When you think of cycling and pedestrian-friendly cities, cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht may come to mind, but Dubai will eventually be the talk of the town if an ambitious new proposal comes to fruition. Dubbed the Loop, the route consists of a 93-kilometer (57-mile) long enclosed bike and walking path that offers a respite from harsh desert conditions.
The loop was designed by local studio Urb. Urb is on a mission to improve Dubai’s infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, to the point where biking and walking are the primary means of daily commute for most residents.
This is clearly a big problem given Dubai’s climate, which is often too hot to exercise comfortably outdoors. To address this, Erb envisions enclosing the bike/pedestrian lanes in futuristic-looking glazed structures, raised off the ground on stilts, and providing climate-controlled interiors. Clearly, to keep such an expansive glazed space cool, many Urb says it comes from renewable resources. Kinetic flooring is mentioned, but given the local climate, solar power would probably be a good fit as well.
Urb
In addition to areas for jogging, walking, biking, and related facilities, the Loop has a lot of greenery and many plants and trees. Multiple pocket parks, sports facilities, and urban agriculture are planned to improve food production in the area.
“The Loop will connect more than 3 million residents using healthy transportation to key services and places within minutes by foot or bike,” explained Urb’s press release. I’m here. “It will provide a fun, climate-controlled environment year-round to make walking and cycling a staple mode of transportation for Dubai residents, in line with Dubai’s new 20 Minutes City initiative. To make cycling and walking the main mode of transport in Dubai: By 2040, more than 80% of Dubai’s residents will have access to transport for their daily commute.”
Urb officials say the project is currently in the research stage. It’s a big undertaking that it’s hard to imagine it coming to fruition, but this is the Middle East and a daring project that even the Burj Khalifa and Rhine could be considered viable, so in time I understand.
Source: Arb
