London’s Oxford Street bans traffic as city tries to revitalize once grand shopping district

London authorities are closing Oxford Street to all vehicular traffic, including cars, buses, and bicycles, beginning Monday. The measure is part of a broader initiative to revitalize the city's primary shopping thoroughfare.

The project aims to restore the area's reputation as a premier retail destination. Officials are addressing concerns that the district’s appeal has declined due to an increase in souvenir shops and candy stores, which have come to dominate the streetscape.