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How Oxford Circus shoppers will beat crosstown traffic
Mira Bar-Hillel, Property Correspondent10.07.08
It is a view seen every day in the teeming streets of Tokyo.
As red lights hold back traffic at a major junction, shoppers, tourists and office workers stream over the road in all directions, cutting across each other's paths.
Now pedestrians in the West End will be able to benefit from a Japanese-style "scramble crossing" after plans were unveiled for big changes to Oxford Circus.
Westminster council wants to rip out existing barriers and street clutter and remodel the crossings. Traffic lights would be rephased so that vehicles from all four directions would be stopped simultaneously for 30 seconds. This will allow people to walk across the junction diagonally in safety for the first time.
The scheme is based on Tokyo's Shibuya District crossings, renowned for allowing people to get around with ease.
In a nine-week consultation, launched today, Londoners are being asked for their views on the proposed new layout, which forms part of a £40 million investment programme for the retailing trinity of Oxford, Regent and Bond streets.
Danny Chalkley, Westminster's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "We want to make it as easy as possible for the 200 million visitors a year who come to the West End to get around on foot.
"The parallels between Shibuya and the West End are stark: apart from both locations being hugely popular, they are also important fashion and entertainment areas.
"These proposals will bring a slice of Tokyo to Oxford Circus, and are part of a whole series of improvements already taking place to ensure the West End looks truly impressive in time for 2012." Work on the scheme is due to start in summer next year and should take about nine months.
The scheme may spark concerns among motorists that the new traffic light phasing will create more delays for vehicles.
A Westminster spokesman said: "We have not yet worked out the phasing, but it will change in accordance with demand at different times of day to keep people, and traffic, moving." Under the wider plans, Oxford, Regent and Bond streets will be given wider shopper-friendly pavements. A series of side street "oases" for al fresco dining will also be created. The project is led by the council and co-funded by Transport for London, the New West End Company and The Crown Estate.
Richard Dickinson of New West End said: "With 250,000 people entering or leaving Oxford Circus station every day, it's essential their first ground-level view and experience is pleasing."
Reader views (12)
Phillip, i so agree with you. If London wants to see this project working well, then we the british really need to change our attitude and behviour. learn to be 'calm and collective' otherwise we might just need to 'invest another stagering 50 mill from the taxpayers pockets to build a boxing ring around the circus! (requesting for a futher 5million to maintain 24/7 Referees!).. im sure Borris wont mind paying from his own pocket will you boris!! NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
- Reo, London
It's about time they just pedestrianised Oxford St and Regent St (along with the whole of Soho which was a pleasure to walk around and drink in during the Pride day last weekend). If they can do it for one day in December, then it can be done every day.
Banning all cars and lorries from the West End between 10am-10pm would also help. That would leave the roads emptier for the buses to actually run on time too. There's just no need for anyone to drive a car around the West End ever as the tube/buses are getting so much better and nowhere is really far to walk anyhow.
- Steve, London, UK
A good start would be to police Oxford street and stop cars and vans using it. Years ago you would be stopped as soon as you entered Oxford street by the police now you will be lucky to see a police officer stop a car or van.Maybe we should start with getting law and order then think about changing Oxford circus so it is safer for pedestrians to cross.
- Mick, London
Sam / Marc -- yes it does work in Japan, but the Japanese have a completely different mentality. It will cause absolute chaos in London, especially with all the tourists. And Ron - don't hold your breath, cyclists will still do as they please!
- Philip, London, England
About time too. I work there and have to go every day. If they stopped closing the damn station it wouldn't be as bad but at least this will keep the people flowing instead of the huge pushing crowds of people!
- Charlie, London
Hopefully, this scheme will overcome the problems pedestrians have in enlarging the amount of available space for them and eliminating the barriers which cause more problems than they solve.
I think it is time to make Oxford Street 'Bus Only' eastbound with taxis diverted to streets like Wimpole Street and taxi ranks built in side streets.
Oxford Circus station last major upgrade was in the 1960's when the Victoria line was built along with the new booking haw beneath the junction. When are plans going to be developed to link the station directly to shops around the circus and therefore reduce the number of pedestrians at surface level.
Finally, nice to see future view shows Artic buses which are popular with shoppers who don't have to carry bags upstairs and provide more seats at street level than any other type of bus.
- Melvyn, Canvey Island, Essex
Good idea - well overdue... works well in Japan. trying to cross the road at Oxford Circus is a pitiful experience at the moment.
- Sam, London
I work nearby to Oxford Circus, and I am relieved to see that plans are afoot to change the current situation. At the moment all corners of this junction are blocked by the masses of pedestrians looking to cross from one side to the other, not to mention the tube passengers surfacing from the station. People are clever enough to cross a road without the herding that the current system tries to do. Hold the traffic and let people cross to where they want to go. We can manage just fine thanks! The only side effect of this might be that the preacher with the megaphone and the charity muggers might not have anywhere to loiter. What a shame...
- Vesna, London
OK Kevin, do you actually use this particular junction?
It sounds as though you don't.
- Dt, Harrow, UK
I hope somebody remembers to tell the anarchic cyclists that they will have to stop as well!
- Ron, London
Why is Boris wasting more of our hard earned money on schemes like this, when Oxford Street is going to become a ghost town during this forthcoming recession? I'm sick and tired of successive mayors spending money on these faddish pedestrianisation schemes when an underpass or footbridge would suffice. There's no point in shopping in Central London anyway, buses everywhere, no free parking and people crossing the roads slowing everything down. Come on Boris, get some joined up thinking on this and help us car drivers who have worked hard to afford to drive!
- Kevin, London
Excellent idea. It's sad that we don't have lots of these already.
Remember that stations in Tokyo such as Shinjuku handle 2,000,000 passengers a day use crossings like these successfully.
- Marc, Hammersmith
