A Case Study of Knowledge Transfer. Pedalling for progress with the cargo cycle

Abstract

Abstract City logistics is integral to the sustainable development of cities, nevertheless, it is an aspect which has been largely ignored in policy debate. Although policy-makers are increasingly tending to this issue, there has not been sufficient research addressing the link between last-mile logistics and sustainable urban development. Given the paucity of research examining transferability of best practice between highly heterogeneous contexts, as well as the scant scholarly attention paid to cycle logistics, this thesis contributes to a new body of research by investigating how best practice within the field of urban mobility is transferred from Europe to Colombia, with specific reference to commercial freight cycling and how it can be successfully implemented in the city of Bogotá. The aim of this study is to acquire a basic understanding of inter-city exchange of best practice, as well as to investigate the challenges that pertain to effectively introducing cargo cycles for last-mile distribution in the target setting. The research is based on field-study, involving qualitative observations and 15 formal semi-structured expert interviews with respondents who hold key insights into the researched phenomenon. Given the relative youth of the field, this research follows an open approach by applying abductive reasoning. The main contributions are three-fold: (1) First, by devising a conceptual model, it opens the door to a new line of research concerned with the transferability of knowledge between institutionally distant contexts. (2) Second, it yields an understanding of the challenges related to the implementation of freight cycles for last-mile distribution in Bogotá. (3) Lastly, it concludes with policy recommendations aimed at stimulating cargo cycle uptake. The main conclusion of this study is that without a proper understanding of how knowledge is actually transferred, successful implementation is difficult. Furthermore, the transfer of novel ideas between institutionally diverse contexts is a complex and indirect affair that involves a wide range of informal interactions. It also identifies that perception issues and a lack of awareness constitute important barriers to the successful implementation cargo cycles in Bogotá. Although it is argued that transport companies play a pivotal role in pushing for a modal shift, the importance of local authorities in that process must also be stressed. The findings of this paper are of interest not only to policy-makers, but also to urban logistics operators, research institutions, as well as other urban stakeholders striving towards a more sustainable future.