[image] Riyadh (population 7.6 million) is finally getting a metro. Initially scheduled for 2018, after successive delays it will open early this year
[image] Riyadh (population 7.6 million) is finally getting a metro. Initially scheduled for 2018, after successive delays it will open early this year
As much as I celebrate metros... This city is built in the middle of a desert and only exists because of an immense amount of oil being burned to power gigantic desalination plants. It is hardly sustainable even with a metro.
That said, metro is better than no metro.
Riyadh existed long before oil. This 6th century poet is from modern-day Riyadh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-A'sha
Saudi Arabia just built a solar powered desalination plant, and they are investing in much more renewable infrastructure.
Why would they open it all at once?
It was rush hour
Finally
This is the keyword for such a city. It should've gotten such a system already by now when reaching the first million. All these arab/middle eastern cities seem so extremely focused on car infrastructure to a rather disturbing degree. And all the carbrains I know think these cities are the pinacle of modern city development: all just gigantic glass skyscrapers and highways circling around them - nothing else.
Also, back on Facebook/Instagram, there's not a single person who had the money to visit Dubai once and post pictures from there (at least that I'm aware of), that is not car brained. I'm sure they all use their car everywhere and nothing less, they could even be doing their basic shopping from the corner store with it, I think.
All these arab/middle eastern cities seem so extremely focused on car infrastructure to a rather disturbing degree.
Not all cities, but I do understand your sentiment and it is echoed by many locally. Luckily the people in the top are aware they need to fix this. Though even if they ever did, who wants to walk when its 37C at night? Some cities have installed outdoor cooling.
One interesting concept is "the line" city, basically one ultra long building. No need for cars and you can travel from one end to the other via high speed metro. It's basically a city optimized for public transport and so that everyone's apartment has a beautifu view on unspoiled nature (well desert in this case haha)