Oxford Street fills with shoppers on first traffic-free day

Oxford Street in central London saw the first day of a new traffic-free experiment, with part of the shopping road pedestrianised and cars, taxis, buses and bicycles banned from that stretch. Nearly 1 km (0.62 miles) between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street has been converted under the mayor’s Oxford Street Development Corporation. The rollout drew a mix of reactions: some shoppers welcomed the change, while others raised questions about accessibility for disabled visitors. Confusion hit early as cyclists kept riding through barriers and were sometimes told to dismount by security staff. Police also appeared to handle how to reach the area by car. Proponents including Guide Dogs welcomed the changes, while Inclusion London and local businesses warned access and surrounding traffic displacement could be problematic.