Afternoon:
9°c
Curb bus congestion in West End, plead bosses
David Williams, Motoring Editor20 Oct 2008
BUSINESS leaders in the West End are demanding a swift end to rising congestion caused by buses.
Firms including Austin Reed, Debenhams, Habitat, Hamleys, Selfridges and Marks and Spencer are calling on the Mayor to cut the "large number" of buses they say are bringing parts of the area to a standstill.
The letter is signed by 30 senior figures including Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Hugh Seaborn, chairman of Westminster Property Owners Association, and Richard Pulford, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre.
It says: "In recent years a range of surveys and studies has shown that improving the pedestrian environment is a top priority for visitors. This can only be achieved by reducing the large number of buses in the area."
The letter also signed by the divisional director of Boots and the property director of Great Portland Estates cites an Evening Standard poll showing more than 70 per cent of respondents wanted fewer buses in Oxford Street.
It points to an analysis by business group London First which showed there was a "practical way to help achieve this objective in the short term by making alterations to bus routes in Oxford Street and Regent Street."
Today, Baroness Valentine, chief executive of London First, said: "The West End should be a welcoming environment for visitors, not an open-air bus depot. By reducing the number on Oxford Street we can free up subsidy for less well-served areas at the same time as improving the pedestrian experience."
A London First report this month said 24 bus routes were sending 330 vehicles an hour along Oxford Street and 220 an hour along Regent Street. It described jams made up almost entirely of buses.
London First found that terminating six routes in the Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road areas would cut bus traffic in Oxford and Regent Streets by 20 per cent. They claimed only five per cent of passengers would have to switch routes and Transport for London would save about £3 million. A TfL spokesman said: "The Mayor has made clear his commitment to making Oxford Street as attractive and easy to access as possible. We will be looking at how to make improvements to the flow of buses."
Reader views (21)
Firstly can I say it's not about remembering the trams and shutting off side streets, the main roads are also clogged. Also to be honest I’m sure that in this area including whole chunks of Oxford St is closed to cars and general traffic except Buses already.
There are clearly too many buses along both Oxford and Regent St and only limited through routes should be permitted to run the entire lengths serving both the travelling public, freeing up road space and allow for better pedestrian facilities and modifications to take place.
Removing lights is an option and would be sensible if adequate refuge and super crossings were introduced but for security, (i.e. emergencies) the side roads could perhaps be paved but accessible at times and allow for controlled service, delivery and emergency vehicle access.
As for the humble black taxi cars! Well I don’t think they’re so humble with some of the manoeuvre they make and they don’t get passed the bus in front anyway. What a rip off I say.
These actions can happen sooner with integration of or replacement by trams and other more drastic measures a possibility later. With every step there must be a clear emphasis made to modify and enhance the environment for all uses and users.
Let’s work out a solution and not patch work the problem here.
- Michael, London, UK., 21/10/2008 03:10
Report abuse
Mr. Windebank, (did he make that name up?) is correct when he mentions illegal vehicles entering Oxford St. and being largely ignored by the myopic authorities, but they only constitute a very small part of the constant traffic hold ups. If he thinks that it is these vehicles and taxis, empty or otherwise that are the root cause of the problem, and not a surfeit of buses then I would suggest that he should have gone to Specsavers!
- Frank Neal, London, England., 21/10/2008 01:16
Report abuse
Melvyn Windebank is incorrect. There are no empty Black Taxis in Oxford Street we don't bother driving down it because of the large number of buses.
- William, London, UK., 21/10/2008 01:03
Report abuse
Oxford Street closed to traffic is only a matter of time, what will replace the hundreds of buses that jam up the road is the real headache. Putting the buses above the ground is the only solution in my mind, a mono bus anybody ?
- Mr.S.Port, London, UK., 21/10/2008 00:56
Report abuse
To Melvyn Windebank,
Don't you think that a bus every 10.9 seconds is a bit excessive?
Even if you even that out for buses in opposite directions, it's still too many.
One a minute is more than enough.
- Dt, Harrow, UK., 20/10/2008 23:07
Report abuse
It not buses but empty taxis and illegal vehicles that clog Oxford Street. Lets start by making Oxford Street BUS ONLY with all side streets not used by buses closed off, pity they wont introduce this in time for Christmas.
As for trams well Ken proposed this but those in charge have no idea of how economical of roadspace trams are and prefer flooding London with hundreds of dinky buses that are always full.
