London: Car-free shopping mile: New rules on Oxford Street

From now on, cars, buses and taxis will no longer be allowed on part of the famous Oxford Street. London is following the example of other international cities.

London's famous Oxford Street shopping street is partly becoming a pedestrian zone. From Monday, cars, buses, taxis and bicycles will no longer be allowed on a one-kilometer stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. The route will be extended later.

London is following the example of other major cities in the world. The experiences are mostly positive. Such a regulation can also have positive effects for retail.

Oxford Street receives around 500,000 visitors every day, and even more at peak times such as Christmas. With the new project, the city wants to attract even more people and create further growth. The costs are the equivalent of around 178 million euros.

Previously, there was a driving ban between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, with exceptions for buses and taxis. The first section will now be completely closed to traffic. Vehicles should be able to cross the new pedestrian zone in several places.

“This is a truly significant moment for the capital,” said London Mayor Sadiq Khan. According to the mayor, Oxford Street has been reinventing itself for centuries and shaping British culture. “A new era for the road” is now being heralded. Recently, according to Khan, the street has lost its shine: shops are empty, and cheap shops have moved into others, damaging the exclusive image.

According to the BBC, more than 50 trees and benches will improve the streetscape by spring 2027, as well as places for events and a water play area. Deliveries and cleaning should take place primarily at night.

More security should also be ensured and streets should be better lit and video monitored. The aim is, among other things, to curb theft on the shopping mile. Rescue workers continue to reach the zone through multiple access points.

Like Oxford Street, the Champs-Élysées in Paris and Broadway at Times Square in New York are also among the most internationally famous shopping miles. These cities have also banned cars from their shopping streets – permanently or temporarily – and are receiving positive feedback.

In New York, Broadway at Times Square has been car-free since 2009. On Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, certain days are car-free during the Christmas season in order to cope with the increased crowds. The Champs-Élysées in Paris is always reserved for pedestrians and cyclists on the first Sunday of the month.

Several studies also suggest that retail does not have to suffer as a result of a car ban. A study carried out at the IASS Potsdam, using Berlin as an example, came to the conclusion that only 6.6 percent of people came to shop by car on two selected shopping streets. Non-drivers were responsible for 91 percent of total sales.

Initial reactions to the Oxford Street project are positive. Barbara Stoll, director of the Clean Cities Campaign network, sees this as an opportunity to boost the West End's economy while tackling London's air quality crisis. “Cities around the world have shown that pedestrian zones increase footfall, increase sales and reduce retail vacancies,” said Stoll.

Dee Corsi, chief executive of the New West End Company, which represents over 800 businesses on London's high streets, said the West End accounts for three per cent of the nation's economic output and is central to the city's retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. This revitalization would not only enhance Oxford Street, but also benefit the UK economy as a whole.