The bustling Bree Street in Cape Town is currently undergoing a significant upgrade to its cycle lanes, aiming to improve safety and promote sustainable urban transport.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, visited the site on 9 June 2025 to inspect the progress being made on this high-profile pilot project.
The upgrade focuses on the stretch between Shortmarket Street and Hans Strijdom Avenue, with the first phase, involving the installation of tactical bollards and kerbs between Shortmarket Street and Riebeek Street, already well underway.
Councillor Quintas described the improvements as a step forward in making Bree Street safer and more accessible for cyclists navigating the busy inner-city route.
Driven by Young Urbanists South Africa and primarily funded by Supplier Development Initiatives (SDI), the project is being delivered in partnership with the City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate and the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID).
It forms part of the broader “Safe Passage” initiative, which aims to create safer, more connected routes between outlying neighbourhoods and the city centre.
“This initiative is another way we are keeping Cape Town moving and forms part of Young Urbanists’ larger push to create a Safe Passage that connects surrounding areas and neighbourhoods to the Inner City,” said Quintas.
The Mission for Inner City Cape Town also voiced its support, highlighting the project’s role in enhancing safety for all commuters, not only cyclists but also pedestrians, delivery workers, and motorists. The group praised the collaboration that has made the Bree Street upgrades possible, calling it an example of placemaking that contributes to a “City of Hope for All”.
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The improvements are expected to reduce accidents, ease traffic congestion, and foster more sustainable transport options across Cape Town’s inner city.