Walking and cycling can be alternative forms of mobility in Dubai, says expert

dubai — More bike lanes and walking paths should be created in Dubai to make it “the most walkable warm city in the world”, said the keynote speaker at the Mena Transport Congress and Exhibition 2018, organised by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, on Monday.

Speaking to Khaleej Times after giving his keynote speech on the theme, ‘Pioneering for Customers Happiness’, Brent Toderian, founder of Toderain Urban Works from Vancouver, Canada, said: “It is important to promote walking and cycling not just for recreation but also as alternative forms of mobility.”

Toderian emphasised that as Dubai’s population grows, the challenge

If 10 per cent of the residents and tourists walk or cycle, the infrastructure you need for cars will be less and the cost is cheaper than building roads.” Brent Toderian, founder of Toderain Urban Works, Vancouver

is to provide mobility to the people with less space, less public cost and the solution is not to build more roads for cars.

“Following the fundamental law of congestion, the more lanes you build, the more people drive, and the lanes and traffic always fill up. In most successful cities in the world, the idea that you need cars to be happy has been proven fundamentally false,” he explained.

“Even if it is very hot in Dubai during summer, it does not mean you don’t have to promote walking and cycling — these can be done by thinking creatively about urban design. The urban design should prioritise shade from the sun and there can be trees to make the surroundings cooler,” Toderian underlined.

“Walking or cycling may not be for everyone but let’s say even if just 10 per cent of the population walk or cycle, there will be huge transformation in the mobility of the city. If 10 per cent of the residents and tourists walk or cycle, the infrastructure you need for cars will be less and the cost is cheaper than building roads.”

“Biking and walking do not have to be the preferred choice for everyone but preferred choice for many and the city will work better for everyone as there will be alternative solutions to congestion,” he added.

Toderian recognised that Dubai has achieved remarkable success in transit ridership and road expansion and is leading the world in innovative transport solutions.

The RTA also said that it has an existing 218km of cycling tracks, which is targeted to expand to 500km by 2021.