Cities are changing the game of the last mile. More pedestrianization, more restrictions on polluting vehicles, more saturated loading and unloading areas... and, at the same time, more urgency to deliver quickly and without fail. In this context, the Cargobikes (cargo bikes, usually with electric assistance) have become one of the most powerful solutions for operating in urban centers.

But beware: just because a cargobike is agile does not mean that the operation is “easy”. The difference between profitable cycling and one that is going to waste is usually the same as always: routes and planning. This is where the route optimization goes from being “a plus” to being the heart of the business.

In this article, we tell you about the real challenges of delivering a cargobike (with a clear example in the old town of Barcelona) and how Routal helps to plan and execute bicycle routes efficiently, respecting capacity, types of streets and peculiarities of the operation.

Why cargobikes are key to the last urban mile

In central areas (think of Ciutat Vella in Barcelona: narrow streets, pedestrian sections, limited access), a traditional vehicle has constant problems:

• Find a space to stop without blocking.
• Comply with time windows on regulated streets.
• Avoid being surrounded by access restrictions.
• Reduce incidents due to “cannot be delivered”.

Una Cargobike It's just the opposite: you can move easily, park with much less impact, and access areas where a van doesn't fit directly. And also:

• Lower maintenance cost than a motor vehicle.
• Cheaper energy (and predictable) than fuel.
• Less risk of penalties for improper parking.
• More flexible operation for urban micro-hubs or dark stores.

The real challenges of cycling logistics (and why optimization matters so much)

Cargobike routes are usually Shorter, yes... but they have to be much more accurate. On a bike, every minute and every kilo counts.

1) Limited capacity: volume and weight rule

A cargobike has a much smaller capacity than a van. This requires planning with a magnifying glass:

• How many stops can each route make without breaking capacity.
• Which orders “fit” together.
• When should you return to the micro-hub to recharge.

Without good planning, two things happen:

• Or you leave with a low load and lose productivity.
• Or you overcapacity and there are delays, extra trips and failed deliveries.

2) Narrow, pedestrianized streets and difficult accesses (Barcelona center)

In the old town there are sections where:

• You can't come in at certain times.
• You can't drive on some streets with certain vehicles.
• Navigation changes due to works, events or local regulations.

Cycling has an advantage, but you still need a route that Don't make you zigzag nor does it send you down streets that slow you down.

3) Parking: the big bottleneck (even if you're riding a bike)

In a van, stopping can be difficult. On cargobike, it gets better... but it doesn't go away. If the route is not well designed, the delivery person ends up:

• Traveling more than the account on foot with the package.
• Making inefficient stops (many laps, little delivery).

4) Delivery windows and customer promises

In the urban center, customers (and businesses) highly value punctuality. If you promise 10:30 — 11:00 and arrive 11:25, the cost isn't just the time:

• It increases the likelihood of incidence.
• Satisfaction decreases.
• Reattempts are multiplying.

5) Workforce: more accessible, but requires operational control

A very interesting point: when delivering by bike, You don't need a driver's license as in a motor vehicle. This opens up the cast to more profiles and can facilitate peak scaling.

But precisely because of that flexibility, it is key to have:

• Clear and easy to follow routes.
• Visibility of progress.
• A system that reduces improvisation.

6) Sustainability (0 direct issues) and brand reputation

Cargobikes are 0 contaminants in use (without direct emissions). And in the city, that's not just a “green” argument: it's an operational and commercial argument:

• Fewer restrictions.
• Better fit with municipal policies.
• Better perception of the end customer.

What does “optimize routes” mean on cargobike (it's not just “the shortest path”)

Optimizing for cycling is not “taking Google Maps and that's it”. Good optimization considers:

• Capacity (weight/volume) per vehicle.
• Vehicle type/modal: bicycle vs van vs motorcycle.
• Zones and types of streets (accesses, pedestrians, restrictions).
• Time windows and priorities.
• Pickups and deliveries on the same route (multi-stop and multi-task).
• Load balancing between riders.
• Minimize distance and time, but without creating impossible routes.

