Sharing the Curb: Impact and Opportunities from Tech-Enabled Curbside Management

Recent estimates indicate that there are roughly 100 million parking spaces lining the curbs in American cities. These spaces are traditionally allocated based on the immediate needs of adjacent buildings: general parking in front of residential, meters in front of shops, loading zones near supermarkets and warehouses. Today, with increased demand for online delivery, rideshare pickup and drop-off, outdoor dining, and electric vehicle charging stations, curbsides have become increasingly valuable commodities for a broad variety of stakeholders. Recognizing this shift, North American cities such as Boulder, Boston, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis have looked at flexible systems that can quickly respond to the ever-changing needs of the street, even in a single day or hour. These data-centered, tech-enabled, "smart" curbside management approaches have shown the potential to reduce congestion, enhance public safety, and encourage greener modes of travel, all while potentially increasing city revenue. This panel discussion seeks to convene public and private sector thought leaders to envision the future of curbside management.