Bree Street’s New Cycling Upgrade: Safer, Smarter, and More Connected

When you walk (or cycle!) down Bree Street in Cape Town’s central business district, you’re entering a corridor that’s becoming a key example of how the city is rethinking urban mobility. Known for its cafés, boutiques and vibrant city-energy, Bree Street is now getting a serious infrastructure upgrade to make cycling safer and more inviting.

What’s Changing on Bree Street

Bree Street's cycle lanes have recently undergone a refresher, and upgraded with physical protections (bollards and raised kerbs) rather than just standard painted lanes. These protective elements help keep vehicles out of the cycle lane (especially from issues like double-parking) and make the route safer for cyclists, delivery riders and anyone on a bike or scooter.

“For the first time in Cape Town’s CBD, a cycle lane has been physically protected from vehicles.”— The Newspaper

The project is part of the city’s wider plan to promote non-motorised transport (NMT) and make central Cape Town easier to explore without a car.

Who’s behind it & why it matters

A big part of this success comes from an advocacy group called the Young Urbanists, which has played a key role in the upgrade. They describe themselves as an active-mobility / urban design advocacy group working to correct apartheid-era spacial planning, starting with making the city more accessible to all.

This means that Bree Street is no longer just a café-lifestyle stop for tourists: it’s now friendly for bike rides, short urban adventures, and commuting in a healthier and more eco-friendly way. The upgrade signals that Cape Town is shifting from car-dominated streets toward people-friendly mobility

This project also shows how young Capetonians are shaping the future of the city’s public spaces.

📍 If You’re Visiting

• The current protected section runs from Shortmarket Street to Hans Strijdom Avenue.
• You’ll spot the green bike lanes with new protective bollards.
• Keep an eye out: more cycle-friendly upgrades are planned across the CBD.

👀 More to come!

The Young Urbanists aren't done yet! We can look forward to watching their upcoming plans and activations in the city, such as their Bree Street Sundays Open Langa events. Follow them on Instagram to learn more!

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