Skip to main content

Norway to build cycle highways

Norway is proposing to spend US$923 million and build ten dual-lane bicycle pathways that would link the country's nine largest cities and extend to their suburbs, allowing longer-distance cyclists to travel with a speed and safety hitherto impossible. The effort is part of the country's National Transit Plan, which seeks to reduce emissions from vehicular traffic. Challenges, however, include dark winters, steep mountains and the small number of Norwegians who use cycles. According to CityLab, the ef
March 8, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Norway is proposing to spend US$923 million and build ten dual-lane bicycle pathways that would link the country's nine largest cities and extend to their suburbs, allowing longer-distance cyclists to travel with a speed and safety hitherto impossible.

The effort is part of the country's National Transit Plan, which seeks to reduce emissions from vehicular traffic. Challenges, however, include dark winters, steep mountains and the small number of Norwegians who use cycles.

According to CityLab, the effort is just one of several measures proposed in the country’s National Transit Plan to cut transit emissions by half.

By 2030, the government is aiming to have zero car use, 75 per cent of the country’s buses and 50 percent of its trucks must be low-emission, while 40 per cent of its short-distance ships and ferries must be either low emission or use biofuels. In addition, rail and road infrastructure will be repaired nationwide, including an improved, expanded coastal highway with bridges to replace ferry crossings. For roads repairs alone, the government estimates that $4.15 billion will be required, while railway upgrades will cost $2.08 billion.

Related Content

  • Put ‘people, not cars' first in transport systems, says UN Environment chief
    October 21, 2016
    Lack of investment in safe walking and cycling infrastructure not only contributes to the deaths of millions of people in traffic accidents on unsafe roads and poorly designed roadways, but also overlooks a great opportunity to boost the fight against climate change, according to a new UN Environment report. In Global Outlook on Walking and Cycling, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) claims that greater investment in such infrastructure could help save millions of lives and reduce emissions of global w
  • 1,000 Nissan Leaf EVs sold in Norway in just six months
    April 30, 2012
    Nissan in Norway has announced that it has sold 1,000 of its electric Leaf cars in just six months, taking almost two per cent of the total car market in February this year demonstrating the impact of comprehensive incentives and developed charging infrastructure. The government support and charging infrastructure have helped the Nissan Leaf become the second best-selling Nissan in Norway and the ninth best-selling passenger car overall in February. Norway has the highest level of support in Europe for elec
  • Brazil infrastructure concessions tempt investors
    June 22, 2015
    Private sector players are interested in US$45.8 billion of infrastructure concession projects planned as part of the second round of the country's logistics improvement program PIL. According to planning minister Nelson Barbosa, who said each of the concessions had attracted the attention of at least two potential bidders, the government was working to award tenders based on the highest canon payment offered as opposed to the lowest tariff and to reduce the 49 per cent participation of national airport
  • Painted lanes ‘a waste of money’, say UK cycling champions
    June 18, 2019
    The UK government has wasted hundreds of millions of pounds painting white lines on busy roads to use as cycle lanes, says former Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman. Boardman, cycling and walking commissioner for Greater Manchester, has reportedly joined fellow commissioners Dame Sarah Storey (Sheffield City region) and Will Norman (London) in writing to transport secretary Chris Grayling calling for new measures to be adopted. The Guardian says the letter argues that painted cycle lanes do not make cyc