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

  • Germany’ plans subsidies to encourage EV use ‘an interesting move’
    April 29, 2016
    Germany has announced plans to motivate German citizens to buy electric and hybrid vehicles, say news reports, with a plan that the transport ministry hopes will boost sluggish electric-vehicle sales. The plan is expected to cost US$1.35 billion (€1.2 billion), with the government and automakers sharing the cost. Car buyers will receive a US$4,530 (€4,000) discount on electric vehicles and a US$3,398 ($3,000) discount on hybrids. The proposal also includes the installation of more charging stations
  • Ukraine invests in Kistler WiM
    June 24, 2021
    Eastern European nation will use Kistler WiM stations to tackle overloaded trucks
  • Norwegian companies to develop fully autonomous ship
    July 25, 2017
    Norwegian agriculture firm, Yara International and guidance systems builder, Kongsberg Gruppen are to develop the Yara Birkeland, an autonomous and fully-electric container ship. They claim the new vessel will reduce NOx and CO2 emissions and improve road safety by removing up to 40,000 truck journeys in populated urban areas. Yara Birkeland will initially operate as a manned vessel, moving to remote operation in 2019 and expected to be capable of performing fully autonomous operations from 2020. Kongsberg
  • FHWA proposes new performance measures to reduce highway congestion
    April 19, 2016
    The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today released a proposed regulation outlining new performance measures to assess travel reliability, congestion, and emissions at a national level. It calls for an increased level of transparency and accountability in establishing and achieving targets for performance impacting commuters and truck drivers. The measures address the concerns outlined in the USDOT report Beyond Traffic, which examines the trends and choices facing