Overview
- A half-mile stretch of Oxford Street was closed to motor traffic as the first phase of the £150 million revamp that began on 26 October 2026 and is now operational while further streetscape work continues into spring 2027.
- Transport for London has rerouted buses and is testing signage and a £160 penalty regime, but enforcement teams report widespread non-compliance by cyclists and dockless e-bikes that have continued to ride through the zone.
- A large Critical Mass ride and social media footage show hundreds of cyclists defying the ban, and TfL cameras captured groups moving inside the pedestrianised area, exposing limits in officers' ability to stop or fine riders.
- Disability campaigners and local councillors say anti-terror bollards, changed bus stops and new street layouts make access harder for wheelchair users and have pushed traffic onto adjacent roads, creating local congestion.
- The high-profile rollout has drawn international attention, with Karachi’s mayor announcing plans to pilot pedestrian-only roads inspired by London while political debate in the capital focuses on enforcement, inclusion and whether wider change is needed.