On Feb 4, 12:40*pm, "Zen83237" wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8497509.stm

Oxford St is congested so let's remove all the buses. What next, Victoria is
congested let's remove the trains.

The issue of Oxford Street and buses is hardly a new one, it's been an
issue for years - and I think I would agree in saying it's an "issue".

For a 'through journey' where the destination was not Oxford Street,
during the daytime I wouldn't chose to use a bus route that traversed
Oxford Street - it's basically a crawl. However I have used buses that
deliver one directly onto Oxford Street, and like many others have
also used them to 'escape' Oxford Street when loaded down with
shopping - in the latter scenario, the slow crawl is weighed up
against the potential to deliver one all the way home, or at least
somewhere else where one can change to get home - descending down into
the busy tube doesn't always look so attractive when there's an above
ground vehicle that offers a less complicated getaway (plus the buses
take some pressure off the overloaded tube network of course).

However, on the other side of the argument, the "wall of slow-moving
metal running along Oxford Street" - in the I think somewhat striking
phraseology of Victoria Borwick AM [1] - also seems pretty real. When
shopping, as opposed to arriving or departing, it doesn't really add
to the ambience. Sure, you can hop on a bus (easiest if it's bendy) to
get further down the street, but you can only get on and off at stops
and it's probably quicker walking anyway.

The Oxford Street tram proposal would address this of course - but
it's not going to happen, not any time soon at least. It's been
suggested it could be something that could be hung off the Cross River
Tram system (instead of it being a standalone proposal), but as we
know the CRT has well and truly shelved in the basement store of the
TfL library.

A "radical re-examination of central London bus routes" would indeed
be necessary if pedestrianisation were to happen - there'd be an awful
lot of knock on consequences.

You know what - instead of just reading the BBC story I thought it
might be a good idea to at least scan through the executive summary of
the transport committee's actual story (primary sources and all that!)
- it is a bit more measured than the OP seems to suggest.

This paragraph from the exec summary is most relevant:
---quote---
The Committee also examines more radical, long-term solutions. It
notes that there is no work currently being carried out to reconsider
the long-term operation of the transport system in the area. It
recommends that this should be undertaken and should include
consideration of a comprehensive reconfiguration of the bus network to
take the pressure off the area. This would open up other radical
options which have the potential to enhance the streets in the West
End. In particular, the Committee recommends that two options should
be considered in more detail: a shuttle bus to replace the major bus
routes travelling up and down Oxford Street and pedestrianisation of
the short area between Oxford Circus and Bond Street. The Mayor should
also include Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street in his Great
Spaces programme to improve the public realm for visitors and
residents.
---/quote---

So, a shuttle bus, kind of like the tram idea but rather more
affordable and perhaps realistic - could even be (shock horror) one of
those evil bendy buses. And pedestrianisation between Oxford Circus
and Bond Street. Both at least worthy of consideration, I'd say. And
apparently no-one's currently looking at transport provision in the
area on a long term, strategic basis - so perhaps they should be. Also
seem like a fair comment (if it's accurate). Maybe the time has come
to do something radical here?

The whole report can be read here (PDF):
http://www.mayor-for-london.co.uk/pdf/streets-ahead.pdf

-----
[1] Having quickly glanced at the report, in Borwick's forward I see
"a red wall of metal" is actually Boris' phrase, so now I feel a bit
awkward for being impressed by it - I am not in awe of Borisisms,
because it often comes across that Boris wishes to govern by
(supposed) witticism alone. Anyway...!

Also, the masthead of Victoria Borwick's personal website seems, er, a
little dated - as does its URL - though it might come in handy for
2012 I suppose, should Boris decide to return to the Westminster fray
- see:
http://www.mayor-for-london.co.uk/