The series returns to various locations across Cape Town on the last day of every month from October 2018 to April 2019, taking a break in December.
In 2018, the popular Open Streets Days take place in Woodstock on 28 October and Bellville on 25 November. The series starts again in 2019, with Open Streets City Centre on 27 January, Langa on 24 February and Mitchells Plain on 31 March.
Hosted by Open Streets Cape Town, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, Open Streets Days form part of a citizen-led movement to encourage people to claim streets as public space, helping to bridge Cape Town’s social and spatial divides.
Rebecca Campbell, Open Streets Operations Manager explains the rationale behind returning to past locations: “Open Streets turns five this year, and the Open Streets Days have been successfully tested in these locations during that time. Local residents have expressed their support and by returning, we hope to strengthen our relationships with our partners, and create stronger connections between communities, while determining how best to scale the programme to more communities across Cape Town.”
Since the series was launched in Observatory in 2013, Open Streets Days have grown in popularity, and have brought together people from all walks of life from, and in different communities. Thembinkosi Matika, Centre Manager at Langa Project Playground, said: “We are looking forward to participating in the upcoming edition of Open Streets and using it as a platform to highlight our existing programmes and connect with children across Langa.” Langa has hosted three Open Streets Day.
Bellville has hosted two Open Streets Days, which closed streets to cars on Kruskal Avenue and Voortrekker Road in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Abdullahi Ali Hassan, Vice Chair of Somali Business Association, said: “I am thrilled to hear Open Streets will return to Bellville. The two experiences we have had thus far have shown the potential this programme has in bridging the divide among the different communities who inhabit this part of the city. I look forward to taking an active role in bringing new energy into the upcoming Open Streets Day in Bellville”
The 2017-2018 season tested longer stretches of road, along Main Road from Observatory to the City Centre and Eisleben Road in Mitchells Plain. In the 2018-2019 season, the focus will shift to shorter, more compact Open Streets routes, with parallel activities that promote non-motorised transport. Now in its fifth year, the programme continues to build public support among local residents as well as the private and public sector across Cape Town.
28 October: Victoria Road (Woodstock)
25 November: Voortrekker Road (Bellville CBD)
27 January: Bree Street (City Centre)
24 February: King Langalibalele Drive (Langa)
31 March: Eisleben Road (Mitchells Plain)