93-kilometre climate-controlled cycle superhighway could transform Dubai

In Dubai, international firm URB is presenting The Loop project, a 93-kilometer-long highway that aims to encourage the metropolis’ residents a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation. Created in line with the “20-minute city” agenda, the project aims to reduce car dependence by providing opportunities for walking and cycling and integrating essential services into its design.

This would be a significant change in the infrastructure of Dubai, a car-centric city built through a process of rapid urbanization. In addition to climate-controlled, the facility is designed to accommodate several interconnected activities, such as vertical farms for food security, parks and recreational areas, various services and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

The initiative is contained in the 2040 master plan and urban mobility strategy. In line with these ambitions, the project will also use kinetic energy to provide a renewable energy source. Irrigation systems will also be powered by recycled water to reduce resource use.

Recently, URB unveiled plans to develop Dubai's largest agritourism destination, a master plan that will provide food security for the local community, create new jobs and restore damaged and polluted land. The same office, based in the Dubai Design District, also aims to create the most sustainable city in South Africa and further develop Dubai's infrastructure by designing an innovation district for research and development.