London TravelWatch would welcome proposals to improve the pedestrian environment of Oxford Street, but it does not support the removal of buses which provide important services to Londoners.

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch said: ‘Buses bring thousands of workers, shoppers and visitors into and through central London.  They are the only form of public transport which is accessible to all and they provide a wide geographic coverage. The Underground is crowded now and will become more so if passengers are forced to divert off of buses onto the Underground.’

According to Westminster Council, 167,000 passengers get on and off buses in Oxford Street every day.

Sharon Grant continued: ‘We could improve efficiency of road space in this area by prioritising pedestrians and closing off more of the north and south side roads crossing Oxford Street, reducing the number of buses terminating in Oxford Street, and by restricting taxis. Taxis take up 37% of the road space, but only carry 1% of the passengers. Oxford Street is busy because that is where people want to go.’

View our 2009 response to the London Assembly’s investigation into congestion on

Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street.

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For more information, please contact the London TravelWatch press office on 020 3176 5941 or 07734 055494.