Washington D.C. lancia un progetto pilota di consegna di cibo con biciclette ecologiche per trasformare la logistica dell'ultimo miglio

Washington, D.C., July 2025 – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has kicked off a groundbreaking 12-month pilot program designed to shift app-based food delivery from gas-powered vehicles to electric bicycles (e-bikes). Supported by a coalition including the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), Whizz, and PopWheels, the initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions, ease traffic congestion, boost street safety, and provide economic support to delivery workers.

The pilot program, set to launch in mid-July 2025, will operate in two six-month phases, each involving a select group of delivery workers who will receive subsidized e-bikes and access to battery swap infrastructure. The first cohort is already being selected, and participants will be able to purchase their e-bikes at the end of the program.

1. Pilot Overview & Objectives

The e-bike pilot was formally announced on June 30, 2025, by DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum, emphasizing the city’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and climate resilience by 2045.

“This pilot is testing one of many strategies to achieve our climate goals while also improving street safety, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting the local workforce,” Director Kershbaum said  .

Funded through LACI’s City Climate Innovation Challenge, the initiative will provide both the vehicles and the infrastructure needed for successful deployment over two six-month phases  .

2. Participating Organizations

• DDOT – Project assembly, street integration, and ongoing evaluation.
• LACI – Funding support through the City Climate Innovation Challenge  .
• Whizz – Supplier of Whizz Storm 2 delivery e-bikes and related accessories  .
• PopWheels – Responsible for installing and maintaining battery swapping cabinets  .

To support pilot participants, PopWheels has established battery swap stations at key community hubs:

• The Festival Center (1640 Columbia Rd NW, Adams Morgan)
• Westminster Presbyterian Church (400 I St SW, Southwest Waterfront)

Each cabinet holds up to 16 batteries, offering quick-and-easy swaps exclusively to pilot participants  .

3. Program Structure & Rider Benefits

The pilot includes two consecutive six-month cohorts:

1. Phase One: Launching mid-July 2025.
2. Phase Two: Immediately follows, continuing through mid-2026.

Each rider will receive a heavily subsidized Whizz Storm 2 e-bike, gear, helmet, and prioritized access to battery swapping facilities. Importantly, pilots have the option to buy their e-bikes after completing each phase  .

The goal is not only to encourage participation but also to support long-term ownership—turning riders into green logistics advocates.

4. Addressing Urban Challenges

Emissions Reduction

By replacing gas-powered mopeds and vans with pedal-assist e-bikes, the city aims to curb delivery-related emissions and progress toward its 2045 climate target  .

Traffic & Curb Congestion

Delivery vehicles, especially those double-parked or occupying bike lanes, pose severe problems. Curb congestion has become a prominent issue since the pandemic era, prompting D.C. to explore dynamic curb pricing and micro-delivery solutions  .

Safety Improvement

DDOT Director Kershbaum also expressed an objective to remove dangerous mopeds from streets, which frequently blur the boundaries between bike lanes and pedestrian zones  .

Worker Support

High subsidies make the e-bikes affordable. Post-pilot ownership enables riders to build equity in low-cost green transportation and transition from gas-propelled alternatives  .

5. Pilot in Context: Lessons from Other Cities

Washington is not the first to explore sustainable delivery models:

• New York & Portland are rolling out emission-free delivery zones and shift freight drop-offs to e-bikes to reduce truck traffic  .
• London & Paris have expanded use of cargo e-bikes for mail and grocery distribution.
• Seattle found that one e-cargo bike could replace over 1.4 delivery vehicles of equivalent productivity  .
• DoorDash data shows that over 50% of deliveries in D.C. already use two-wheel modes like bikes, e-bikes, and scooters—a tripling since 2022—yielding benefits such as higher earnings and faster service  .

6. Infrastructure & Curbside Innovations

DDOT’s e-bike pilot complements ongoing curbside pilots. These include dynamic curb pricing via pole-mounted cameras and short-term loading zones designed for pick-up/drop-off, reducing double-parking and improving turnover  .

Projects include:

• Licensing curb use with plate-reading systems, piloted in Pittsburgh and Boston, which led to a 95% reduction in double parking  .
• Testing pedal-assisted cargo vehicles later this year for larger deliveries, following models in New York City  .
• Rollout of micro-mobility hubs, including e-bikes and battery-swap stations, in dense retail and restaurant corridors.

7. Tracking Success: Evaluation Plans

Throughout the year, DDOT and LACI will collect data on a variety of performance indicators including:

• Delivery efficiency and range
• Carbon emissions saved
• Curb and traffic congestion changes
• Safety outcomes (e.g., accidents, near-misses)
• Rider feedback and economic impact

A formal evaluation at the end of the pilot will determine if the program should be scaled citywide or expanded to other delivery types (e.g., parcels, groceries)  .

8. Delivery Worker Reaction

Local reports, including WUSA9 and Reddit threads, show high interest from delivery workers. One Redditor from r/washingtondc stated:

“DC is running a six month pilot program where they are giving thirty people access to an e‑bike and all the necessary equipment needed to deliver food at a discounted price ($29/month). I was selected as one of the thirty.” 

WUSA9 also notes that participants pay only $29/month and receive full equipment support throughout the pilot  .

These responses show that riders see e-bikes as safer, more cost-effective alternatives to mopeds and scooters.

9. Toward a Sustainable Logistics Future

Washington’s pilot program highlights a broad strategic shift:

1. Vehicle Transition – from gas-powered mopeds to e-bikes.
2. Curbside Management – via dynamic pricing and short-term zones.
3. Infrastructure Scaling – with battery swap cabinets and hub models.
4. Data-Driven Policy – informing long-term regulation and expansion.

If proven effective, D.C.’s model could expand to wider use, featuring more battery swap stations, delivery partnerships, and scaled incentives for clean logistics.

Conclusione

With mounting delivery pressures and street safety concerns, Washington, D.C.’s e-bike food delivery pilot sets a national standard for sustainable micromobility policy. By integrating green technology, curb management, and worker empowerment, the District is laying a foundation for modern, smart, and clean urban logistics. The year ahead will be critical—success here could transform how cities manage last-mile delivery.

Riferimenti

1. DDOT press release, “DDOT to Support Cleaner and Safer Food Delivery with New E-Bike Food Delivery Pilot,” June 30, 2025 
2. Planetizen, “DC to Launch E‑Bike Delivery Pilot,” July 7, 2025 
3. WUSA9, “New pilot program would put delivery drivers on e‑bikes in DC,” early July 2025 
4. Washington Post (Tech & transportation), “Delivery apps broke our streets. New tech might fix it,” July 13, 2025 
5. Fox 5 DC, “DC leaders working on plans to relieve traffic congestion across the city,” July 15, 2025 
6. Reddit (r/washingtondc), user report on e-bike pilot membership, July 2025 
7. Planetizen and WUSA report on battery swap station details 
8. Planetizen & DDOT releases on partnerships with Whizz and PopWheels 
9. Axios (news piece): “America’s bike-delivery hotspots” on two-wheel delivery growth