Durban - With the new cycling routes under way, and a range of new electric bikes on the market, now is the time to take cycling seriously.
Street Scene used to offer cycling tours around the city; what was the response to that like? Did you get more interest from locals or tourists?
Our City Cycle Tour proved very popular with tourists from countries with a strong cycling culture, such as Holland, Germany, UK and the US. There was also interest from people visiting from Cape Town who wanted to see Durban from a different perspective.
You had some hiccups with the bikes and stopped the tours, but you still facilitate them if anyone is keen?
We still facilitate our City Cycle Tour for groups of three or more. These tours run for between two and three hours and take in some amazing sites, as well as interesting historical stops along the way.
So if someone or a group wanted to tour the city via bike, why should they choose Street Scene?
The route that Street Scene offers has been carefully thought out to ensure the safety of our guests, but at the same time incorporates important stops along the way.
What do you think about the new cycling lanes in Durban? Does that inspire any new tour ideas for you?
The new cycle lanes around the city are great and hopefully this will encourage more and more people to get out and about on bicycles. We have heard there are plans to grow this network of cycle lanes, which will further promote Durban as a green city and as a world class tourist destination.
What would you say to a local person who doesn’t think there’s anything to see from a cycling tour?
Viewing the city from two wheels allows you the opportunity to really get a feel for areas we usually whizz past in our cars with our windows up. Over the past couple of years, eThekwini Municipality have facilitated the start of a project called the Priority Zone, which enables both locals and internationals to walk through the city centre under constant supervision of “city managers”. They have set out to repurpose space and take ownership of the green spaces and the place in which we move around the city. There are amazing herb and veggie gardens in the most unsuspecting spaces in our city. If you haven’t been to Durban CBD in a while we highly recommend making use of the cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways to explore our city.
What are some key points to remember during a cycling tour?
If you’re going for a cruise or exploration of the city, I’d suggest choosing an appropriate time of day and avoid rush hour traffic. Saturday midday and Sunday morning are amazing times to cycle through the city, although my favourite cycle ever was a midnight cycle on a Tuesday when there was not a soul in sight and the city was ours.
A good idea is to also make the trip in a planned route – head up Victoria Embankment on the pavement, across through Church Walk and down along Old Fort Road where you never have to cycle on the road.
How should someone choose a cycling route? Any tips?
The best routes in the city are those that use the ample walkways and paths available to avoid fidgeting your way through traffic.
What else is new with Street Scene? Any exciting new tours?
Our Overnight Township and Valley Scene tours are proving popular.
These offer guests a couple of unique options and experiences to explore our city and the surrounding areas. The Shebeen Tours are still the most popular for locals wishing to have a great day out. – streetscene.co.za - Sunday Tribune