Walnut Road, in the Durban central business district was alive with fun, music and family activity  at the second Open Streets  festival on 10 December.  Open Streets: Walnut Road,  although rained out at lunch time, was a hive of activity in the morning that  brought a vibey atmosphere  to an otherwise quiet street.

Located between the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and Durban Exhibition Centre,  the street is usually associated with conferences and  mega events held at those two venues. However, on 10 December, this road was transformed into a family-oriented precinct, displaying an array of cultures co-existing along the stretch.

Thami Manyathi, Head of eThekwini Transport Authority, said the Open Streets concept encourages the free and safe movement of people, enabling them to experience the inner-city space in an exciting, carfree way.

“The Open Streets concept also reduces dependence on motorised transportation and raises acceptance of cycling and walking as ways of getting around. It also creates a space for people of diverse backgrounds to interact and build social capital and increase neighbourhood awareness, connectivity, mobility, and liveability,” he said.

Manyathi said they want to shift the current dynamic and replace it with a proactive community that comes together on a regular basis to participate in active transportation, physical activity, cultural and artistic endeavors, and to enjoy neighborhoods and communities from a different perspective–from the street.