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A new cycling masterplan vision to make Dubai the world’s most bike friendly city by 2040, surpassing Amsterdam & Copenhagen.
In a city in which travelling by car is currently the most convenient form of transport, a paradigm shift in urban mobility is in planning. The ‘Dubai Cycle City 2040’ study envisions various types of cycling infrastructure, which also includes THE LOOP, a 93 KM cycling highway. The new study is planned to flip the mode of transport in Dubai, allowing residents to cycle or walk to key services and locations in the city within minutes.
By 2040, Dubai’s car-centric population is expected to more than double, reaching 8 million urban dwellers. Dubai’s urban evolution and sprawl have made cars a necessity for travel and thus an indispensable part of the everyday lifestyle. As such, flipping the mode of travel towards cycling requires more than a new way of thinking in mobility, it requires entrepreneurship.
Baharash Bagherian, CEO of URB, explains how the Dubai Cycle City initiative is evolving to become a new benchmark in urban entrepreneurship.
“Our role as urban planners has evolved to become changemakers. It is no longer about just planning new sustainable cities.
It is about planning new types of assets for existing cities with a sense of purpose, to make them more sustainable. It is about becoming an agent of change. The Dubai Cycle City 2040 is an embodiment of that entrepreneurial spirit.”
Since unveiling THE LOOP in early 2023, URB has developed further proposals for a complete cycling network in Dubai, consisting of various types of cycling infrastructure. The aim is to make Dubai the best city for cycling, surpassing existing renowned cycling cities, such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Currently in the research stage, the project aims to create the smartest and most connected cycling infrastructure in the world.
In addition to shifting the primary mode of transport to walking and cycling for majority of Dubai’s residents, ‘The Dubai Cycle City 2040’ also aims to provide additional utilities & amenities to various neighborhoods, such as urban agriculture, social spaces, sports facilities & much more. The study aims to accelerate Dubai’s 20-minute city initiative, as well as its 2040 masterplan goals.
KEY FACTS
Our role as urban planners has evolved to become changemakers.
Our role as urban planners has evolved to become changemakers.
In the past few years, Dubai has strived to become the world’s most liveable city and launched the 2040 urban masterplan. As such Urban mobility has become a key priority.
The ‘Dubai Cycle City 2040’ looks to shift the primary mode of transport in Dubai away from cars & taxis. The aim is to make walking, running & cycling one of the primary modes of transport, whilst providing better social infrastructures & facilities for residents, to make Dubai the best place in the world for living.
This study looks to embrace the Dubai 2040 urban masterplan, by providing better connectivity, resilient infrastructures & shared facilities for neighborhoods.
The proposed cycling network will provide Dubai with the world’s smartest and safest cycling network. It will feature various types of infrastructure, which combined could provide more than 1000 km of cycling lanes.
Majority of the cycling network will connect to public transport to decarbonize the last mile.
Elevated cycling tracks is proposed in areas which lack enough space for dedicated or shared lanes.
Various types of cycling bridges will re-connect communities that are disconnected by major highways.
THE LOOP in Dubai is a new 93 km sustainable urban highway. It will be one of the greenest corridors to be planned.
As a mix-use attraction, THE LOOP will feature leisure & wellness facilities such as fitness stations & sports courts. Tourism assets such as wellness hotels & wellness centres will also be integrated into THE LOOP to promote wellness tourism. Food production is also integrated to promote food security.
