A new initiative, supported by the City of Cape Town and CCID, will turn Bree Street into a car-free zone every Sunday, aiming to create safer, more pedestrian-friendly streets in the CBD.

It’s the brainchild of Young Urbanists, who describe themselves as a “community aimed at students and early career professionals who have an interest in their city and want to be more engaged stakeholders in its future.”

The first closure of Bree Street was on Sunday, 27 October:

“Last Sunday (and every Sunday going forward) we as a small NPC did something we never imagined we would have been tasked to do, we closed off a whole street in the CBD in the City of Cape Town turning Bree and Shortmarket St into a car-free, safer and more exciting street-scape.”

Dubbed a “family-friendly reimagining of a car-free Bree St”, the street is being “activated” and Capetonians are invited to “reclaim public space and reimagine a more pedestrian-friendly city.”

Bree Street, often labelled the “coolest” street in Cape Town, is renowned for its wide variety of restaurants, art galleries and niche shops, so this is the perfect opportunity to bring family and friends to enjoy the slower pace on a Sunday, without having to navigate motorised traffic.

Walking, cycling and skating are however allowed. There is no loud music or commercial stalls, just safe open streets!

The creatives at Young Urbanists have called on residents to send them ideas of how to improve this Open Streets-inspired experience.

Email them:  streetexperiments@youngurbanists.co.za 

Details of the car-free Bree Street campaign:

When: Every Sunday
Where: Bree Street (Wale to Strand, including Shortmarket St)
Time: 10:00 – 17:00