Bree Street in Cape Town CBD
Image: SUPPLIED
South Africa’s first street experiment between the public and private sectors will launch in Cape Town’s Inner City. The project, nicknamed “People's lane on Bree”, forms part of the Safe Passage Programme as a precinct upgrade.
The Safe Passage Precinct, led by Young Urbanists NPC in partnership with SDI Trust, with support from the City of Cape Town, Mission for Inner City Cape Town, and the Cape Town Central City Improvement District, will launch a six-month street experiment on Bree Street between Wale and Shortmarket Streets.
The project will test a safer, more people-focused street that supports the local economy and creates a new public space for everyone to enjoy. Construction will begin on Monday, March 23, and will take approximately ten days to complete.
On Sunday, March 29, the final open street experiment, Bree Street Sundays of the season, will take place, where members of the public are encouraged to visit the street, see the progress of the installation, and speak to the project team about the country's first street experiment.
The project is the first to test ideas from the City’s CBD Mobility and Accessibility Plan, which identifies Bree Street as a ‘Special Activity Street’.The pilot forms part of the broader Safe Passage Programme, which aims to create safer, greener, and more equitable routes between communities such as Langa and the CapeTown CBD, supporting pedestrians, public transport users, and the micro economy.
During the six-month trial, the project team will collect feedback from residents, businesses, and road users while monitoring safety, street activity, and traffic movement.
This will help determine whether the changes should remain, be adjusted, or become permanent. The street experiment is also part of a new approach to public participation.
Instead of relying only on plans, the public can experience the street in real conditions and provide feedback, allowing the design to be refined during or after the pilot.
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