Inner-City Distribution
Transportation Network
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Networks of Munich
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Public transportation networks can be optimized and extended in general. This argument is valid for almost every city throughout the globe. However, Munich offers its population a well-connected and frequented network. Munich is well connected to national and international cities via rail. Trains and the S-Bahn bring to countryside and the city together. Within the city, the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and Tram provide high connectivity. To include less-connected areas and to offer decentralized means of transportation, buses cross the city in every direction.
We are adding another vital task to the infrastructure of transportation: the inner-city distribution of food. The public transport therefore becomes a significant part of the regional food-supply-chain. To master its newly added assignment and to match it with high coverage as well as an optimized shipping procedure, trams and buses are the preferred modes of distribution due to their top-level network.
Naturally, this second use of the public transportation system runs without interfering with its first task. Hence, the two systems use the same network. Inner-city distribution takes place during low-frequency hours and with independently operating trams and buses.
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Coverage
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Munich covered through the means of public stations
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To reach the highest possible coverage, all selling places are located at or close by to bus and tram stations. In case the present space is not sufficient, parking lots are going to be transformed into lots for selling units. In this way, a supply of fresh locally grown food in walkable distances is guaranteed. Within a few minutes of walking, most people reach the next station. The blind spots - areas of the city without immediate access to the public transportation network - are going to be supplied otherwise. Electronically powered transporters are going to deliver the food from the transshipment centers to the selling units until the extensions of the public transportation networks also are going to cover these remote areas and finally boosting to a 100% coverage and thereby outdate the big supermarkets as the general address to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Adjustability
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Outlook on the extensions of the public mobility plan, Graphic: Referat für Stadtplanung und Bauordnung
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Using the public transportation system and network allows a high adjustability towards the development of the local food-supply-chain. It can start with just a few dozens of selling units as case studies located at key-locations throughout the city and easily expanded to meet up with the success. Therefore the money-goods exchange and the transportation will procced more smoothly.
And as not just the population and the area of Munich are constantly growing, also the public transportation network is going to be expanded and eventually is going to shift from a centralized to decentralized transportation network shortening delivery routes and increasing the coverage.
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