working, where they're banned, and where they're just as annoying the tourists that use them.

June 19 - Bloomberg CityLab

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19 - Outdoor Life