What is the Curb?
The curb is where mobility meets place. It's the interface between moving and staying — the most contested, least governed space in our cities.
The Interface of Mobility
The curb is not just a physical edge. It's the transition zone where movement becomes stationary — where vehicles park, goods are delivered, passengers board and alight, charging happens, and pedestrians access services.
Every trip — whether by car, bike, bus, or foot — begins or ends at the curb. Yet despite its central role in mobility, the curb remains the least measured, least governed, and least optimized part of our urban infrastructure.
What Happens at the Curb
Why It's So Complicated
Contested Space
Parking, deliveries, ride-hail, transit, dining, cycling — all competing for the same linear meters.
Poorly Measured
Most cities lack real-time data on curb usage, turnover, or conflicts.
Weakly Governed
Curb management often falls between departments with no clear owner or strategy.
The Invisible Crisis
We plan roads for traffic flow. We design sidewalks for pedestrians. We build bike lanes for cyclists. But the curb? It's often treated as an afterthought — a narrow strip that's expected to accommodate everything without any real governance, data, or coordination.
The result: double-parked delivery trucks blocking bus lanes. Ride-hail vehicles circling for pick-ups. EV drivers searching for chargers. Emergency vehicles delayed by poor access. Pedestrians navigating chaos.
The health of our cities — and the success of our mobility systems — depends on how well we manage this overlooked space.
Ready to Fix the Curb?
The Curb & Last-Mile Institute provides fast diagnostics, strategic roadmaps, and actionable solutions to help you optimize your curb.