Durban - The eThekwini Municipality said the pilot Open Streets Florida Road day held on Sunday was a resounding success and plans to move the event to other parts of the city.
The municipality said the event could either be referred to as “Open Streets” or “Car Free”day.
“It’s where we close portions of the road like we did on Florida Road yesterday [Sunday]. It gives the freedom of the streets back to the community. Often when we design towns or cities it’s mostly around vehicles and we forget that cities are about the people,” said the municipality in a Facebook video of the event on Monday.
The municipality added that closing portions of the road or locking off the road network would start a movement of claiming back the space.
“Yesterday was the pilot because it is the first one we are having here in the city. However the programme will be taken to different parts , where we will be locking off roads at different communities,” it said.
Residents who attended event welcomed the new pilot programme. One said she enjoyed the event as well as the open market.
Another young woman said she was happy to be at the Open Streets Florida Road event.
“It's great to see so many people out and about enjoying the event, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.”