# Frozen Walkway Concepts The Edmonton Freezeway is Designed to Get People Moving During Winter By Michael Hines | Published 2015-03-03 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/edmonton-freezeway References: [dezeen](http://www.dezeen.com/2015/02/26/canadian-freezeway-edmonton-matthew-gibbs-ice-skating-lane/) Matthew Gibb's [Edmonton Freezeway](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/100th-anniversary-programming) could significantly change how people in one of Canada's coldest cities experience winter. Gibb's design is a seven-mile path that allows people to [ice skate or sled](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-city-of-harbin) around the city during winter. The idea is to get people out of their homes and to create something more functional than an [ice skating rink](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aan-architects). Gibb actually entered his idea in a 2013 design contest but a pilot version of the Edmonton Freezeway is expected to be implemented in 2016. The Edmonton Freezeway would have rubber sections where cars and pedestrians could cross, ensuring non-skating traffic still flows freely. The designer imagines the frozen path being created in one of three ways: refrigeration, naturally or using a big block of ice. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.5/10 - Popularity: 1% | Activity: 6% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Regional](https://www.trendhunter.com/regional) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Functional Ice Paths:** The idea of creating functional ice paths for winter travel could be applied in other cold cities, offering new transportation options and opening up possibilities in architecture and urban design. - **Refrigeration Innovation:** New refrigeration technologies that could be implemented in the creation of ice paths may offer new opportunities for energy-efficient and sustainable cooling systems. - **Winter Leisure Trends:** Creating new and interesting winter leisure options for residents in cold climates may offer lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to capitalize on the seasonal demand for frosty fun. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Urban Planning:** The design of functional ice paths offers an exciting opportunity for urban planners and architects to rethink how people move through cities during the winter season. - **Recreation and Entertainment:** Creating new winter leisure options for residents opens up opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to capitalize on the seasonal demand for frosty fun. - **Refrigeration Engineering:** The implementation of large-scale, sustainable cooling systems in the creation of ice paths may offer opportunities for innovation and advances in refrigeration engineering. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Expansive Cycling Covered Highways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-loop-1.md) - [Outdoor Terrace Skating Rinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/torontos-bisha-hotel.md) - [Weather-Resistant Hexagonal Tiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asak-flyt.md) - [Self-Building Igloo Makers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inland-iglu.md) - [Salt-Infused Roadway Asphalts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asphalt-additive.md) - [Ukranian Multi-Sports Venue Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kolchyno-ice-center.md) - [Canadian-Inspired Winter Boot Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canadianinspired-winter-boot.md) - [Toronto-Based Winter Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-white-garden.md) - [Walk-In Freezer Concept Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sainsfreeze.md)