In short: you need a plan that is efficient in theory and Executable on the street.

How Routal helps plan and execute cargobike routes

Routal is designed for real last-mile operations: planning, optimization and monitoring. And in cycling logistics, it provides value especially in three areas: planning by modality, operational restrictions and Day-to-day control.

1) Planning by mode type: bicycle, heavy transport, dangerous goods...

Not all deliveries can be carried by bike. Routal allows segment and plan taking into account different types of operation and vehicle (for example, bicycle for the center, van for the suburbs).

This allows you to design a mixed model (”multimodal fleet”) where:

• The bike does what it does best: center, density, difficult access.
• The motor vehicle covers longer routes or heavy loads.

2) Optimization with capacity limits

For cargobikes, “I don't fit” is a daily problem. With Routal you can plan routes that respect the load capacity, avoiding:

• Routes that force extra trips.
• Overloaded riders.
• Imbalance between routes (one full, the other half empty).

3) Ultra-efficient routes for hard-to-reach areas

In areas such as the old town of Barcelona, the key is not to do 5 km less: it's to do less friction:

• Best order of stops.
• Fewer detours.
• Less “turning back” through poorly chosen streets.
• Less time wasted on micro-decisions.

Routal helps you build routes optimized and consistent, which are repeated, improved and scaled up.

4) Pick-up and delivery management (not just “drop-offs”)

Many cycle logistics operations combine:

• Pickups at stores or hubs.
• Deliveries to the end customer.
• Returns or collection of containers/reverse logistics.

Routal allows you to manage pickups and deliveries within the same schedule, maintaining order and control.

5) End customer monitoring and experience

Efficiency doesn't end when the route “goes off”. In cycling logistics, it is very useful to be able to:

• Monitor progress.
• Reduce incidents.
• Improve ETA communication (estimated time).

And, in addition, Routal allows the customer to follow the order and provide feedback (for example, with satisfaction surveys), something key to closing the circle: operation + perceived quality.

Example: delivering in Ciutat Vella without dying trying

Imagine a morning with 40 deliveries spread over El Born, Gòtic and Raval. By van, half the time you would go in:

• find where to stop,
• avoid restrictions,
• walk with the package from afar.

At cargobike, the challenge changes:

• maximize deliveries per delivery without going over capacity,
• order stops to avoid zigzags,
• comply with business hours,
• prevent the rider from making “micro-improvisations” that break the plan.

That's where a tool like Routal makes a difference: the operation ceases to depend on “the person who knows the neighborhood” and becomes a replicable system.

Clear benefits of optimizing cargobike routes with Routal

• More stops per hour (productivity).
• Fewer kilometers and less downtime.
• Fewer incidents (and fewer retries).
• Better route balance between riders.
• Scalability: you can grow without everything depending on informal knowledge.
• Profitability: lower operating costs + better fulfillment of promises.
• Sustainability: 0 direct emissions operation and more compatible with urban centers.

Quick checklist: what to check if you want to improve your cycling

1. Are you planning with Actual capacity (weight/volume) or “by eye”?
2. Do you have repeatable routes or is every day improvisation?
3. Do you correctly separate what goes by bike versus what another mode requires?
4. Do you measure incidents and reattempts by zone/time?
5. Is your operation optimized for the center (accesses, stops, times)?

If any answers make you hesitate, there's probably room for improvement with optimization.

The cargobike is the vehicle... optimization is the business model

Cargobikes are proving that they can be delivered to the city center quickly, flexibly and sustainably. But for that promise to be profitable, the key is to have planning that respects capacity, urban typology and real execution.

Routal allows you to manage a cycling operation with optimized routes, multimodal fleet and end-to-end visibility (planning, monitoring and customer experience). If your goal is to operate in complex areas—such as the old town of Barcelona—and to do so with margin, optimization is not optional: it's the accelerator.

