Cyclists will be blocked from accessing Oxford Street within months as part of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s pedestrianisation plans, with suggestions that they could be blocked by terror gates.
Sir Sadiq Khan confirmed that Oxford Street would be pedestrianised later this year in a bid to make Europe’s busiest shopping street safer and more beneficial to businesses.
The pedestrianisation plans were confirmed at the end of February following consultations and a trial day, which saw motor vehicles banned from the area.
Between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, motorised vehicles, buses, taxis and private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters and pedicabs will be banned.
Fresh reports suggest that cyclists will be blocked from entering Oxford Street using “hostile vehicle mitigation” (HVM) barriers.
The Standard claimed that Transport for London was drawing up plans to install the barriers, which are designed to prevent terrorists using vehicles to attack pedestrians.
According to a person “with detailed knowledge” of the scheme, the barriers are likely to be waist-height horizontal gates to block cyclists and drivers.
While motor vehicles will be banned from Oxford Street, emergency services will be able to access the road at all times, while servicing vehicles will operate between midnight and 7am.
Sir Sadiq Khan’s Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans could see block cyclists with anti-terror gates
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PA
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has called for work to take place immediately, with hopes of pedestrianising the first part of the road by the end of the summer.
The Mayor has emphasised that the safety of shoppers must be the priority, including rest areas, lighting, clear signage and CCTV cameras.
The scheme will work with the Metropolitan Police to protect public safety, particularly for women and girls.
Commenting on the decision to pedestrianise the shopping district, Sir Sadiq Khan said he had instructed plans to “move at pace” to ensure it is completed this summer.
Map of the proposed pedestrianised route along Oxford Street | TFLHe added: “I want this stretch of Oxford Street to be transformed into a pedestrian plaza – a space designed to host world-class events, from sport to culture and fashion, as well as exciting new retail and leisure experiences, with the street also able to host some fantastic events as soon as this year.
“It’s important that the new design builds on and enhances Oxford Street’s unique character, identity and cultural heritage, creating a place that Londoners and visitors alike can enjoy and explore, and that will be green and welcoming to all.”
Once traffic has been moved from Oxford Street, TfL, the Greater London Authority, and the newly established Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) will work on the Mayor’s wider ambitions for the scheme.
Sir Khan said the pedestrianisation would deliver a boost to growth, jobs and economic activity in the shopping area.
The traffic-free day took place on September 21 and saw all cars banned from Oxford Street | PAA traffic-free day was trialled last year along Oxford Street, with 83 per cent of stores in the area saying they would take part in similar events.
More than two-thirds of stores reported similar or higher sales on the day of the trial compared to a typical Sunday.
Alex Williams, chief customer and strategy officer at TfL, said: “In the coming months, we’ll work to implement changes to the roads around Oxford Street to allow for proposed bus changes to be implemented.
“We’ll also begin work along Oxford Street to prepare the road for pedestrianisation, which will allow the transformational scheme to be delivered as quickly as possible.”
