Who We Are

Open Streets is a free event bringing together advocates, community groups, residents and local businesses to temporarily close major urban roads/streets at the city center to motor traffic, and instead, opening the road up for people walking, cycling, rolling, skating, dancing and playing. Over the years, a car-centric mobility model have evolved in our cities.

This has made the motorcar so important, a symbol of affluence and almost the mobility choice for all residents. The resultant effect is the current situation where the car is used for all urban journeys even for those less than a kilometer, city authorities think more and invest steadily in car-oriented developments, neglecting active mobility modes such as cycling, mobility for persons with disability and walking.

Today the streets have become unsafe for kids and adults alike, the elderly cannot explore their neighborhoods, and there is almost no provision of facilities for persons with disability. This gave rise to OpenStreets. It started a few years ago in the US and is currently being held in different cities across the world. South Africa cities are leading the way in Africa. It conforms to the targets, and also promotes the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.

On the 16^th March, 2019, beginning from Area 1 Shopping Complex to Area 10 by Awka Street/UTC junction on Moshood Abiola Way was closed to motor vehicle traffic and then open to pedestrians, cyclists, skaters and persons with disability to explore the city.