Pedestrianising Oxford Street – But Who’s Forgotten?

By Scarlett Red

This week, Sadiq Khan announced he will “pedestrianise Oxford Street…as quickly as possible,” backed by two-thirds of 6,642 respondents to a GLA consultation. It’s an ambitious revival: transforming one of the world’s busiest shopping streets into a global-standard pedestrian haven. Supporters, including major retailers like Selfridges, John Lewis, and IKEA, see potential for new life, outdoor cafés, and revitalised footfall.

But there’s a problem: the announcement offered no guidance on alternative routes for buses, taxis, or private vehicles—many of which are lifelines for people with disabilities. More worryingly, the first spaces to be removed during similar urbanisation projects are often disabled parking bays, converted for cafés or roadworks. Every time a disabled bay disappears, someone loses access—not just a parking spot, but access to healthcare, work, and dignity.

For many disabled Londoners, driving isn’t a choice—it’s a necessity. After decades of patchy step-free Tube coverage (only about a third of Underground stations are fully accessible), and with buses not covering every journey, vehicles are essential. Removing car access—and, worse, disabled bays—removes the buffer that makes travel possible.

Imagine you live just over the borough border, with no bus route near your home. You rely on your blue badge to bring you within walking distance of doctors, therapies, shops—or more importantly, life. Suddenly, your access is restricted, unrecognised in the rush for outdoor terraces and café culture.

Pedestrianisation must be inclusive by design—not a retrofitted afterthought. That means:

- Clear alternative driving routes, publicised in advance, for those who can’t use public transport.

- Protecting all disabled bays, not just in central London but across feeder roads and tube interchanges.

- Engaging disabled Londoners, charities, and blue-badge organisations in every stage, especially when space is reallocated for café seating or street events.

Excluding disabled people undermines the very promise of a “world-class, accessible avenue.” We need vibrant public spaces—but not at the cost of mobility and independence. Without regard for those who cannot walk, cycle, or ride the bus, pedestrianisation risks becoming yet another barrier.

Sadiq Khan’s plan can be better. It must be better.

London’s pedestrians deserve safe, open spaces. So do its drivers—especially those whose driving isn’t a choice, but a necessity. Let’s pedestrianise—and leave no one blocked out.