I know, I feel it: if I tell you "think of a city friendly to cyclists and pedestrians" you will all tell me stuff like Amsterdam (and I believe you). However, if I tell you "think of a city of crazy and futuristic structures" the profile changes. Maybe you would say Dubai, hein? Well. Put things together, and you have the Loop, an incredible NINETY-THREE kilometer (57 mile) closed bike and pedestrian trail.
A type of The Line of the pedicular, go.
Local studio Urb designed “The Loop” with the aim of improving Dubai's infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, making cycling and walking the main means of daily transport for most residents.
And the climate? It's so hot in Dubai that it's difficult to train outdoors. To overcome the problem, here is the solution: a futuristic glass structure that houses both the cycle path and the walkway for pedestrians, raised above the ground and air-conditioned. Nothing else? How do you feed this snake? But with renewables, says the study. Solar power, kinetic pavement, We'll see.
How the "infinite" cycle path is made
The Dubai Loop will be equipped with areas for jogging, walking and cycling but not only, those of Urb say. In addition to being full of greenery with many plants and trees, it will also host small public parks, sports facilities and urban gardens to improve food production in the area.
On balance, in short, we are not talking about a cycle path: it is a structure designed to connect by 2040 80% of over 3 million residents without a car, in an ideal "20 minute city" (there are also those who are experimenting to do even better).
The project is currently in the first study phase. It's such a huge undertaking that I could hardly have imagined its accomplishment, but this is the Middle East, guys.
Here, as mentioned, madness and technology are at home.
