The Safe Passage Programme, a public-private partnership between the SDI Development Trust and Young Urbanists NPC, is building momentum following the launch of the Safe Passage Precinct street experiment on Cape Town’s Bree Street. With support from the City of CapeThe Safe Passage Town and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, the initiative, supported by Adreach Group as exclusive media partner through brand urbanism, is delivering on its vision of safer, greener and more affordable mobility corridors to connect informal and formal areas and support of everyday workers and commuters. Phase 02 will move work beyond the CBD to strengthen the connection toward Langa, extending along Albert Road and improving safety between Athlone and Langa.
The Safe Passage Programme aims to connect informal and formal areas through safer, more practical mobility corridors. It supports everyday workers, scholars, public transport users, pedestrians, cyclists and small businesses. One of its biggest beneficiaries is the SMME sector in the mobility space. In Cape Town, this has included protected cycling lanes for last-mile delivery riders such as Green Riders through on Bree Street. While the Safe Passage Precinct street experiment builds on this by introducing protected and dedicated motorcycle parking, giving riders a safer place to stop while reducing conflict with pedestrians, traffic and public space.
SA’s first street experiment: Safe Passage Precinct
The six-month street experiment on Bree Street between Wale and Shortmarket Streets is helping test how road space can be used differently in a busy inner-city environment. By temporarily narrowing the road to one mixed traffic lane in each direction, with reversible interventions including delineator kerbs, bollards, removable seating, planters, formalised loading bays and a protected motorcycle bay, the pilot aims to calm traffic, improve pedestrian space, support safer cycling and create a more active street environment.
This aligns with the City of Cape Town’s CBD Mobility and Access Plan, which identifies Bree Street as a Special Activity Street with strong pedestrian activity and an established hospitality, food and cultural economy. The pilot is generating useful insights on safety, movement, loading, business activity and public perception, while testing how road-space reallocation can better support people, businesses and essential traffic movement. Bree Street activations, including the very successful open streets Main St Sundays and First Thursdays, continue to help bring life into the precinct.
Brand Urbanism: Funding Safer Streets Through Public-Private Partnership
Adreach Group is supporting the Safe Passage Programme through Brand Urbanism, a model that uses media, branding rights and corporate partnerships to help fund public-interest street infrastructure, public art and urban activation.
Safe Passage is delivered through a public-private partnership model that blends public investment with private sector support. Through corporate sponsorships, ESG-aligned funding, branding rights and outdoor advertising integrated into Safe Passage routes and infrastructure, the model creates value for partners while directly supporting safer streets, better public spaces and ongoing maintenance.
Creative activations on landmark buildings, street infrastructure, cycling infrastructure and the zero-emission Safe Passage Mellow Van will feature original artwork by local South African artists, with clear guidelines to ensure the work supports the social, environmental and mobility goals of Safe Passage..
“This is the kind of practical collaboration South African cities need,” says Ryan Hancock, Sales Director at Adreach Group.
“The SDI Development Trust, Young Urbanists NPC and the Safe Passage Programme have shown what is possible when public, private and civic partners work together. The Bree Street pilot is helping test a model that can support safer streets, commuters, scholars, SMMEs, GreennRiders, local businesses and better public spaces. As the route extends toward Langa and related work continues in Tshwane, brands have an opportunity to support infrastructure that is visible, useful and grounded in public benefit. We invite partners to join SDI Trust, Young Urbanists, Safe Passage and Adreach in helping shape safer and more connected South African cities.”
National Momentum: Safe Passage Builds Across South Africa
The programme builds on earlier Safe Passage work already delivered in Tshwane through the Always On Traffic Light initiative, which tested how targeted infrastructure can improve safety and reliability at key intersections. Safe Passage will now look to replicate this practical approach in other Gauteng metros and the Durban CBD. The long-term vision is to create a practical, cost-effective and evidence-based model that other metros across South Africa can adapt.
“The Safe Passage Programme shows that collaboration is key to turning government policy into visible change on the ground,” says Roland Postma of Young Urbanists NPC. “It brings public, private and civic partners together to find new ways of making public assets work for everyone, while supporting safer mobility, local economic activity and youth employment.
South Africa’s cities need safer, greener and more affordable ways for people to move. The Safe Passage Programme is showing how public, private and civic partners can work together to test real improvements on the ground. The Safe Passage Programme is open to businesses, organisations and individuals who want to help build safer streets, better public spaces and more connected communities.
Get Involved Today
More info here:
Sponsorship & partnership opportunities: Ryan Hancock – ryan@adreach.co.za
Inquiries for Existing & New Safe Passages: Roland Postma – roland@youngurbanists.co.za
