Qatar to build 35km air-conditioned cycle path in

[Amnesia]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=33...725&q=qatar

This is a CYCLING: News and Views podcast featuring Adnan Rahman of Rand Europe describing the thinking behind an ?air-conditioned? 35km cycle-path network to be built in the Gulf State of Qatar in 2007.

The multi-million dollar cycle infrastructure project in Doha, capital of Qatar, is bankrolled by the Emir of Qatar and will create the best, most futuristic cycle-path in the world. Seven metres wide on Doha?s Corniche, the cycle-path is to have a stunning canopy and wiwater-cooled.d.

Doha city is Dubai's only equal competitor. With a stronger currency and a wealthier nation overall, Qatar has it's eye set on being the heart of the Middle East. Doha has been importing the best minds from Japan, USA, and UK to also advance the city to futuristic level and push forward their e-government initiative.

Audio recorded at Velo Mondial by Carlton Reid, editor of http://www.bikebiz.com and http://www.bikeforall.net

Edited May 14, 2007 by Amnesia

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Sorry, but all these emirate states. FTW!

[Rappy Veteran]

Wow they seem to do everything out there in luxury form :)

[Amnesia]

Dude, Qatar isn't an Emirate.....

Qatar is a country....

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

My bad dude!

[myNando]

That's awesome!! I remember how hot it can get in Doha in the summer.

This is a really cool idea.

[Premgenius]

nice

[Farstrider]

Absolutely amazing! I think that it is one of the "coolest" things I have seen for ages! Qatar seems to be a fantastic place to live, very progressive indeed! :cool:

[Amnesia]

@njlouch, Not a problem ^_^ Just wanted to avoid any mistakes.

I remember seeing in Google Earth that they wrote Doha was an Emirate when in fact it is the Capital of Qatar (the new capital being built will be New Doha), I sent them an email to fix that of course :p

[ahhell]

Crazy!! but awesome.

[ahfunaki]

that is so sweet...

[Noveed]

man, thats offit, light years ahead of the UK

[mad_onion]

i suppose it will be good for transport as well as sport and fitness.

im guessing dubai decided to go for a metro system and Doha went for a more environmentally friendly but less technological option

[dh5]

That's really unique

[Saadu]

People are dieing of hunger and disease, this money and resources could be better spent on millions rather than for the comfort of a few.

[Chanser]

All very well you say that, but that won't completely solve the problem.

Anyway nice idea. :o

[Amnesia]

@mad onion,

Qatar is also building a monorail system (headed by Mitsubishi as well as an underground system)

This is simply a cycling track next to the corniche (where people sit, eat by the sea and go to theme parks)

@Saadu, that is a totally different subject. Qatar (as like other Middle Eastern countries) haven't spent any money until recently on developing the country. However Qatar is one of the highest donating countries to foreign aid.

http://www.google.com/search?q=qatar+donat...ut=5&hpe=10

Qatar donated around 100million to the US Hurricane disaster, for example, and millions more to other charities.

[Slimy]

Something like this was going to happen in Toronto, but somehow I doubt it will :(

[VidER]

Qatari men and women are known to be really fond of cycling!

The ruler himself and his wife are usually seen riding their bicycles on the corniche!

VidER

[MiG-]

Just to think, if it werent for the oil, none of it would exist..

The People there have used the money wisely to ensure that there style of living never disappears.

[XerXis]

i suppose it will be good for transport as well as sport and fitness.

im guessing dubai decided to go for a metro system and Doha went for a more environmentally friendly but less technological option

i'm guessing a 35 km long airconditioning system is not very environmentally friendly and certainly very technological ;)

[riahc3]

I personally wouldn't use this and would have put in a subway or something similar but oh well.

[Aokromes]

Dude, Qatar isn't an Emirate.....

Qatar is a country....

Qatar (Arabic: قطر IPA: [ˈqɑ̱.tˁɑ̱r][1]), officially the State of Qatar (Arabic: دولة قطر , Dawlat Qatar), is an emirate in the Middle East and Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the larger Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south; otherwise the Persian Gulf surrounds the state.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

Looks fantastic. Some of these majorly up and coming Middle Eastern countries really know how to do things in style.

[Amnesia]

Emirate literally means 'The nation or territory ruled by an emir.'. Most countries are States.

Qatar is called the 'State of Qatar' not Emirate of Qatar.

In the Middle East, if you say Emirate you mean part of the United Arab Emirates.

If he meant 'lead by an Emir' then he would be correct, but sadly most 'non middle eastern' countries do not know how to distinguish the two and I'd like to avoid the confusion. So apologies to njlouch if there was any confusion.

@rIaHc3, the corniche is a favourite place to visit and exercise and walk around during the day and night so this is great for regulars. We don't have a subway system (yet ;) )