On Monday Oct. 19, politicians from the new city council in the city of Oslo announced that cars will be banned from the city center by 2019. The plan is to reduce carbon emissions and cut the amount of car traffic, which is the number one cause for air pollution in Norway, in the city over the next four years. In addition, the plan would divest in Oslo’s $9 million pension plan fund from fossil fuel companies. The initiative is being led by the Green Party, and is being highly supported on the political front.
The plan involves restricting certain traffic lanes to electric vehicles, which are growing increasingly more popular thanks to government support, restricting other lanes to public transit, encouraging citizens to buy electric bikes, and building underground subway lines throughout the city centre. The busiest bus routes will be replaced with cable cars, gas-powered cars will be restricted in specific areas, new parking fees and higher parking rates will be put into place, parking spots that obstruct bike lanes will be removed. Immense investments into public transit will take place, and approximately 60 km of bicycle lanes will be built. Special arrangements will be made for shipping vehicles as well as vehicles for people with disabilities.
There has been some opposition concerning the car ban coming from shop and business owners worried about losing business. The city council seems certain that the ban will benefit everyone and could possibly even increase downtown visitors. Only 350,000 of the 600,000 Oslo residents own cars, and the majority of car owners are not even living in the car-ban area. Trial runs will also be put into place in order to solve any potential problems of the ban ahead of time.
Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, says that Oslo’s car ban is the largest of its kind. Other European cities are working towards car bans, though not nearly at the same speed, including than Madrid’s city centre, which is even larger than Oslo’s. It is a very expensive process and the city of Oslo has been preparing for a long time. If it is successful, they may be the ones to lead and inspire the rest of the world toward successful and beneficial transportation alternatives.
According to White, practically half of the American population does not live in areas that meet federal air quality standards. Cars that fail to meet clean air standards cause a large amount of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide pollution issues. A car ban can solve emmissions problems. He is certain that large car-free zones will one day come to North America, but it will still be a while; we first world dwellers are still much attached to our private motor vehicles.