Green Point is now the proud host of a pedestrian crossing in rainbow colours, the worldwide symbol for the LGBTQIA+ community.
This wonderful new addition arrives during South Africa’s Pride Month. October marks the first Lesbian and Gay Pride March in Africa, which took place on 13 October 1990.
Green Point has always been home to many, if not the majority, of the LGBTQIA+ social amenities in the Mother City – a fitting spot for rainbow.
The crossing is also supplemented with a pink strip painted on the sidewalks which serves as a Pink Route to guide visitors and tourists through this iconic LGBTQIA+ neighbourhood and beyond.
It’s located along the busy Somerset Road, between the intersections with Alfred Street and Dixon Street.
“Cape Town is known for its vibrant LGBTQIA+ nightlife and community. We want all to feel welcome in our city where we embrace diversity and the addition of this bold pedestrian crossing to our road network will help spread this message. It also speaks to innovation in public spaces and support for public art that we’d like to foster,” said the City’s Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The pink lane runs along Somerset Road, all the way from the intersection with Liddle Sreet, and then along Dixon, Waterkant, and Rose Streets, up to the intersection with Strand Street.
“You cannot miss the Pink Route, it is about 20cm wide, and painted on the sidewalk. This is a fun way for visitors to get to know the area and a great addition to our tourist offering soon before the peak holiday season. It is also intended to create awareness and celebrate Cape Town as an inclusive city.
“This exciting ‘place maker’ precinct activator is the first of its kind in Cape Town, and is aimed at re-invigorating the buzz of the LGBTQIA+ district using road markings. There are many more spaces in the city that can be looked into in future and where heritage or unique attractions can be amplified by using sidewalks and pedestrian crossings,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
The paint used for the pedestrian crossing and Pink Route complies with the SANS standards for road markings.
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Feature Image: Supplied
