Oxford Street Pedestrian Zone Descends into Chaos Days After Launch

Sadiq Khan's ambitious plan to transform Oxford Street into a pedestrian-only thoroughfare has encountered immediate challenges, with reports of cyclists disregarding new regulations and significant traffic disruptions on adjacent streets. The vision of a peaceful shopping district has been marred by scenes of cyclists navigating the zone as if it were a highway, much to the surprise of security guards and startled pedestrians.

Despite the installation of bollards and new signage instructing cyclists to dismount, videos have emerged showing large groups of cyclists, often young men, continuing to ride through the pedestrianized area. This has led to confusion and frustration among shoppers and has been described as a far cry from the glossy depictions of a tranquil Oxford Street previously presented.

Traffic Congestion and Driver Concerns

The closure of Oxford Street to cars, buses, and taxis from Monday morning has rerouted traffic to surrounding roads, leading to increased congestion. Black cab drivers, whose journeys are now reportedly taking an additional 20 minutes, have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the scheme. Bahrain Mujagata, identified as London's youngest black cab driver, noted that roads like Regent Street have become significantly more crowded, with traffic often brought to a standstill.

"Sitting through traffic that I used to bypass makes life much harder," Mujagata told the Local Democracy Service. "Regent Street going northbound is very crowded, with a cycle lane on the left and a central reservation. If a bus picks up passengers, you have to stay behind it. If it’s like that at night, I can only imagine what it’s like during the day."

Concerns about traffic diversion were also raised by Westminster City Councillor Tim Barnes, who warned that pushing a large volume of traffic onto smaller, less suitable side roads was bound to cause problems. He cited instances of traffic backups on Regent Street and difficulties for buses navigating newly configured turns on Wigmore Street. "I also think it's only a matter of time until we see more incidents with cyclists hitting pedestrians on Oxford Street itself," Barnes stated.

Reshaping Transport Routes

Transport for London has confirmed that five bus routes—the 98, 139, 390, N98, and N207—have been redirected onto neighboring streets, with new stops implemented. Other services have been altered or shortened, and taxis and private hire vehicles are no longer permitted on the pedestrianized section. These changes affect roads including Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place, and Cavendish Place, with Henrietta Place converted to two-way traffic to accommodate the rerouting.

Residents in areas like Marylebone had previously voiced fears that their streets would become increasingly congested due to the diverted traffic. The Marylebone Association had calculated that Wigmore Street could experience approximately 46 additional bus movements per hour during peak periods. The transformation impacts one of London's most famous shopping destinations, which typically attracts around 500,000 visitors daily.