GLOSSARY

Pick-Up/Drop-Off (PUDO) Zone

A pick-up and drop-off (PUDO) zone is curb or off-street space set aside for passengers getting into and out of vehicles, including ride-hail cars, taxis, shuttles, private cars and, increasingly, robotaxis.

A CURB POCKET FOR THE HAND-OFF sidewalk PUDO pocket through lane stays clear
A pick-up/drop-off zone is a managed curb pocket where ride-hail, taxis, and now robotaxis make the hand-off, out of the moving lane. As curbside demand explodes, giving the drop-off its own space is what keeps it from happening in the travel lane and stalling the street. Illustrative.

Without a designated zone, pick-ups happen in travel lanes, bike lanes and driveways, blocking traffic and endangering riders. A designed PUDO zone moves that activity into a defined space with enough length for the expected queue, clear pedestrian access and rules on how long vehicles may wait. See curb management.

Design considerations

  • Length and queue. Size for peak arrivals and dwell time, with space for vehicles waiting to pull in.
  • Pull-through movement. Vehicles should enter and leave without reversing. See pull-through mobility court.
  • Pedestrians. Waiting areas, lighting, weather protection and a clear walk to the entrance.
  • Rules. Time limits, staging for waiting vehicles, and fees where demand is high.
  • Location. Curbside on low-traffic streets, inside garages, or in a dedicated court at large sites.

Where PUDO matters most

  • Airports, stadiums, hospitals, hotels, transit stations and nightlife districts, where demand peaks with events and dining, not just commutes.

The Parkonomics view

The PUDO zone is the front door of the autonomous vehicle era, and it must be drawn, not improvised. Parking facilities with a well-designed pick-up court can earn from fleets that would otherwise clog the street.

Related terms: Curb Management, Passenger Loading Zone, Pull-Through Mobility Court, Robotaxi, Ride Hailing