Exhibition Road has been transformed into a new pedestrianized zone. It is the first of its kind in the U.K and is acting as a pilot scheme for urban spaces everywhere.

There are no traffic lights and no pavements, just a smooth paved surface with lines delineating where one should drive or walk. The idea is that cars,  people and bicyclists will share the same space thereby forcing drivers to be aware of their surroundings and consequently slow them down.

The scheme has worked well in smaller cities in Europe but it remains to be seen whether it is a success in London. There have been reports of drivers assuming it was a one-way street (with the associated consequences).

However the real test will be when the Olympics come to town. Exhibition Road is London's cultural heartland and there will  be vast amounts of visitors wanting to go to The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Royal Albert Hall, as well as many other attractions in South Kensington (such as the V&A). It seems that we will have to wait and see if the scheme has been a success after the games.