The Greater Tygerberg Partnership and Open Streets Cape Town have created a partnership to roll out an Open Streets Day in collaboration with local community groups. The programme aims to help connect different communities, encourage residents to use alternative modes of transport, support local businesses and expose people to healthy and creative ways of using streets as public space for recreation.
Inspired by Bogota's Ciclovia - the largest national recreational programme in Colombia that turns 120km of streets into car-free space across the city every Sunday - the aim of Open Streets is to enable all citizens to use streets freely and safely. Hundreds of cities around the world have developed similar programmes and Cape Town is taking the lead in running a formal Open Streets programme on the African continent.
As one of its strongest supporters, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, councillor Brett Herron says "Open Streets contributes to our agenda for sustainable transport in Cape Town and we would like to see it grow to enable different parts of the city to experience and enjoy their streets."
Opportunities for activities on the day include cycling and skateboarding, street soccer, music busking, chalk-drawing, arts installations and showcasing cultures and cuisine found in Bellville. The day provides an invitation to citizens to use their imagination and maximise this free Open Streets platform in the spirit of community and spontaneous fun.
According to Chris O'Connor, CEO of the Greater Tygerberg Partnership, "We are working to improve the area by making it more pedestrian-friendly. Open Streets is an opportunity for all to experience what that would be like. It will also be a good opportunity for local residents to come together and meet each other."
Open Streets Cape town has the support of the City of Cape Town to create an Open Streets programme across the city.
For more details or to arrange to set up an activity on 4 October, contactaz.oc.steertsnepo@ofni
For more details visit our website, our Facebook page or follow us on twitter @openstreetsCT.
