A London mum has supported plans to ban traffic on Oxford Street after her daughter suffered a serious head injury in a collision with a cyclist.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has re-outlined his plans last week to pedestrianise Oxford Street which would result in all forms of traffic being banned.
“The bikes are worse than the cars and buses,” said Cerys Griffiths, from Shoreditch, when she spoke about the incident on Oxford Street that left her daughter seriously injured.
She added: “She stepped out to cross the road when the traffic was stationary, and a bike whizzed down between the cars and hit her.”
In 2023, 10 people were injured from collisions involving a bus on Oxford Street.
In April, a man was rushed to hospital after being hit by a bus on Oxford Street. This followed a teenage motorcyclist being killed by a taxi last year.
The proposed plan would see the 1.1km stretch of road between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus become a vehicle-free zone with potential for it to increase to Tottenham Court Road.
Oxford Street welcomes 500,000 people each day, making it one of the busiest places in London.
A ban on traffic would affect the 175,000 who travel to the shopping district each day by bus or taxi.
This means the already busy underground would be the only way to access this part of Oxford Street by public transport.
Commuter Lea Kovacevic, 20, said her daily journey to Oxford Street almost always involves an overcrowded tube and that she is definitely more cautious crossing the road than she is at home.
She said: “Especially because it is such a touristy place, with so many people, I think it would definitely make a difference, a positive difference.”
In 2015, Oxford Circus was closed 113 times due to overcrowding, a closure nearly every three days.
A TfL spokesperson said: “Safety is our utmost priority and this is always taken into account whenever changes are made to the bus network.”
Martha Velasquez, who works for one of the London memorabilia stores on the road, said that the underground is “so busy” and that the current traffic situation is “hell for everyone”.
The Mayor’s Press Office said: “The plans for this exciting project will be developed in collaboration with businesses, residents, TfL and other stakeholders, to ensure the project can best serve all Londoners, and this includes taking into consideration any changes in demand for TfL services.
“The addition of the Elizabeth Line in recent years has facilitated greater access by public transport, further adding to the case for improving the experience for pedestrians and wheelchair users.”
The plan was previously blocked by the Conservative-controlled Westminster City Council due to a lack of public support in 2018.
Sadiq Khan believed in 2018 that it would make Oxford Street “safer, healthier and a better environment” and now Khan might have his wish along with the public.
