Cyclist numbers appear to fall on pedestrianised Oxford Street

Cyclist numbers observed on Oxford Street’s newly pedestrianised stretch fell in separate counts over the days after the traffic ban began, while Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she had been told usage had “decreased significantly”.

An observation on Wednesday morning recorded 10 people riding through the area in 40 minutes. Six others dismounted and walked their bikes. On Friday morning, observers saw one cyclist during a 30-minute period. Transport for London staff asked that rider to get off the bike; no fine was issued.

The counts followed an earlier tally of 51 cyclists entering the traffic-free zone in an hour on 27 October, the day after pedestrianisation began. The observations covered the section from the Nike and H&M shops towards Uniqlo, including the junction leading towards John Lewis.

These were brief observations made at different times, not a continuous count. The Wednesday morning area was described as relatively quiet. Most people seen there were walking through the West End or on their way to work, and runners were also using the road.

Alexander told the Evening Standard on Thursday that people needed time to get used to the new arrangements. She said the problem had significantly eased in recent days compared with about a week earlier, as people became accustomed to the scheme. Her comments were based on information she said she had received about cyclist numbers.

She said the priority should be putting safe alternative cycling routes in place for people whose journeys may have been affected. Westminster City Council and Transport for London were working on that, she said.

The pedestrianisation has also affected bus journeys. Data compiled by the Marylebone Association showed that some journeys across the West End had taken up to 11 minutes longer since the change began.

The scheme is intended to give pedestrians more room on the shopping street without having to dodge passing traffic. The observations provide early snapshots of how people are using the altered space, rather than a measure of cyclist numbers across the whole day.

With the Christmas shopping period approaching, the recorded counts offer a limited indication of recent cycling activity on the stretch. Alexander’s remarks also put the focus on alternative routes for cyclists affected by the restrictions.

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