“There shouldn’t be so many cars in Barcelona” by Edward Parry
Edward Parry, 52, lives with his partner and dog in Poblenou. Born in Wales, Edward lived in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Nantes, and Montpellier before moving to Barcelona 20 years ago. He also spent a year in Singapore in 2013, during which he helped his company to expand into the Asia-Pacific region. He is director of Catenon, a multinational that specializes in data-driven, highly innovative recruitment services. He has led the national and international team for 15 years.
Why did you choose Barcelona?
I fell in love with Barcelona in 1992, when I lived here just after the Olympic Games. I always wanted to come back.
In your opinion, what are the city’s strengths?
The bohemian atmosphere, the architecture, the culture, the sea, the mountains, and, above all, the locals.
What need to be improved? How?
It has changed a lot in recent years. Little by little, it has become a more international city, but there is still work to be done. In my opinion, fewer cars in the center would improve the quality of life of all those who live here.
What do you think needs to be done to help the city get over the Covid-19 crisis?
The city needs to manage change in this uncertain time, and for this is it needs to be agile, positive, and flexible. I have been in contact with friends in other parts of the world and they had similar restrictions, some stricter, and some not so draconian. I think that there has been a great sense of community during the pandemic and we have been well supported by our friends, neighbors and society in general.
What challenges do you think the city faces once the health emergency is over?
Like many other cities, it will have to find ways of returning to normality without exposing people to risk, especially the vulnerable.
What do you expect from Barcelona in the coming years?
I would like to see fewer cars in the city, more public transport, and more green spaces. It is true there have been many initiatives to take better care of the environment in recent years, but I think there is still a lot to do in a range of different areas, such as raising awareness of the importance of recycling.
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