A brand new ‘x’ road crossing has been unveiled in London by the city’s mayor, Boris Johnson. Also known as a scramble, the distinctive x-shape will, say its makers, provide 70 percent more space for pedestrians at the busy intersection at Oxford Circus. The crossing options before were decidedly cramped so the new Tokyo style crossing is likely to be a pleasant change for shoppers and locals.

Boris Johnson said it was “a triumph for British engineering, Japanese innovation and good old fashioned common sense”. As one of the most popular destinations in the world, Oxford Circus was definitely in need of this crossing. There are an estimated 200 million visitors to Oxford Circus each year. As part of the project, 500 metres of pavement have been widened and lighting improved.

The chances of getting hit by a cab or a bus are now much reduced, but the risk of colliding with Japanese tourists and heavily laden shoppers has increased dramatically.