Do you want to see what your cargobike operation would look like with optimized routes? Discover Routal and test real planning with your data.

FAQ

What is a cargobike?

Una Cargobike is a bicycle designed to carry goods (in a front, rear box or platform), often with electrical assistance, ideal for deliveries in urban environments.

What is cyclologistics?

La cyclologistics is the urban distribution of goods using bicycles (especially cargobikes) as the main means, normally supported by micro-hubs or consolidation points.

Why is route optimization so important on cargobikes?

Because the Capacity is limited and margins depend on productivity: ordering stops, respecting time windows and minimizing delays have a direct impact on cost per delivery and profitability.

Can Routal plan routes taking into account bicycles and other vehicles?

Yes. Routal allows you to plan by modalities (for example bicycle for downtown and van for outdoor use) and optimize according to restrictions such as capacity and type of operation.

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In 2026, the reverse logistics it is no longer “an extra” that is managed as it can. It is a structural part of the operation: returns, home collections, convenience points, removal of packaging, management of clean waste... and, increasingly, real circularity (recomerce, refurbishment, recycling and return of materials to the chain).

The problem: The reverse costs money, time and capacity. And if you don't plan well, you eat up the margin.

What is reverse logistics (really) in 2026?

When we talk about reverse logistics, we are talking about the “back” flow from the customer or end point to a warehouse, a hub, a sorting point, a reconditioning workshop or a waste manager.

And that involves much more than “picking up a package”:

• Pickups and returns (ecommerce, retail, B2B).
• Exchanges (delivery and pick up at the same stop).
• Removal of packaging (cardboard, plastic, pallets) on common routes.
• Pick-up at convenience points (lockers, shops, associated points).
• Return classification: resale, refurbishment, recycling, destruction.
• Traceability: collection test, condition of the package, incidents, times.

In Spain, the volume of returns and their complexity are already on the radar: e-commerce closed 2025 with 15.2 million returns (data published in January 2026).
And the operating cost doesn't magically go down: industry studies aim to cost increases per package and to the need for technological investment to contain it.

Why reverse logistics “breaks” operations if you treat it like an appendix

Reverse logistics burdens three things if you don't integrate it:

1. Route planning
   Delivering 120 “drop only” stops is not the same as mixing deliveries + pickups + exchanges. Times change, windows, priorities... and the reality of the street.
2. The capacity of the vehicle
   Conversely, the vehicle “fills up” in the middle of the road. If you don't control capacity (weight/volume/units), you're faced with:
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   1. collections that don't fit,
   2. routes that break,
   3. reattempts,
   4. and a cost that goes up silently.

3. The customer experience
   The return is part of the purchase. And at the same time, a poorly managed return is one of the biggest sources of friction (and calls). It's no accident that brands are fine-tuning policies and processes.

The future isn't “free returns forever” (unless someone pays for the party)

For years, the market pushed “returns-friendly” as a competitive advantage. But the pendulum is moving: more and more retailers are limiting returns or charging fees (especially for returns by mail), leaving free options in store or at specific points.

Recent and commented examples in industry media:

• Fees for mail-order returns on brands such as Zara or H&M, among others, and more pressure to use more efficient return channels (store/point).
• Large retailers expanding return windows in campaigns, but introducing fees in some return methods.

Operational translation: “everything free, everything easy, everything through messaging” doesn't scale when costs and environmental impact go up. If the customer wants “total convenience”, the market is starting to say: perfect, but then you charge (or a more efficient channel is encouraged).

And here's a key idea for 2026: it's not just about reducing returns; it's about designing a cost-effective system to manage them when they occur.

Circularity: turning the inverse into a useful (and measurable) operation

Cost-effective reverse logistics usually has one of these outputs:

• Recommerce (resale).
• Reconditioning (second life).
• Recycling (material returns to the system).
• Return to supplier (B2B closed circuits).

The important leap is to move from “collecting returns” to “managing returns with a clear destination”.

