The initiative that created temporary public space in the Cape Town Central City for 10-15 000 people in early 2015 will return to Bree Street on Sunday 17 January 2016.
The first Open Streets Bree was a roaring success and the public are once again invited to use the entire stretch of road to walk, play, exercise and express themselves freely.
Says Marcela Guerrero Casas, managing director of Open Streets Cape Town: “An Open Streets Day is an opportunity to reimagine public life and use of our streets by creating a temporary road closure. All residents and visitors from across Cape Town, as well as local business owners, are invited to join us from 10h00 to 15h00 in co-creating a new way of experiencing Bree Street.”
The nature of the street will remain intact; no extraordinary regulations are in effect except that motorised vehicles will not be allowed. This means that the street will be open for mobility (including emergency services, if need be), no infrastructure will be erected and everyone will be welcome to take part.
Open Streets builds on efforts by the City of Cape Town to create a city that is inclusive, friendly and safe for all, and the organisation has in partnership with the City run other successful Open Streets Days in Observatory, Langa and Bellville.
Says Brett Herron, Mayco member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater: “We are pleased to be working with Open Streets Cape Town in returning to Bree Street to plant the seed for regular Open Streets programmes. We hope to see Open Streets become less of an event and more of a way of living with shared streets in our city becoming more commonplace. We hope Bree inspires other communities to open up their streets by closing them to traffic for a number of hours on a regular basis. We are currently working with the organisers to establish a framework that can enable communities across Cape Town to host an Open Streets.”
The Open Streets manifesto states that “streets can be more than they are” and Sunday 17 January is an opportunity to test this idea in a safe and well-maintained environment.
Says Tasso Evangelinos, chief operating officer of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID): “The CCID aims to facilitate a Cape Town Central City that is attractive and welcoming to all Capetonians and visitors alike, and the Open Streets initiative really embraces this concept. Wherever it is held in Cape Town, it always attracts a diverse range of people and enables them to experience an area with which they may not necessarily be that familiar or spend time in. We encourage retailers in and around the event footprint to open on the day and invite the public to come into the CBD and see what a 24/7 downtown could be like as we head in that direction.”
From a bicycle hub to live music, zumba and a gymnastics display, the day promises to be another showcase of community spirit and talent. Come 17 January, jump on the train, MyCiTi bus, a minibus taxi or your bicycle or skateboard and join Open Streets Cape Town to experience the CBD in a radically different way.
Watch a short clip of the previous Open Streets Bree.