Oxford Street celebrates its first “car-free” day

The first phase of the redevelopment of London’s famous Oxford Street has begun: a 1-kilometer stretch is now car-free. Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan calls the initiative the start of a turnaround for the well-known shopping street.

An end to the decline

Mayor Khan wants people—not traffic—to be “in charge” on Oxford Street. He hopes the street will become a hub for “culture, leisure, and tourism.” “This is a street that has been known as the nation’s main street for over 100 years,” he told the BBC. “Over the past few decades, it has fallen into decline. I’m not willing to stand by and watch as shops leave this street, as jobs leave this street, and that’s why I’m truly proud that 1 kilometer of this street is now car-free.”