Author: Jennifer Liu, Dixon Resources Unlimited

‍

The curb is one of the most flexible and overlooked pieces of public real estate. For decades, the curb has quietly served as space for parking and loading, reflecting the car-centric planning that has long shaped U.S. cities. In fact, 22% of city center land is devoted to parking in U.S. cities with populations over one million (source: PRN). But that’s starting to change.

Spurred by the COVID pandemic, cities are rethinking the curb as demand grows for a wider range of uses. Traditional curb markings and planning, such as white for passenger loading and red for no parking, are no longer sufficient for modern uses. Today, competing needs include parklets for outdoor dining and communal space, micromobility parking, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and more. There is a higher demand for short-term pickup and drop-off spaces due to on-demand food delivery apps and ride-hailing services, causing drivers to park in bike lanes, double park, or violate other parking regulations because there are not enough spaces available to accommodate their needs. This divergence of existing policies and modern demands isn’t just inefficient; it also creates safety risks.

We have entered the era of strategic curb management, where cities are mapping current uses, analyzing demand, and updating regulations to reflect changing priorities. The following examples highlight curb management strategies cities are adopting for a more adaptive and holistic approach.

Parklet and Outdoor Dining Program

San Francisco has embraced curb management by combining short-term pilots with long-term planning tools. During the pandemic, the city launched the Shared Spaces program, which enabled parking spaces to be repurposed for parklets and outdoor dining. The program has supported more than 2,100 small businesses, with many of the installations having become permanent. In 2022, the city passed legislation to formalize Shared Spaces, turning what started as a temporary solution into a lasting and formative part of San Francisco’s public space.

Leveraging Real-time Curb Inventory Data

Several cities, including Seattle, Minneapolis, and San Francisco, have received funding from the SMART Grants Program to explore new ways of managing the curb. In partnership with the Open Mobility Foundation, they are using the Curb Data Specification (CDS) tool to build open data portals that house a comprehensive digital curb inventory with their associated policies. The goal for this data is to support cities in updating policies based on real-time demand and better balance the needs of various user groups. For example, instead of a static loading zone that assigns a single use, a city can manage a flexible loading zone that possibly serves commercial loading needs in the early morning and shifts to on-demand delivery and ride-hailing services later in the day.

Opportunities Ahead

Curb management today has evolved beyond vehicular uses to include real-time data tools, updated design standards, dynamic space allocation, and a broader rethinking of how the curb serves the public. The aim is to optimize curb use while reimagining it as a flexible public space that supports a variety of modes and needs. Cities now face important questions: Which uses should take priority? What trade-offs are acceptable? Who are the curb users we’re planning for, and who might be left out? As curbs evolve into multifunctional spaces for dining, deliveries, micro-mobility, and more, the challenge is clear: how will your city balance the curb?