They fulfill their intended purpose within their specific context, and contribute to the prosperity of the community. They excel in fostering safety, sociability, accessibility, and inclusivity. As such great city spaces are pedestrian-friendly.
Unfortunately, these places are in short-supply, and the demand for walkable areas greatly exceeds the available supply.
Our start up aims to resolve this imbalance and expand the walking and cycling networks in our cities. In turn, the successful implementation of walkable cities positively impacts the health of our citizens, our environment and economic growth.
Pedestrian and cyclist-oriented urban planning and design is an approach that prioritizes the needs of pedestrians and cyclists in the forefront of city and town development. This involves implementing various measures such as constructing dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks, redesigning streets to improve pedestrian accessibility, and incorporating shading or tree canopies to shield users from the sun, rain, or wind.
The elements that facilitate pedestrian well-being are equally conducive to attracting cyclists. Once these components are established, the subsequent provision and upkeep of a comprehensive network of cycling lanes, seamlessly linked to significant destinations, have the potential to foster the expansion of cycling culture.
– Hippocrates
The goal is to create human-centered cities, foster stronger economies, and cultivate fairer and healthier societies. Additionally, our objective is to assist city practitioners in reducing transportation emissions, alleviating traffic congestion, and minimizing road accidents through cost-effective and dependable approaches.
We design with communities, not for them, recognizing that they possess a profound understanding of their own needs. They are the catalysts capable of driving the essential transformation long after our direct involvement.
We recognize the social and environmental implications of constructing and upkeeping infrastructure, and we are dedicated to mitigating adverse effects while amplifying the beneficial ones. Furthermore, we are devoted to continuous learning, research, and innovation to consistently enhance the efficiency and sustainability of our solutions.
We approach design with humility, considering all types of users in the street, not only the users in cars. Designing with inclusivity entails creating solutions that uplift marginalized individuals and those most affected by our endeavors
Honesty and Integrity
We uphold a commitment to transparent communication with clients regarding the potential risks, and advantages of projects. This principle extends further to cultivating trust and respect for our employees and stakeholders.
Deema Aburizik, an urban design consultant, whose focus is to create the conditions that enable more people to walk and cycle, through better infrastructure design, policies, and campaigns, especially for children, the elderly, and road users who do not have access to buy cars.
She worked with the Roads and Transport Authority on the implementation of the principles and strategies set by the Dubai Urban Plan 2040.
Deema also worked as the design director at Arada, a UAE-based developer, and led the urban planning and design practice for the UAE at Khatib & Alami, where she worked with major developers such as Dubai Holding, Meraas, and Majid Al Futtaim Properties.
Deema also worked as a Research and Coordination Officer at the Centre for the Study of the Built Environment (CSBE) in Jordan, where she served as a liaison officer between CSBE and Habitat for Humanity – Jordan.
We offer high-value consultancy to government organizations in the fields of urban design, walking and cycling strategy and policy, as well as design
In the UAE, 1 in 14 children and adolescents, as well as 1 in 3 adults, suffer from obesity primarily due to physical inactivity. Additionally, road congestion is exacerbated by two-thirds of students being transported to school by car. To address both traffic congestion and obesity, we collaborate with schools to promote an active lifestyle within their community, encouraging walking and cycling as sustainable commuting options.
We offer cycling and walking urbanism advisory to support transportation engineers and architectural and landscape consultants on urban design and landscape projects. We also contribute to traffic impact studies and integration around public transport works.
We offer training workshops and cycling study tours for professionals in our region.
Whether for new or existing master plans; we offer walking and cycling infrastructure assessment (audit), to identify any gaps and ways to improve the network within the community, as well as any missing linkages to the nearby destinations.
In case of issues in pedestrian safety, or vehicular congestion, we can work with facility managers to identify any gaps and improve walkability and biking facilities in the community.
We offer advisory services to identify ways to revitalize High Streets, using the tools of cycling and walking urbanism.
We named our startup “Street Design Team” because we drew inspiration from Charles L. Marohn, Jr work and the approach outlined in his book, “Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity”.
The essence of this approach lies in fostering collaborative endeavors between community representatives and a diverse group of professionals, including transportation planners, engineers, urban designers, architects, and landscape architects. This collective, forming the Street Design Team, collaborates to craft streets and neighborhoods that prioritize safety, accessibility, and overall enjoyment for all users – pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.
Central to this approach is the pivotal role of community engagement, ensuring that street designs align with the specific needs and aspirations of the local residents. This stands in contrast to relying solely on top-down directives from governmental agencies.
Let’s unite our efforts to enhance the quality of our cities.
