The London Assembly Transport Committee has written to the Mayor asking him to prioritise the changes needed to make Oxford Street pedestrianised - including innovative changes to bus routes and service patterns.
The committee has met with representatives of local businesses, residents, road users, Transport for London (TfL) and Westminster City Council, and will go on to produce a full report on congestion issues in the capital later in the year.
The letter suggests:
- An immediate priority for TfL to reduce the number of buses on Oxford Street without creating additional congestion elsewhere
- A strategic approach to managing traffic around Oxford Street and across the West End
- Developing a shared vision for pedestrianisation across the full range of local stakeholders
- Addressing other issues, including wayfinding at Crossrail stations and the need for safe cycling routes
Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:
“Oxford Street is currently a dangerous and dirty destination for pedestrians in the capital - with poor air quality and high numbers of casualties. Something’s got to give and it’s got to give now. Without significant change to make the area cleaner and safer for Londoners and visitors to the city, the global reputation of Oxford Street is at risk.
"Our discussions have made it crystal clear that the immediate issue is buses. However, diverting buses into surrounding streets is not the solution, given the impact this would have on local communities and traffic congestion. TfL needs to deliver a sizeable reduction in the number of buses on Oxford Street. It is impossible to conceive of a pedestrianised Oxford Street until this happens.”