The capital’s passenger watchdog has warned that plans to pedestrianise parts of Oxford Street could cause “considerable hardship to a large number of bus passengers” who face additional walks and bus trips to complete their journeys.
Unveiled last November by Mayor Sadiq Khan, the proposals would see the popular shopping destination closed to motor traffic between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus.
Mr Khan describes the scheme as an “exciting moment for the capital” which will see the street “transformed into a traffic-free pedestrian boulevard.”
However London Travelwatch says that many bus passengers will be inconvenienced as routes will need to terminate sooner, forcing passengers to either walk hundreds of metres to catch an additional bus, or have to complete their journey by the more expensive Tube.
In its response to a public consultation on the scheme, the watchdog has published a detailed route-by-route assessment of the impact the closure will have on passengers:
Bus route 7. 6,500 passengers a day will have a difficult interchange to continue their journey. Either walking across the Marble Arch junction or using a second bus to cross the junction. There would then be a further walk or a bus journey followed by a walk.
Bus route 10 & 23. 7,600 passengers a day of a new route replacing bus routes 10 & 23 will have a difficult interchange to continue their journey. Either walking from Park Lane to Oxford Street or catching a second bus, followed by a walk from Wigmore Street or Henrietta Place to Oxford Street. 2,600 passengers a day will have to change buses at Park Lane and travel along Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place to destinations beyond Oxford Street. The latter service will take substantially longer than presently.
Bus route 94. 4,200 passengers a day will have a difficult interchange to continue their journey. Either walking across the Marble Arch junction or using a second bus to cross the junction. They will then have to walk to Oxford Street from the Orchard Street stop. 4,900 passengers a day travelling through the area towards Piccadilly will have to get a further bus.
Bus route 98. 12,200 passengers a day will have a difficult interchange to continue their journey. Either walking across the Marble Arch junction or using a second bus to cross the junction. There would then be a further walk or a bus journey followed by a walk. 3,400 passengers a day travelling through the area towards King’s Cross will have to get a further bus.
Bus route 113. 2,300 passengers a day will either have to walk to Oxford Street or get a further bus along Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place and then walk to Oxford Street.
Bus route 139. All passengers will have to walk between 200 and 300 metres to Oxford Street.
Bus route 159. 2,600 passengers a day will either have to walk to Oxford Street from the stop on Regent Street or get a further bus along Wigmore Street and Henrietta Street and then walk back down to Oxford Street
Bus route 390. All passengers will have to walk between 200 and 300 metres to Oxford Street.
Any lengthy walk between buses risks making Oxford Street less accessible for those Londoners who are mobility impaired, many of whom rely on the bus network which is London’s most comprehensive and fully-accessible public transport option.
Travelwatch says running more buses along the adjacent Wigmore Street is “vital” to minimise disruption and expresses concern that TfL is “not certain” it will happen.
The body has demanded an assurance “that if the scheme is to proceed as proposed then much more is done to prioritise the bus in central London so that the service to, from and through central London is as quick as it can be.”
It says this “will mean innovative prioritisation such as roads pricing, bus only streets, access restrictions to through traffic, removing residential parking, and other traffic management measures.”
The consultation response closes by warning: “Passengers have had the recent experience of a worsening bus service in central London.
“This has led to a substantial decline in patronage.
“It is of great concern that more bus passengers may abandon the bus service, or turn to using private hire vehicles. If this happens then bus services may be delayed further.
“TfL must ensure this does not happen and, if it does, have planned a response to manage this.”