May 3, 2021My never-ending compost storyThrowing away organic waste and mixing it with general rubbish is one of those things you are almost physically unable to do once you have learnt to compost. Still, in most cities, this is far from a simple thing to do. …Icaw3 min read
Feb 1, 2021Big questions, small actions: a recipe for survivalOver the December break I read a book called ‘Socrates Express’ by Eric Weiner, it is a sort of life manual based on the teachings of a number of philosophers who have long ago left this earth. …Philosophy4 min read
Dec 14, 2020“Best practice” is in the eye of the pedestrianA group of transport academics and activists based in different parts of the Americas convened an online discussion about mobility justice on December 10th, 2020. It was inspired by a document entitled ‘Untokening 1.0 — Principles of Mobility Justice’ produced by a similar group based in the US. The principles…Walking5 min read
Jun 24, 2020Member-onlyOpening up streets during a pandemicIf anyone had told me that ‘open streets’ (temporary car-free streets) would be part of the discussion in how to tackle a global pandemic, I would have not believed it 6 months ago but a look at social media or transport and urban related articles show that the concept has…Mobility6 min read
May 6, 2020On home and belonging: what I learnt in Colombia last yearI recently spent a year in Bogotá, Colombia — the longest period of time in the country of my birth since leaving 23 years ago. Being back in South Africa now, the country where I’ve spent most of my adult life, has reminded me that this journey of finding a…Home4 min read
Mar 29, 2020Keeping distance…but only physicallyA couple of years ago I contracted a nasty type of flu during a trip, when I returned home my partner, having greater awareness than me, implemented some measures to ensure he didn’t get infected. It led to one of the biggest fights we have had. I felt alone and…Cape Town3 min read
Feb 7, 2020A car-free day to rememberBogota held a ‘car free day’ yesterday and I basked in the joy of seeing the city turn into a bicycle heaven, but also experienced a sense of paradox, a sentiment consistent with my overall experience living here for the past year. There was a clear increase in bicycles and…Car Free4 min read
Dec 15, 2019Celebrating street magic… Ciclovía turns 45 today!Today, 45 years ago, Ciclovia was born in Bogotá. Jaime Ortiz Mariño, Fernando Caro Restrepo and Rodrigo Castaño Valencia, successfully lobbied local government to shut down 5 kilometres of one of the major artery of Colombia’s capital. They had just changed the history of this place. I had the fortune…Travel4 min read
Nov 26, 2019Member-onlyColombia’s national strike: a mirror of our collective soulThis morning I wept as I was cycling to a meeting. It was the first time I felt deeply emotional despite the collective emotion on the streets of the city over the last five days. I had just come across a young woman with a sign on her backpack that…Colombia4 min read
Sep 5, 2019Member-onlyThe art of social healing starts withinMy therapist used to be amused, if not slightly annoyed, at my inability to understand why we needed to talk about the same issue repeatedly. I would try to move the conversation along by saying that we had already covered it and she would remind me with kindness that this…South Africa4 min read