The Guardian view on Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation: cities should be designed around people, not cars | Editorial

The Guardian reports the following. ENC is republishing it as an attributed briefing, not as independently confirmed fact. If this item is false or incomplete, the responsibility sits with The Guardian, which released it. The transformation of Europe’s busiest shopping street should be a case study in making cities greener, less congested and more inviting places to live Sadiq Khan has been trying to pedestrianise Oxford Street since he first became the mayor of London in 2016. On Monday, after numerous setbacks, his plan will finally come to fruition. The busiest stretch of the nation’s famous shopping street will be closed to traffic in a scheme designed to improve the area and make it more attractive to pedestrians. It should be an emblematic case study in making cities greener, less congested, more inviting places to live and visit. The Greater London Authority hopes it will rejuvenate a high street fallen on hard times. Since the pandemic, the number of vacant shops on Oxford Street has more than quad… Original link: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/25/the-guardian-view-on-oxford-streets-pedestrianisation-cities-should-be-designed-around-people-not-cars