“The absence adequate cycle lanes in the city and a culture that seems to be more against commuting than for it”
Our voice of the city this week is a passionate about Cape Town, traveling & commuter cycling through the city, who currently works as the Sales and Client Service Manager for Blok, Darren Blair.
Voices of the City is a weekly feature that spotlights the everyday lives of our citizens, living and working in the city. By asking the same five questions to all our interviewees, we discover not only how our experiences of the city differ, but also what we share. It is a daunting task to try and capture the diverse experiences of our city’s inhabitants, but we feel that it is a worthy, and necessary, endeavor, in order to better understand the present and future of our city.
This week we meet Darren Blair, a professional golfer in his past life, who currently works as the Sales and Client Service Manager for Blok an urban development company. Passionate about Cape Town, traveling & commuter cycling through the city, he believes that cities would be far better off without cars. Oh… he doesn’t really function without coffee, Summer is his favourite season and he considers India his second home.
Question: What about Cape Town inspires you the most?
This may sound cliched but it would have to be singled out as the beauty, from city to mountains and ocean it is extremely rare to find a place that has so much to offer. I love that Cape Town feels to me like a pioneer leading the way towards a better South Africa. (We definitely are a city that punches above its weight in every essence).
Q: Do you have a secret space or place that you enjoy in the city?
It wouldn’t be a secret if I tolf you, would it? That being said it’s not so much a secret place but rather a moment. For me, there is nothing better than cycling or running through the city by day or night.
Darren Blair and Brett Petzer chatting about possible bike racks on the Promenade
Q: What was the last exciting event you attended in the city?
Not one in particular but I am a huge fan of those moments that bring people together into the city such as Open Streets and First Thursdays.
Q: What frustrates you about the city?
The absence adequate cycle lanes in the city and a culture that seems to be more against commuting than for it. Even though I sincerely believe Cape Town is totally geared towards a commuting city if the right measures are put in place.
Q: You can have dinner with one person living or dead. Who is it and why?
This is definitely a tricky one, my obvious choice would be my family but if I had to choose 1 person that was slightly less attainable it would most probably be Alan Watts. He has provided an unbelievable amount of inspiration to me through his timeless writings and talks.
Read more
- Articles about cycling
- Articles about Streets
- Future Cape Town and BLOK collaborate to improve public spaces
- Voices of the City: Rafeeqah Galant
- Voices of the City: Yazeed Kamaldien
Credits
- Darren Blair
- Darren Blair
- Christine Dalle-Vedove