Safer streets planned as Cape Town expands Safe Passage Programme towards Langa

The initiative, a partnership between public and private sector organisations, is aimed at creating safer, greener and more accessible routes for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users and small businesses.

The next phase of the programme will extend along Albert Road, strengthening the connection between Athlone and Langa while improving safety for the thousands of people who travel the route every day.

The expansion builds on the success of a pilot project on Bree Street in Cape Town’s CBD, where a six-month street experiment is testing new ways to make public spaces safer and more accessible.

Changes introduced on Bree Street include dedicated cycling infrastructure, safer pedestrian walkways, protected motorcycle parking, formalised loading bays and traffic-calming measures designed to create a safer environment for everyone using the road.

According to the programme partners, the project is about more than improving roads. It aims to create public spaces that support economic activity, encourage walking and cycling, improve road safety and make it easier for people to move between communities.

The programme is expected to benefit everyday commuters, learners, cyclists, informal traders and local businesses by making transport routes safer and more practical.

The organisations behind the initiative believe safer public spaces can also stimulate local economies by attracting more people to neighborhood businesses while reducing conflicts between vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

The Safe Passage Programme is delivered through collaboration between government, businesses and civic organisations, demonstrating how partnerships can help improve infrastructure and create safer communities.

The model has already been introduced in Tshwane through the Always On Traffic Light Initiative, and those behind the project hope lessons from Cape Town will help shape similar improvements in other South African cities.

As work continues towards Langa, residents can expect to see further efforts focused on creating streets that are safer, more connected and easier to navigate for everyone.