Westminster drops pop-up cycle lane plan on Oxford Street

A promise to build “pop-up” cycle lanes in Oxford Street appears to have been ditched by Westminster council.

Pavements were widened along parts of the country’s most famous high street to create extra space for shoppers ahead of the reopening of shops on Monday, but there was no sign of any bike lanes.

The Tory-run council had pledged on May 27 to transform three of the West End’s most famous streets to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists as the lockdown eased.

It said: “Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly will see measures to widen pavements, change traffic lanes into pedestrian walkways, install signage and guidance on social distancing as well as establishing pop-up cycle lanes.”

But an updated statement on its website removed the pledge to build cycle lanes. Work carried out so far includes on Portland Place, where a white line and “Cycle Westminster” logos have been painted on the road, but without any segregation of cyclists from vehicles.

Simon Munk, infrastructure campaigner at the London Cycling Campaign, said he was “very disappointed” with the council’s approach.

Westminster did not respond to repeated requests from the Standard to clarify if segregated cycle lanes would be introduced in Oxford Street and Regent Street.

It said in a statement: “Major routes like Oxford Street and Regent Street will become cycle friendly as we look to reduce the number of vehicles.”