It was only last month that Elon Musk hit the headlines after announcing plans for the Dubai Loop. The project, announced at the World Governments Summit, will involve the creation of an underground road network in the city.
It is expected to be similar to the Las Vegas Loop, which uses Tesla vehicles to carry convention centre visitors through high-speed tunnels to avoid the traffic on the roads above.
The proposal was eye-catching, but it certainly wouldn’t be the first time that planners have thought outside the box to find unique ways to solve transport issues. With that in mind, The National takes a look at some of the more unusual transport systems around the world.
Suspension monorail in Wuppertal, Germany
You would be forgiven for thinking the picture above was upside down. The elevated monorail system in Wuppertal, western Germany, has been operating since 1901 and was developed because the valley in the area made the creation of a traditional train system a challenge.
The unusual track design allows passengers to travel over roads and rivers without interruption.
Otherwise known as the Schwebebahn, more than 80,000 people use it each day. The system covers 13km of the city and has 20 stops, only four of which are above solid ground.
Monte sledges in Madeira, Portugal
These sledges are handmade using wicker and have been around since the 19th century. They are used to transport people in the parish of Monte in Madeira.
The toboggans are pushed by two drivers, called carreiros, along a 2km-long route to reach the city of Funchal. The carreiros wear a distinctive uniform of white shirts, trousers and straw hats.
They also have to wear specially made boots with extra-thick rubber soles, which act as brakes when they need to slow down during the trip, which takes about 10 minutes.
Maglev train in Shanghai, China
Operating since 2002, the name comes from the magnetic levitation used in its design. Reaching speeds of up to 431kph, the maglev trains can cover 30km in about eight minutes.
In 2003, it was awarded the Guinness World Record for the fastest train on the planet. It's not just the extraordinary speed that's notable, however. Trains move using electromagnets, enabling a smooth ride from the Longyang Road Station on the Shanghai subway line to Pudong International Airport.
Planners behind the hyperloop project between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which has been mooted for several years, are said to be considering using the maglev technology.
Outdoor escalator in Medellin, Colombia
Escalators are not what you would associate with hillsides. However, that's exactly what you will find in the Colombian city of Medellin as part of an urban regeneration plan.
Introduced in 2011, the escalator is divided into six sections and is said to reduce a 30-minute walk to just five minutes. It covers the equivalent of 30 storeys and cost about $7 million to install.
The region was notorious for drug-related violence in the 1980s and 1990s and was regarded by some as the trafficking capital of the world. The escalator is considered to be a key part of efforts to change the perception of one of the poorest areas of Colombia.
Amphibious bus in Rotterdam, Netherlands
The picture above might look like a bus driver trying to make his way through floods but it's actually a regular sight in Rotterdam, where the amphibious bus offers people a different way to get around the Dutch city.
The bus is unique in that it offers transport both by land and in water. It's built on the platform of a standard bus but has the hull of a boat, allowing it to float. It reaches speeds of up to eight knots an hour (15kph).
Norry bamboo train, Cambodia
This improvised rail system was introduced in Cambodia to make up for the absence of a standard rail network between Poipet and Phnom Penh. Travellers can take trips on platforms made from bamboo, known as a norries, travelling at speeds of up to 30kph.
An engine powers the norries along the track and it runs for 4km. While a traditional rail service is now available, the norries still prove a popular attraction for tourists.
Some more experienced travellers on the norries are said to prefer to lie on their stomachs to make the journey feel more exciting.
Trampe bicycle lift in Trondheim, Norway
One of the most daunting challenges for cyclists is having to climb a steep hill. Norwegians might just have cracked it, though, with the bicycle lift in Trondheim, which helps cyclists to reach the top of a 122-metre hill in the city.
Cyclists can press a button to release a foothold, which proceeds to slide them up the track. Up to 30,000 people a year use the bicycle lift, which has been in operation since 1993. The website for the lift comes with a warning for first-time users, urging them to bend their leg and lean forward to avoid falling off. Those unsure about using such a lift might find solace in the fact it only travels at 5kph.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
LEADERBOARD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 05 Arsenal 1-4 ipswich
March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom
Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
Apr 02 Arsenal 3-0 Leicester
All%20The%20Light%20We%20Cannot%20See%20
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
THE%20SPECS
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START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
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