Real case of circularity: Ecoembes MillAzul (clean cardboard on the usual route)

A very interesting example is MillAzul, an Ecoembes pilot test in Coslada (Madrid) to facilitate the recycling of cardboard in stores for an approximate period of Three months, as an efficient solution for cardboard generated in your daily activity. Generating a new business model for the parcel delivery company, while ensuring that the truck was always full.

In projects of this type, the big challenge is not “the idea” (picking up clean cardboard sounds easy), but Fit it into the real operation without adding a brutal extra cost: same vans, same routes, same day... but adding the collection of clean waste with total traceability.

That's where technology makes the difference: if you can plan deliveries and collections together, controlling capacity and times, circularity ceases to be a “pretty” pilot and becomes a sustainable and cost-effective service.

What changes when you integrate deliveries + collections into the same plan

If your operation mixes direct and reverse, you need to answer very specific questions:

• What stops are submits, what are Pick-up And what are they swapping?
• What pickups can go in any vehicle and which do they require? minimum capacity?
• What happens if a route is already “loaded” with deliveries and also has 15 pickups?
• How do you prioritize if there are different time windows and SLAs?
• How do you avoid “empty” kilometers to pick up something that you could have picked up “in passing”?

This is not solved by “adding one more stop”. It is solved with joint optimization.

How Routal helps make reverse logistics profitable (and not a margin hole)

At Routal, reverse logistics is not managed as an exception: it is integrated into the same planning as delivery.

1) Integrated delivery and collection planning

You can build routes where they live together:

• deliveries to the customer,
• collections of returns,
• picked up at convenience points,
• and exchanges (delivery + pick up at the same stop).

The result: fewer kilometers, less improvisation and fewer reattempts.

2) Vehicle capacity to ensure feasible pickups

The key that a lot of operations overlooks: A pickup doesn't always fit.
Routal takes into account the Vehicle capacity to assign pickups to routes where they are actually possible (depending on volume/units/weight, depending on the operating model).

This avoids the classic “yes, we pick it up” which becomes:

• “it didn't fit”,
• “stop by tomorrow”,
• “we duplicate route”,
• “and the margin disappears.”

3) Street monitoring and execution

The reverse requires evidence and information:

• pickup confirmation,
• incidents,
• real times,
• traceability per stop.

And the better you close that cycle, the easier it is to:

• reduce calls,
• anticipate problems,
• and make decisions about return policies based on data (not on intuition).

Advantages of reverse logistics when you do it right

Using the advantages of reverse logistics as a lever (not as an inevitable cost):

• Better customer experience (scheduled and reliable collections).
• Lower cost per return (integration into existing routes).
• More real circularity (less waste, more reuse).
• Data to decide (which products return the most, where, why and how much it costs).
• Defensible profitability: you can keep a good service without giving it away.

2026 is about balancing service, cost and circularity

Reverse logistics will continue to grow, but the market is making one thing clear: It's not sustainable that it's free and unlimited... unless the customer pays that cost or you turn it into an optimized operation.

If your operation already makes (or is going to make) returns, collections, exchanges or circularity like clean cardboard/packaging, the question is not whether you do it: it is How do you plan it to be profitable.

Routal it's designed just for that: deliveries + collected in a single schedule, with Vehicle capacity, optimization and operational control so that circularity is not a “parallel project”, but part of everyday life.

If you want to talk about your operations and how we could help improve their efficiency, Let's talk.

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‍Last mile, innovation, R&D, R+D+i, smart cities.

Urban logistics is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades. The growth of e-commerce, the pressure to reduce emissions and the saturation of cities have focused on a critical point that often goes unnoticed: loading and unloading areas.

This is where it is born SMART BAYS — Smart City with Flexible and Connected Management in Urban Loading and Unloading Zones, a strategic R+D+i project aligned with the European mission of Smart and Climate-Neutral Cities 2030 .

And yes, Routal is at the center of this innovation.