A mayor with an unbderstanding of transport would have built a tram in West London extended it through Notting Hill Gate/Oxford Street then via Holborn to Stratford, with a north/South line from Kings Cross/Euston to Waterloo on via Brixton to meet the Croydon trams.
However, we have NOGO BOJO who still thinks of buses that were right for the middle of the last century when the real solution is the transport from the beginning of the 20th century.
As for cutting bus routes millions of passengers are going via Oxford Street and therefore making them change buses will only add to congestion.
Lets start by closing off all small side streets which could allow traffic lights to be removed and keep buses moving.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 20/10/2008 17:19
Report abuse
It would probably help congestion if bus drivers obeyed red traffic lights and box junctions - ESPECIALLY bendy-buses which frequently block all 4 roads at a junction
- Julia, London, 20/10/2008 16:48
Report abuse
Mall at Shepherds Bush, how about a tram linking, say, Tottenham Court Road and Shepherds Bush via Notting Hill Gate
I remember trams and trolley buses running up Holland Park ave through to Oxford street.
That was 1947. We don't seem to have progressed much.
- Minnie, London,UK, 20/10/2008 16:39
Report abuse
Get rid of those abysmal bendy buses and it might just solve the problem!
- Joannie, London, England, 20/10/2008 16:29
Report abuse
Even if you make the entirety of Oxford Street pedestrian it'll still be full of gormless people meandering cluelessly hither and thither.
- Bob, Cheam, 20/10/2008 15:49
Report abuse
How ironic.
- St. Mohammed, London, 20/10/2008 15:44
Report abuse
I wholeheartedly agree with removing some buses from Oxford Street and Regent Street. In view of the looming competition from Westfield Mall at Shepherds Bush, how about a tram linking, say, Tottenham Court Road and Shepherds Bush via Notting Hill Gate, thereby linking two major shopping centres which then could become complementary instead of fighting for their existence.
Oh, and by the way, can we have a reinstated bus link between the Notting Hill Gate area and Trafalagar Square/Charing Cross?
- Philip Wylie, London UK, 20/10/2008 12:45
Report abuse
That's what you get from removing Routemasters from Oxford Street - they were so much quicker due to the freedom to be able to get on and off. You were warned, but you wouldn't listen, and now you're paying the price.
- Crna Legija, Thankfully escaped from London, 20/10/2008 12:35
Report abuse
I agree about the fact there are too many buses along Oxford Street. I used to live and work in London and each christmas i come down i find it hard to cross the road and to see what shops i'm walking past, what with the crowds and all. Its confusing trying to find what bus stop to get off and and which stop to get on. And the traffic is so slow. I think it would be a more pleasant ahopping experience too.
- Mrs Geraldine Harrison, Peterborugh, Cambs. U.K., 20/10/2008 12:02
Report abuse
Fully agree with Marco, it's the profits being hurt once again because buses actually give a SERVICE. Just shut up you freeloaders with your massive profits, and stop blaming outside influences for your dismal performance as managers.
- Rod, Epping, UK, 20/10/2008 12:01
Report abuse
Buses have always been a major problem in Oxford St. It should be a pedestrian zone with moving walkways for those too lazy or fat to get from one restaurant to another.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 20/10/2008 11:55
Report abuse
I don't understand why people shop in London.Grab a car, pile in and go cross channel to france or belgium to get better fashion at up to 50% off UK prices-why would anyone shop in the UK?Come back same night having eaten better food, breathed non bus infected air and welathier to boot.
- A Moreno, luxembourg, 20/10/2008 11:32
Report abuse
Boo hoo... the fat-cats are crying because they aren't making enough profits, so they ask the Mayor to cut the number of buses... knowing Bozo, he will probably oblige...
- Marco, Notting Hill, 20/10/2008 11:26
Report abuse
I thought the congestion was being caused by chauffeur driven cars and single occupnacy taxis.
- Paul, London, 20/10/2008 11:23
Report abuse
Livingston had the right idea. Replace buses in Oxford Street by environmentally friendly trams as found in many continental city centres.
- James Crawford, London UK, 20/10/2008 11:19
Report abuse
Buses would arrive and depart from stops much quicker if passengers stopped using the bus driver as a travelling information bureau when getting on. Perhaps this should form part of the UK citizenship test (as should how to form a queue at a bus stop !). However, it is likely that tourists are at least as much to blame. It doesn't happen of course with the Routemasters on Route 9, but they have a conductor.
- Peter Haldane, London, 20/10/2008 11:12
Report abuse
