Pedestrianisation Of Oxford Street,

[emmie]

good thing or bad? i'm in two minds as how will one get from Marble Arch to Oxford street if you don't have the ability to walk too far, or those carrying bags of shopping.

[emmie]

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/roads/oxford-street/

[naomi24]

That is quite a long stroll, em. I wonder if they'll organise those little hop on hop off trains you see at some of the larger tourist attractions.

[emmie]

don't know but the idea is no buses, taxis and cyclists have to dismount, it will be a blooming long walk for some shoppers.

[mushroom25]

see this, https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/roads/oxford-street/user_uploads/accessibility-impacts.pdf linked from the document above - in particular, see page 9.

[Buenchico]

The buses already go so slowly along Oxford Street that there's little point in catching one; it's usually far quicker to walk!

For those who have difficulty walking, the Central Line runs under Oxford Street, with stops at Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Holborn.

[mikey4444]

If this goes ahead, all it will mean is that there will grid lock on other streets.

[naomi24]

I thought of the tube, Chris, but that just takes you from one end to the other. It doesn't give access to all the shops in between - which is what most of the people who visit Oxford Street go there for.

[emmie]

mushroom will take a look again at that link, as its taking an age to load.

[emmie]

mikey, exactly what the taxi drivers said when interviewed on the news the other day, just clog up all the side streets, probably causing massive congestion and even more pollution.

[237SJ]

We recognise that our proposals would affect the ease with which some people move along Oxford Street West. For this reason, we are considering the feasibility of providing a further mobility service, which would be aimed at helping all those people who need additional assistance to get along Oxford Street and to/from local bus stops. We are considering how, and where, any such service could feasibly operate, how many people might be likely to use it, and how or whether it would interact with the large numbers of pedestrians on Oxford Street. We also need to consider how such a service would operate in the context of the necessary provision of security features in such a high-profile location.

[emmie]

chris
i know where they go, but some won't use the tube and besides people like to window shop at all the little places, not just the big department stores. Walking is a nightmare for me, its the reason i haven't ventured far for an age, and sure there are people out there in the same boat..

[mikey4444]

Emmie....30 years ago, when I worked up in Town, I used to walk from Russell Square, to South Ken, along the Wigmore Street.

[237SJ]

That's a section from the report but I don't know what "mobility service" is. Oxford St is a nightmare at times. I love riding the 139 bus from the side of Selfridges back to Waterloo at this time of the year because it is the best way of seeing the lights. It's also the best way of seeing pedestrians running out and narrowly missing being hit by the bus. I would hate to be a bus driver there because so many people take their life in their hands by running in front of the traffic.

[emmie]

i agree that there are too many buses on Oxford Street, but to pedestrianise large swathes seems impractical.

[emmie]

mikey
suggest you were in your 30's and fairly fit, others are not so lucky.

[mikey4444]

Emmie....100% correct....but I couldn't do it now !

[mushroom25]

//I couldn't do it now ! // err - why not?

[albaqwerty]

bad thing.

restriction of customers and potential customers access to the shops will mean less income surely?

I know my local high street isn't Oxford Street, but pedestianisation has made it almost die.

[emmie]

mikey, neither could i, i used to walk from Richmond to home any number of times, but that thought is making me blanch.

[mikey4444]

Mush.....my health wouldn't allow ( not that its any of your business)