The real problem of the last mile in cities

Urban Merchandise Distribution (DUM) is one of the biggest challenges of urban mobility. Today, loading and unloading zones operate under a model:

• Static
• Not very flexible
• No real-time monitoring
• No integration with planning tools

The result:

• Double-row vehicles
• Urban congestion
• Increase in CO₂ emissions
• Drivers wasting time looking for a place
• Skyrocketing operating costs

SMART BAYS was created precisely to transform this model.

What is SMART BAYS?

SMART BAYS is a project of research and development (R+D+i) which proposes a new management model:

🔹 Dynamic loading and unloading zones

🔹 Real-time intelligent assignment

🔹 Connected monitoring

🔹 Urban digital twins

🔹 Advanced algorithm with AI

The project integrates technologies such as:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Big Data
• IoT
• Blockchain
• Digital Cufflinks

And it will be validated in multiple Spanish cities (Madrid, Zaragoza, Seville, Donostia, Valencia, Vitoria, Malaga), with a desire for European scalability.

The main objectives of the project

SMART BAYS proposes a structural transformation:

1. Create an algorithmic model for flexible management of CyD zones.
2. Design a real-time monitoring system.
3. Develop a digital twin to simulate urban scenarios.
4. Reduce emissions and unnecessary kilometers.
5. Improve road safety and traffic flow.

Expected impact:

• 🔻 -10% in logistics costs
• 🔻 -10% in CO₂ emissions
• 🔻 -80% in extra kilometers looking for parking
• 🔻 -50% in incidents due to improper parking

We are not talking about theory. We're talking about measurable efficiency.

Where does Routal fit into all this?

This is where last-mile innovation becomes truly powerful.

Within the consortium of 15 technological entities, universities, clusters and large logistics operators, Routal leads research in route optimization adapted to dynamic loading and unloading areas .

Routal's goal at SMART BAYS:

Develop an optimization model that:

• Plan routes considering dynamic availability of CyD seats
• Direct the driver to the nearest free space
• Integrate automatic space reservation
• Reduce waiting times
• Minimize emissions
• It adapts to demanding sectors such as HORECA, Pharma and Food

In other words:

connect last-mile planning with the reality of urban space in real time.

This completely changes the current paradigm.

From static zones to smart zones

Today, a planner designs routes without knowing if the driver will be able to park.

Tomorrow, with SMART BAYS + Routal:

• The system knows occupancy in real time.
• The algorithm optimizes considering availability.
• The driver receives intelligent instructions.
• The city obtains metrics for urban governance.

We are talking about truly connected urban logistics.

Applied Innovation, Not Theory

SMART BAYS is not an isolated pilot. It is a project with:

• 15 entities that are experts in logistics, mobility and technology
• Validation with real operators: food, pharmacy, vending, hair distribution

And above all:

a clear vision of a smart city applied to the last mile.

Why does this position Routal as a center of innovation?

Because Routal doesn't just optimize routes.

Routal:

• Research new algorithmic models.
• It integrates AI in complex urban scenarios.
• It collaborates with universities and technology centers.
• He actively participates in strategic R+D+i projects.
• Develop solutions aligned with climate neutrality.

While others talk about optimization,

Routal is redefining the digital infrastructure of the last mile.

The future of the last mile will be connected or it won't be

Innovation in urban logistics doesn't just involve electrifying fleets.

Go through:

• Digitizing urban space
• Integrate data in real time
• Automate decisions
• Reduce invisible friction

SMART BAYS demonstrates that the intelligent management of loading and unloading areas is a key element in transforming urban mobility.

And Routal is at the heart of that transformation.

Would you like to be part of this new generation of urban logistics?

If you're managing last-mile operations,

if you work in urban mobility,

if you are part of a public administration,

or if you simply want to reduce costs and emissions...

It's time to learn how Routal can help you plan the last mile with real intelligence.

👉 Innovation is no longer optional.

It's strategic.

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