riders taking part in London’s monthly Critical Mass cycle ride travelled through the newly pedestrianised section of Oxford Street at approximately 10:30pm on Friday evening, just days after the introduction of a ban on cycling along the iconic shopping street.
The ride passed through the motor traffic-free area between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, highlighting concerns that the removal of motor vehicles from Oxford Street has been accompanied by a prohibition on cycling, without the delivery of adequate alternative routes for the thousands of people who previously cycled there every day.
Riders sailed through the barriers, with no interference from the security team present, on a variety of bikes and other modes of transport, including tandems, penny farthings, cargo bikes, accessibility bikes, and wheelchairs. Pedestrians in the area stopped and filmed the ride as it passed by, which is noted for its carnival atmosphere with battery powered sound systems carried on trailers by participants.
Paul, one of the Critical Mass participants, described the ride as “a peaceful demonstration of the continuing demand for safe, direct cycling access through central London. From the very early days of Critical Mass, when it was called the CHARM ride (Cyclists Have A Right to Move), we’ve been asking for all of Zone 1 to be made motor-traffic free. So this is a welcome step, but pedestrianisation should not come at the expense of active travel. It would have been easy to create a bike lane on this part of the street, with metal fences and calming measures to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists were properly demarcated for safety. It’s a positive development but also a huge missed opportunity.”
Marlene, another participant, said “Oxford Street belongs to people. Taking out motor traffic is a positive step, but banning cycling without first providing safe and direct alternatives along parallel roads either north or south of the closed part is not a sustainable transport policy. Thousands of riders used Oxford Street every day, including carbon-free deliveries with cargo bikes to businesses in the area. Cyclists will either continue to use the route, stop cycling, or be forced onto indirect and potentially less safe streets. None of those choices forced on us represents good transport planning.”
The London Cycling Campaign has previously warned that, without close and convenient alternative routes, some riders would continue using Oxford Street despite the ban, while others would divert through Mayfair and Marylebone using fragmented and potentially hostile routes. The organisation is calling on Westminster City Council to accelerate delivery of high-quality east-west cycle routes near Oxford Street.
