00:00Once again I'm back on Oxford Street 11 days after almost a kilometer of the capital's busiest shopping
00:05street first went traffic-free on Monday the 26th of October. When I first visited the sudden
00:10absence of vehicles, something that had been talked about for years, felt surprisingly
00:14underwhelming. The atmosphere was a little bit awkward and it wasn't quite the dramatic
00:19transformation most of us had anticipated. When I returned a few days later people seemed more
00:24accustomed to the newly pedestrianized space but it still wasn't clear whether Londoners had really
00:29warmed to the change. So you might be thinking what's actually changed since my last visit just
00:33four days ago? Honestly not a lot. It's worth remembering that this is only phase one of a much
00:39bigger transformation. For now the priority is restricting vehicle access and allowing pedestrians
00:44to use the road. The introduction of trees and seating and communal spaces isn't expected until
00:50spring 2027 but based on the comments on our previous videos there is one issue that continues
00:55to get people talking. Cyclists. When the restrictions first came into force the standard counted more
01:03than 50 bikes riding through the new destination zone in just one hour despite signs like these
01:08instructing cyclists to dismount. In my last update I noticed a significant reduction in the number of
01:14cyclists ignoring the rules. I was also seeing more security staff telling people to get off their bikes
01:19and walk. And today in the half an hour I've been here I've actually only counted one cyclist riding
01:24through this stretch. They were quickly stopped and instructed to dismount. As far as I could see no
01:28fine was issued despite TFL warning that cyclists who ignore the new restrictions could face penalties
01:34of up to 160 pounds. I'm not sure what's behind this significant drop. Maybe it's structure enforcement
01:40or greater awareness of the restrictions. Perhaps e-bike geofencing or simply more cyclists choosing to follow
01:47the rules. Perhaps a combination of all four. But for everyone who was concerned about cyclists when this scheme
01:52first launched in my experience it's no longer the big problem it appeared to be on day one. There
01:57is something else I've noticed though and that's the space that's actually available for pedestrians
02:02because while the aim of this scheme is to give people more room to move around the construction
02:07works currently taking place along Oxford Street are creating somewhat of an obstacle course. I appreciate
02:13construction is temporary and ultimately necessary to deliver the finished scheme but there is a certain
02:19irony in watching crowds of pedestrians squeeze together struggling to get past the works all
02:24while shuffling alongside a mayor of London banner that promises pedestrianization will create more
02:29space for everyone. But as we've been reminded this is a process that will take time. The pedestrianization
02:34of one of London's busiest shopping streets was never going to happen overnight and as the mayor of London
02:39signs keep reminding us it's just a fate.
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