Walk the walk

As plans to pedestrianise London's Oxford Street are introduced by the Mayor, there is optimism that this will benefit retail, leisure, and food & beverage operators by increasing footfall.

We look at the positives and pitfalls of similar schemes across Europe to see if this will be the case.

Oslo
Since 2015 Oslo has focused on pedestrianisation to reduce car dependency and improve air quality. As part of the car free city centre initiative, it eliminated most private cars from the centre by 2019, replacing parking spaces with bike lanes and green areas. Pedestrian-only zones were expanded, and public spaces were redesigned for walking, cycling, and public activations.

The response from city centre users and visitors has been largely positive. In a study conducted from 2017-2019, 85% of city centre users stated that they enjoyed visiting the city centre following the changes. Average spend by users within the city centre also increased by 8.7% between 2017 and 2019. The effects of this scheme have been largely successful, with footfall on newly pedestrianised streets up by 14% and the number of vehicles visiting the city centre down by 28%. Additionally, biking and public transport usage have risen. However, freight delivery operators have expressed concerns about increased detours and time spent on delivery routes, as well as weakened accessibility.

Madrid
Since 2018, Madrid council has expanded pedestrianised zones and improved public transport accessibility across large parts of its city centre. This has largely supported the main shopping streets with The Grand Via registering a monthly footfall of 1.9m between June 2022 to May 2023, and the Calle de Preciados (seen above) boasting a 0% vacancy rate in 2023.

Despite initial opposition, public support for the scheme has grown. The scheme has successfully decreased pollution levels, with nitrogen dioxide concentrations falling by 32% since its implementation. However, traffic relief in the restricted areas has been offset by an increase in traffic in surrounding areas. There has also been an increase in unsafe driving and parking from e-scooters, which led to a ban.

Brussels
Le Pietonnier in Brussels has been pedestrianised since 2015. While initially hesitant, support for pedestrianisation has grown amongst residents, commuters, and visitors. In 2017, 47% of Brussels residents, 55% of commuters and 69% of visitors to Brussels were supportive of the scheme. In 2022, support had risen to 53% of residents, 64% of commuters, and 82% of visitors.

Despite this, concerns remained regarding crime rates with the pedestrianised zone recording over 13 thefts per day between 1st January and 31st August 2024. Another key complaint includes the cleanliness and hygiene of pedestrianised areas. However, local authorities have implemented various measures to address these issues with a new "Clean Brussels" strategy.

Implications for Oxford Street
While public reaction to the news of Oxford Street's pedestrianisation may be mixed, experiences from other cities demonstrate that such initiatives often gain more public support after implementation. Similar initiatives in Madrid and Oslo have shown that reducing vehicle access can lead to increased foot traffic and higher sales for local businesses, as pedestrians are more likely to spend more time and money in relaxed and inviting environments.

However, challenges such as potential disruptions to delivery services and concerns about accessibility will need to be addressed to ensure the scheme's success. Additionally, there is a demand for east-west traffic movement, and currently, there are no suitable alternative routes. A displacement of traffic from the main street may lead to congestion among other areas causing concerns for landlords in neighbourhoods such as Mayfair. Finally, visitor safety, particularly given London's phone theft problem, will remain a vital consideration.

Despite these challenges, there are various ways to approach the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street that could strike a balance between revitalising the area and addressing practical concerns. Options might include partial pedestrianisation in key areas, the creation of pedestrian-friendly plazas, or timed vehicle access to maintain traffic flow during certain hours. Transport for London must learn from the 2017 consultation and look to ensure public transport accessibility whilst creating sustainable alternative east-west routes to alleviate concerns about congestion. Furthermore, ensuring delivery access and improving safety measures would be essential to making the area more inviting for both businesses and visitors. With a careful data backed design approach that learns from the 2017 consultation, these solutions could provide a much needed boost to Oxford Street, benefitting businesses and visitors alike.

Soham Nayak