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A kilometre-long stretch of Oxford Street, between Great Portland Street and Orchard Street, became pedestrian-only on Monday. London Cycling Campaign supports the change but says Westminster Council should provide safe parallel routes for cyclists who can no longer ride on the street.
A kilometre-long section of Oxford Street in central London became pedestrian-only on Monday, removing a well-used route for cyclists and prompting London Cycling Campaign to call for safe parallel cycle routes. The charity supports the pedestrianisation but says Westminster Council has not provided alternatives quickly enough for riders who previously used the street.
The restricted section runs between Great Portland Street and Orchard Street. Cyclists are no longer permitted to ride there, while mobility scooters remain allowed. Delivery and service vehicles can use the stretch between midnight and 7 a.m.; the source report says parts of Oxford Street outside this section remain open to vehicles.
London Cycling Campaign (LCC) said it supports reclaiming West End space from motor traffic and making Oxford Street a more welcoming public place. But it said traffic counts show thousands of people cycled along Oxford Street daily, and argued those riders need safe routes around the pedestrian-only area. The report does not give the dates or methodology behind those counts.
The campaign group has also provided a form on its website for supporters to contact Westminster Council and request new cycling routes. Its position is that pedestrianisation and better cycling provision should proceed together, rather than leaving riders without a safe alternative.
Cyclists Need a Safe Detour
The change alters travel options through a busy part of the West End. Pedestrianisation restricts motor traffic and cycling on the designated stretch. London Cycling Campaign says the number of riders who previously used it makes alternative routes an access concern.
Without a nearby route, cyclists may face longer journeys or use other roads shared with traffic. LCC has called for safe alternatives, but the source report does not establish how riders are currently changing their journeys or whether collisions or other safety problems have followed. It also does not assess the capacity of the surrounding road network.
LCC says its longer-term aim is a low-traffic West End and argues that connecting cycling routes should be considered as streets change.
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A Long-Planned Street Change
Oxford Street pedestrianisation has been discussed for years and had earlier false starts, according to the Cycling Weekly report. The latest plans followed a supportive consultation last year, after which the current scheme went ahead. The source does not provide consultation figures or details of the earlier proposals.
The current change covers a defined section rather than the entire street. Plans for the area include new seating, planting and public squares that could host events. Those improvements are part of the intended public-space redesign; the report does not give a completion schedule for their installation.
““LCC is supportive of the new pedestrianised Oxford Street.””
— London Cycling Campaign
Route Plans Still Unspecified
The source report does not say whether Westminster Council has agreed to build parallel cycle routes, what routes might be considered, or when any decision could be made. It also does not detail how riders are expected to divert today, or provide a council response to LCC’s criticism that planning for alternatives has been too slow.
The report identifies the start and end points of the pedestrian-only section but does not map nearby cycling routes or say whether temporary signs or other guidance have been installed. The basis and time period for the cited daily cycling counts are also not supplied, so the figure cannot be compared with current use from this source alone.
Council Response and Street Works
The next points to watch are whether Westminster Council responds to the route request and whether it publishes plans, timings or consultation details for cycling alternatives. LCC is encouraging supporters to contact the council through a form on its website; the report gives no council timetable for action.
Work to add seating, planting and public squares is also expected as part of the redesign, though the source does not state when those features will be completed. Until further details are published, the pedestrian-only restriction and the overnight access window for delivery and service vehicles remain the confirmed arrangements described in the report.
Key Questions
Which part of Oxford Street is pedestrian-only?
The restriction covers a one-kilometre stretch between Great Portland Street and Orchard Street, according to the source report.
Can cyclists still use the pedestrianised section?
No. The report says cyclists are no longer allowed on the designated stretch. It says mobility scooters are permitted and delivery and service vehicles can enter between midnight and 7 a.m.
What is London Cycling Campaign asking for?
LCC supports pedestrianising Oxford Street but is urging Westminster Council to provide safe parallel cycle routes for people who previously rode along the street.
Has the council announced a new cycle route?
The source report does not identify an approved route or a council timetable. Whether or when alternatives will be provided remains unclear.
Source: cyclingweekly.com
