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Get ready to scramble now pedestrians can cross Oxford Circus, Tokyo-style
Katharine Barney, City Hall Reporter02.11.09
Oxford Circus has been remodelled on one of Japan's most famous street crossings in a bid to ease pedestrian congestion.
Westminster Council renovated the junction based on the "scramble crossing" design of Shibuya, Tokyo, which stops vehicles in all directions to let pedestrians dominate the entire intersection.
Today Boris Johnson unveiled the diagonal crossing, forgoing the British tradition of cutting a ribbon and instead striking a huge cymbal as Japanese musicians played taiko drums. In homage to its Far Eastern inspiration, a 60-metre X of red ribbon, was unfurled by cult Japanese Manga characters dressed in colourful costumes.
The junction will be able to handle double the number of pedestrians and ease overcrowding.
Oxford Circus has also had its barriers and street clutter ripped out and remodelled, giving the 200million shoppers and workers who visit annually about 70 per cent more freedom to move about.
Half a kilometre of both Regent Street and Oxford Street is also being redesigned, with wider pavements and new lighting.
York stone has been used on the pavements and has been coated with a chemical to help make removing chewing gum easier.
The redesign has increased the amount of pavement space by 69 per cent and provides more room around the Tube station exits.
Mr Johnson said: "This project is a triumph for British engineering, Japanese innovation and good old-fashioned common sense.
"We have brought one of the world's greatest crossroads into the 21st century."
Reader views (26)
Looks great and has to be an improvement
- George, Sydney
this is sad. they could have colored the road instead of investing so much if. i guess that would give the same result.
What about the vehicles, they will stand more on a traffic light, more carbon emission and more fuel consumption.
I don't know what great we did by allowing a person walking to cross twice to reach the other side of the road
- Jayesh, London
"How are cyclists supposed to negotiate this nightmare?"
As cyclists in central London normally do, by mowing-down the pedestrians!
- Paul, Ex-Londoner, Rye, UK
how are cyclists supposed to negotiate this nightmare? I can't see any cycle paths anywhere.
- Cyclist, London
Love that your photo clearly shows a taxi jumping the lights. So no change there then!
- Roy, England
this closes Oxford Streets only public toilet. Any plans Boris for new ones
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country.
I understand the diagonal crossing in Balham cost less than £100,000. Perhaps Boris should have looked for inspiration a little closed to home.
- Dave Cross, Balham, London
Why is everyone ignoring the fact that there has been an X crossing outside Balham tube station for over four years? Frightened of upsetting Boris and exposing his ridiculously expensive Japanese jamboree?
- Ian, London, England
Doesn't everyone bump into each other in the middle?
- Mike O, London
Massive tailbacks on all approaches to Oxford Circus, round the clock. This is an environmental nightmare.
- Ted, London
Looks like a zodiac cross...
- Josh, London, United Kingdom
Someone from Brass-Eye should start the publicity machine rolling for something that obviously isn't happening - e.g. A new tube station.
I bet Boris would show, if invited...
- Bob, London
Keep it up Boris..keep the commie out..dont let him return....
- Themanoftruth, United Kingdom
Has TFL got plans to change the name of the tube to Oxford X, more importantly who is going to protect the pedestrians from the buses and educate them into how to cross the road.
- Mr S.Port, London
Just used the new crossing, it works really well. Cuts down on alot of conjestion around Oxford Circus tube station.
- Dc, London
Did nobody tell Boris that there is already a diagonal crossing (complete with 'X' markings and all) outside Balham tube station?
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall
Not sure why Boris is taking the credit for this or Crossrail Sarah. Crossrail has nothing to do with Boris and this crossing is a Westminster Council scheme. We're still waiting for Boris to do something other than look after west london car drivers.
- Dave, London
"All pedestrian" phases at signalled intersections are by no means new in London. Over 25 years ago it was the then GLC's policy to rephase traffic signals in this way although there were no diagonal markings on the carriageway. With the abolition of the GLC and the handing over of it's traffic powers to a Conservative government this policy was reversed and "all pedestrian" phases abolished to the detriment of pedestrians. At least one such still exists, however, in Putney High Street.
- James Crawford, London England
Good work Boris. With this and the proposed redevelopments along Oxford Street thanks to Crossrail our Mayor is really making good strides in making London the world's most pedestrian-friendly city.
- Sarah, London
I want to know why it costs FIVE MILLION POUNDS for a pedestrian crossing? Why does everything have to cost so much in this country? For crying out loud it's just a crossing!
- Miles, London
Bozza for PM
- Peace Maker, Battersea
How on earth did it cost five million pounds to change one junction?
- James, London, UK
I saw this new crossing this morning at about 6.20 and I was most impressed.... almost took a photo but thought I would be the ultimate saddo. I will take the picture tomorrow morning instead.
- Goggs, London
This will be great as long as we use Japanese manners and patience rather than the 'sod it I'll dash out as the lights are turning green' Lonodn approach.
- Mark, London
Excellent news.
- Johnb, Bedford
Great. Now please clean up the rest of Oxford St.
- Dave, London
