Work

Urban mobility implications of last-mile delivery – A systematic literature review

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Urban delivery has undergone significant transformation in the past years. Analysing last-mile delivery under the umbrella of urban mobility requires considering a variety of stakeholders with different and sometimes conflicting perspectives and interests. This article analyses the effects of delivery services on urban mobility based on a systematic literature review (PRISMA) of Scopus and Web of Science databases (2010 – 2024) yielding 235 documents. The findings aim to guide future urban planning strategies that accommodate rapid change and promote liveable cities for their residents. The review assesses future last-mile delivery solutions in light of expected urban mobility scenarios, highlighting emerging market possibilities and operational approaches. The paper clarifies key themes, identifies research trends and gaps, synthesizes existing knowledge, and proposes future research directions. While existing research acknowledges the negative impact of last-mile delivery on urban mobility, it often focuses narrowly on either new technologies and operational costs or environmental issues, neglecting a holistic approach to sustainable urban mobility planning. Despite the topic’s importance, this area remains under-researched, presenting significant opportunities for further academic investigation into improving urban mobility to accommodate this growing trend.

Source: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives

DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2026.101951

Authors: Amanda Oliveira Mesquita, Zsolt Matyusz, András Munkácsy

Institutions: Corvinus University of Budapest, Institute for Transport Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Urban and Freight Transport Logistics

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,400