That is the view of shoppers, workers and even Transport for London (TfL) enforcement officers, who have been given the impossible job of halting speeding cyclists in order to hand them a £160 fine.
asserted
who → give → fine
Bicycles, cars, buses and taxis were banned from half a mile of Britain's most famous shopping street on October 26, with plans to install benches and trees as part of a revitalisation project that will cost £150million.
asserted
that → ban → 150million
Lord Khan - who is yet to say whether he will run for a fourth term as Mayor of London in 2028 - said last week the move would 'revitalise Oxford Street' as he tries to rid it of its tacky image and association with 'dross' American candy stores.
But those on two-wheels are continuing to make a mockery of the Mayor of London's mission to clean up the street.
asserted
those → say → street
On Friday night, hundreds of people joined the guerrilla cycling movement Critical Mass to swamp the street, TfL's own traffic cameras capturing the swell of bicycles on a road where they are supposedly banned.
asserted
they → join → road
Some of those on the streets were riding dockless hire e-bikes from firms including Forest and Lime - despite their pledge to introduce 'geofencing' that should have stopped the bikes' electric motors from kicking in.
asserted
that → rid → motors
The event proved too alluring to resist for London's phone-snatchers, who used the gathering as a smoke-screen: at least one bystander was deprived of their phone as they filmed the passing peloton, according to witnesses.
uncertain
they → prove → witnesses
Cyclists took to Oxford Street en masse on Friday in defiance of a ban on wheeled vehicles
Some cyclists used dockless hire e-bikes - despite pledges from firms like Lime and Forest that they should not work on the street
CCTV from Transport for London's own traffic cameras showed dozens of bicycles within the bollards that are meant to dissuade traffic
Organisers said they were not challenged by enforcement officers - who have privately admitted that they are powerless in the face of someone who refuses to stop.
asserted
who → take → someone
One TfL officer told the Standard that they had faced hostility from cyclists, with a group of teenagers pushing him as they doled out racial abuse; another said roughly seven in ten cyclists refused to comply with requests to dismount.
asserted
cyclists → tell → requests
And social media is rampant with videos of gangs of youths cycling along Oxford Street with seeming impunity, weaving between pedestrians who come to a dead stop for fear of being hit.
asserted
who → cycle → fear
Local resident Michael Bolt told the publication: 'Pedestrians should not have to dodge cyclists or be intimidated into moving out of their way.
asserted
Pedestrians → tell → way
Nor should enforcement officers be left powerless to deal with dangerous behaviour.
asserted
officers → leave → behaviour
But all of this should have been considered beforehand.
asserted
all → consider → this
'Without constant vigilance, a properly funded management plan and effective, enforceable restrictions, the scheme risks becoming a free-for-all.'
asserted
scheme → fund → all
The Mayor of London had been warned well in advance of the Oxford Street pedestrianisation that enforcing a ban on cycling would be all-but-impossible.
asserted
enforcing → warn → cycling
Locals had warned of congestion on the roads around Oxford Street, and their fears were realised
New signs were installed overnight that asked cyclists to dismount from their bikes and walk them through the pedestrianised zone
Cyclists have refused to obey the new rules, with footage showing them continuing to ride down Oxford Street
asserted
them → warn → Street
More than 600 people and groups who responded to TfL's consultation on pedestrianisation said they were concerned about cyclists ignoring the ban.
asserted
cyclists → respond → ban
But transport bosses insisted that alternate routes, and the sheer number of pedestrians, would 'significant(ly)... deter cyclists from using Oxford Street'.
asserted
routes → insist → Street
There have been other consequences: disability campaigner Mik Scarlett said the anti-terror bollards installed to prevent cars from driving into the pedestrianised zone made navigating Oxford Street in his wheelchair difficult.
asserted
navigating → say → wheelchair
He branded the bollards 'inactive discrimination', telling the Telegraph: 'It’s almost like we don’t matter because it’s much more important that everyone remains safe.
asserted
everyone → brand → Telegraph
But we can’t get in there.'
asserted
we → get → ?
Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservatives group in the London Assembly, accused the Mayor of 'pushing through' the Oxford Street plan with little regard for those who had warned of the consequences.
asserted
who → accuse → consequences
'I have said all along that my biggest concern is safety,' she told the Daily Mail.
asserted
she → say → Mail
I went to Oxford Street the other day and around it is gridlock traffic, which is what we said would happen.
asserted
we → go → it
'And while it is easy for able-bodied people to get around, those with disabilities who need to get a bus to where they're going (on Oxford Street) now can't.
asserted
they → get → Street
'This has been pushed through by Sadiq Khan because, in my view, he won't stand again and wants a legacy to leave behind.
asserted
he → push → legacy
'I hope he doesn't leave the pride of our high streets crime-ridden by the time he leaves in the next 18 months.'
asserted
he → hope → months
The Mayor of London and Transport for London were contacted for comment.
asserted
Transport → contact → comment
The Aporia
