in Oslo, cars are no longer welcome

It is a metamorphosis that can be observed throughout the city center of Oslo, 635,000 inhabitants. In the streets of the Norwegian capital, there are hundreds of pedestrians, bicycles, electric scooters or trams. But almost no cars are on the road. Erasing cars from the city: a daring political bet, launched six years ago by the new red-green coalition at the mayor of Oslo. 20% of the city’s territory has become pedestrian. Officially cars have not been banned, but the most dissuasive restrictions have accumulated in the city center. Reduced speed, prohibited directions and no parking spaces, except for the disabled.

The initiative does not appeal to everyone: “There are people who need their car and can’t do otherwise”. Some measures also hit motorists in the wallet. In recent months, Oslo has not hesitated to increase the rates of its urban toll, with around sixty gantries scattered around the city. More than 90% of the sums collected are reinvested in alternatives to the car. “By driving cars out of the city, Oslo hopes to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions”says Yohann Relat, special correspondent in Oslo for France Télévisions.