Cape Town Gears Up for Open Streets Mitchell's Plain!




Mitchell's Plain will be buzzing next weekend as visitors, cyclists, creatives, exhibitors and vendors galore take to the streets at Open Streets Mitchell's Plain – Sunday 2 April from 12pm to 5pm! 

Open Streets is a citizen-driven initiative which aims to change the way citizens and residents experience the streets of Cape Town. Since its establishment in 2013, Open Streets has been hosted in Observatory, Bellville, Langa, Mitchell's Plain and the Cape Town city centre.


The Open Streets team is also working in partnership with the City of Cape Town’s Transport & Urban Development Authority (TDA) to establish a regular Open Streets programme across the city where everyone is invited to participated and explore the streets on foot, bicycle, skateboard or any other non-motorised form of mobility – free of charge!

Marcela Guerrero Casas (Co-founder and Managing Director for Open Streets) tells us more about the initiative. “Open Streets is a citizen-driven initiative which aims to change how streets are used, perceived and experienced,” she says. “Streets are public spaces which are a powerful way to connect people, yet they are under-utilized in this city. Next week Sunday, Open Streets will be hosted in Eisleben Road (between Wespoort Drive and Spine Road, Mitchell’s Plain) to end off the 2016-17 series. This car-free celebration of public space, which is free and open to everyone, will enable residents and visitors alike to use the street to walk, cycle, skate, play or perform – as they did in April 2016 at the first successful Open Streets Mitchells Plain.”

***The Open Streets team aims to create an urban playground for all ages to enjoy a healthy and safe recreational space for the benefit of all users. Public participation is welcome and should be carried out in a safe and respectful manner, and visitors should refrain from making use of alcohol, fire and motorised vehicles. For more information, contact the Open Streets team at the following handles:

E-mail: info@openstreets.co.za
Twitter: @OpenStreetsCT 
Website: www.openstreets.org.za 


See memories of previous Open Streets events!
Photography by: Ference Isaacs





 Cape Town residents share their Open Street experiences! 

“What I enjoy about Open Streets is that it encourages us to shift away from a car-centric culture and connect to our humanity. I love the long-term vision of creating one big connected network of car-free streets across the city that come alive once a month or even once a week. Imagine being able to cycle, skate, run or do cartwheels from Mitchell's Plain or Langa to Observatory to the CBD all in one stretch! In last year's SA Reconciliation Barometer, more than 50% of respondents said they rarely interact with other races outside of their workplaces or shopping time. Open Streets creates a space where we can connect across race and class divides in our leisure time as we play, exercise, relax and engage in creative expression.”
- Tana Paddock, Seapoint resident

“I've been to a couple of Open Streets events. I love the concept – Open Streets brings people from different walks of life together for one day of fun in the sun! My favourite one was Open Streets Langa as this was the one where I got to participate in the first A to B challenge, where we had to travel from Cape Town to Langa using the lowest form of carbon emission transport. I enjoyed each moment and I was really taken out of my comfort zone!”
- Shaun Engel, author of online blog 'Carpe Diem'

See Open Streets blog-posts on 'Carpe Diem': 

 https://shaunjengel.wordpress.com/2016/10/30/atobchallenge/

https://shaunjengel.wordpress.com/2016/04/03/open-streets-mitchells-plain/



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