The deputy mayor for transport has confirmed that Oxford Street is to be pedestrianised by 2020.
Speaking to the London Assembly Transport Committee on 12 July, Valerie Shawcross confirmed that all vehicles will be banned on a 1.2 mile stretch from Tottenham Court Road to Bond Street Tube station.
Earlier this month, the London Assembly Transport Committee launched an investigation into the issues facing Oxford Street and the surrounding area, including pedestrian safety and road congestion.
The Evening Standard reports that the pedestrianisation will take place in two stages, to minimise disruption, with the first phase of construction on the eastern section from Oxford Circus onwards.
It is expected to be complete by 2020 in time for the launch of Crossrail, the new east to west train line.
Cars are already banned on most of Oxford Street between 7am and 7pm on every day apart from Sunday, although the Evening Standard adds that the area remains a major thoroughfare for buses and taxis.
In 2014, 10 of TfL’s 24 pedestrian collision hot spots were along Oxford Street.
Figures from the London Assembly show that between January 2012 and September 2015 a pedestrian was involved in a collision approximately every seven days.
Around 270 buses travel along Oxford Street every hour and 15,000 taxi passengers are picked up, set down, or carried along Oxford Street every day.
20 July 2016
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