Almost 1km of London's Oxford Street goes traffic-free as cyclists ignore new ban

A kilometre closed to traffic

On Monday, 26 October, almost a kilometre (0.62 miles) of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street became pedestrian-only. Cars, buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters and pedicabs can no longer enter the stretch, and Transport for London says the restriction applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Vehicles can still cross the street at certain points, and buses have been moved onto other roads. Deliveries to shops along the route are allowed from midnight to 7am. The stretch runs west from Oxford Circus station past Bond Street towards Marble Arch, and shops along it include Uniqlo, Waitrose, Disney and Zara.

The scheme is run by the Oxford Street Development Corporation, which was set up to take control of the street from Westminster City Council. The first stretch is described as the 'first phase' of changes, and the works are temporary so that real-time data can be gathered on how people use the space. That data will shape how later stretches are pedestrianised. The initial works are not expected to be completed until spring next year, and they include two public squares, more than 100 new seats, dining tables and 50 new trees. Oxford Street draws around half a million visitors a day and has an annual spend of around £3.1 billion.

Mayor and council split over the scheme

Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has pushed the project for years. The scheme was part of his plans in 2016, but in 2018 Westminster council blocked it after residents protested, and final approval only came after a second public consultation. Khan has said there has been 'a surge in retailers' wanting to open on the street, and he described the change as the 'end of decline' for it. He said:

“I'm excited to see my bold vision for Oxford Street really coming to life.”

Westminster City Council's leader has accused Khan of 'rushing implementation' and warned that traffic will be pushed onto small nearby streets, causing economic and environmental harm. The council's deputy leader, Tim Barnes, said Khan is 'rushing preparations'. Barnes said he is concerned that the disruption will reach nearby areas that have more economic value than the street itself. Nabeel Khan, chief executive of the Oxford Street Development Corporation, called the change a turning point for the city:

“What's going to happen on October 26 is a huge transformative change for Londoners,”

He said he hopes Londoners will look back in a year and wonder why the change took so long. The New West End Company, which represents businesses in the area, supports the regeneration, and its chief executive, Dee Corsi, called for a long-term strategic approach.

Cyclists and enforcement

Within hours of the launch, cyclists were seen riding through the zone on Lime bikes, other e-bikes and push bikes, passing barriers, bollards and enforcement officers. Security staff shouted at them to 'dismount', and footage shared on social media showed riders ignoring the signs. Some cyclists rode on the pavement instead of following the diversions, and one cyclist who was told to get off and push his bike got back on once the officer turned away. Several other cyclists did dismount and walk their bikes through the stretch. Transport for London has legal powers to enforce the restrictions. Anyone caught riding a bicycle, e-bike, e-scooter or pedicab through the 1km stretch could receive a Penalty Charge Notice carrying a £160 fine, which is reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. Fines not paid or challenged within 28 days could rise. Security personnel and enforcement officers have been posted at key entry points, including Oxford Circus.

Accessibility and public reaction

Shoppers came out in numbers, and many of them celebrated the change. Accessibility concerns remain, however. Buses have been re-routed and new bus stops installed about 200m from the pedestrianised area, while taxi ranks are about 100m away. Adam Gabsi, chair of Inclusion London, said:

“If access to buses and taxis becomes difficult, then there'll be problems for people like me,”

Gabsi added that disabled Londoners were consulted on the plan. A black cab driver told BBC London he was worried that access to Oxford Street could become a problem for some of his disabled passengers. Online, users on Reddit called for Soho to become pedestrian-only too, and one replied that Barcelona, Tokyo and New York have managed similar schemes. Whether the enforcement and access problems fade in the coming weeks and months remains to be seen.