A first for Durban! Open Streets Florida Road encourages the free and safe movement of pedestrians experiencing the space in new and exciting way.
In a bold approach to encouraging active mobility, the City will launch its Open Streets pilot on one of its popular streets, Florida Road, Morningside on Sunday, 26 March. The one-day pilot programme will see a portion of the road closed off to vehicles, converting the street into an alfresco family friendly precinct.
The Open Streets concept is about pedestrianising some of the busy areas on occasion for Durbanites and visitors, creating spaces that are accessible and safe for a day long outdoor pop-up event. The pilot will be used as an experiment whereby an assessment will be conducted on what works and how to improve the project for rolling out in other areas around the city.
First up is Florida Road. For eight hours on Sunday 26 March from 9am until 5pm, no vehicles will be permitted from Florida Fields through to the top of 8th Avenue. Motorists can make use of guarded street parking in the vicinity (side roads and dedicated parking area nearby) of Florida Road to park their vehicles and can explore Florida Road on foot.
Head of the eThekwini Transport Authority, Thami Manyathi said, “There will be a range of activities that will entice the senses, tantalise the tastebuds and bring people together from all walks of life. There will be market stalls, live music, arts and crafts and children’s activities to name a few.”
“We understand that safety is a major concern when it comes to events of this magnitude and nature, and as such, we are working with Metro Police, the South African Police Services (SAPS), the local area UIP (Urban Improvement Plan) and private security to ensure that is prioritised,” concluded Manyathi.
The public can expect a range of activities spilling onto the street (roadway) of Florida Road.
From this proof of concept, the City’s Transport Authority will explore ways to “pedestrianise” other roads in and around Durban jointly with stakeholders on occasion. As strong motivator is encouraging social interaction, community building, local tourism and family fellowship – and increased foot traffic to the businesses in the area.
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