According to the online magazine dezeen the architecture studio URB has proposed creating TEH LOOP as a covered highway for cyclists and pedestrians that would wrap around Dubai. dezeen writes: “Envisioned to encourage Dubai’s three million residents to switch from cars to healthier modes of transportation, THE LOOP would also incorporate a hyperloop line.” In the words of the architects “THE LOOP aims to connect more than 3 million residents using a healthy mode of transport, to key services & locations by walking and cycling within minutes. It will provide an enjoyable climate controlled all-year environment, to make walking & cycling the primary mode of transport for Dubai’s residents, in line with its new 20-minute city initiative. The aim is to make cycling & walking the primary mode of transport for daily commutes for more than 80% of Dubai’s residents by 2040.”
Urb has proposed a 93-kilometre cycling and walking highway. Rendering by URB.
THE LOOP project is masterminded by URB, a global leader in developing sustainable cities. The CEO of URB, Baharash Bagherian, explains how THE LOOP provided a great opportunity to foster an entrepreneurial spirit in urban mobility:
Citizens would be able to travel to districts within Dubai in 20 minutes. Rendering by URB.
“Dubai is the best place for entrepreneurship in urban mobility. THE LOOP project is an embodiment of that entrepreneurial spirit, which aims to make Dubai the most connected city on earth by foot or bike. In Europe most people ride bicycles or walk to get to work. In Dubai, our aim is to get more than 80% of people to use a bike on a daily basis. Dubai is currently primarily built for car travel. It’s major road infrastructures & networks have disconnected communities by walking or cycling, thus we need an entrepreneurial mindset in reconnecting these neighborhoods, whilst making cycling or walking the primary mode of transport all year round to any part of the city.”
THE LOOP would be climate controlled. Rendering by URB.
“Our aim is to re-engineer the future mobility infrastructure in Dubai to become more than sustainable transport systems. To think of such infrastructures as much as spaces and utilities for people, where various leisure & community services can also be provided. These types of infrastructures should be an enjoyable mode of sustainable transport, no matter the weather conditions.“ Bagherian continues.
