The tireless councilor Arild Hermstad does not give in to the war against the car.
By Cecilie Lyngby, Folkeaksjonen City Council Representative No To More Tolls (FNB)
This is a comment. It is the attitude of the writer that is expressed.
Now it is in Greenland and Tøyen, where people use cars to get to the mosque, among other things, where the parking spaces will disappear.
This is the case: the City Council is taking new steps: this is how car traffic will be further restricted in Oslo
To Nettavisen on August 31, the councilor of the urban development agency Arild Hermstad states:
“Now we will repeat the success at the center here in Tøyen and Greenland.”
The eyes that see
Success depends on the eyes that see. For people who “depend” on a car to get around, car-free city life is not a success. There are more and more older people in our city who are not suitable for bicycles or public transport.
Done
Kulturinfrastruktur: 8 event outlets of all sizes have been established in Youngstorget. The plugs should fit everything from food trucks to concerts and festivals.
Lighting measurements: Work to increase lighting will continue in 2020 and will follow the lighting plan adopted for downtown Oslo. This year: Count Wedels plass and Rådhusplassen. Scheduled for completion in 2020.
Action plan for drinking fountains and public toilets: Staying in the city, without having to go to a cafeteria or restaurant, is possible thanks to access to public toilets and drinking water. It is expected to be completed in December 2020.
Banks and vegetation: This year the focus is on Greenland and Tøyen. Trees will be planted and growth enhancement measures implemented in Greenland and Greenland Camp, Finnmarkgata, Tøyenbekken, Motzfeldt Gate and Tøyen Cultural Park. This is under construction and will be completed during the summer. A process has also been started to clarify where to further organize, or improve existing ones, seating and greenery. For example, on sidewalks, corners, and sidewalk squares. An important approach is to establish many seats adapted to the elderly.
Preliminary project for the rehabilitation of streets of several streets
Greenland Street Improvement Planning: Until new regulations are put in place for the area (depending on Oslo S, bus terminal, etc.), there will be temporary measures on the streets and at Grønland Torg to improve conditions for pedestrians and urban life in the area. UU measures on street surface and elimination of parking (excluding HC parking and loading / unloading pockets) and curb extensions, for example in the form of parklets. As well as lighting measures on the covered sidewalk on the south side of the street and the establishment / improvement of benches and vegetation. The measures are implemented in close dialogue with the Old Oslo district and street actors. The report is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.
Elimination and facilitation of parking for commercial traffic: Why. Construction work, there is some removal of parking spaces in the center. This will be completed during 2020.
The sun and the earth: The renovation of the Solen og Jorden water fountain is part of the Christian Frederiks Plass upgrade. Its completion is scheduled for spring 2021.
Aid for cultural purposes: As of 07/07/20, support has been provided to a total of 15 projects within the Urban Life without Cars area. Among other things, support has been given for the traveling theater in Akershus fortress and the neighborhood concerts. Grants are awarded on an ongoing basis.
Living streets: Work is underway to launch “live streets” pilots, but the situation in the crown has meant that until now it has been considered that “live streets” should not be put into practice until the summer of 2021, since then we return to The normality.
Analysis and development of Tøyen and Greenland strategies: The work involves making an addition to the Action Program for Greater Urban Life (i.e. a long-term plan for Greater Urban Life 2017-2027 that has analyzed 13 areas in central Oslo) that will include Greenland and Tøyen. Planned start-up is September 2020 and delivery completed in June 2021.
Street art installations: This spring 5 new sculptures were unveiled in the Øvre slottsgate sculpture area.
The barometer of life in the city: It will be a collaboration with the business community in the collection, exchange and evaluation of public-private data sets to measure urban life and the use of the city center. Greenland and Tøyen will be included. A barometer of urban life will not be created for 2020 due to the situation in the crown. The urban life barometer for 2021 is supposed to be completed in early 2022.
Plan the game and activity for the center, Tøyen and Greenland: Preparation of needs and action plan for the establishment of small and large play and activity measures that can be implemented in the city center, Greenland and Tøyen during the period. The plan is expected to be completed by December 2020.
Feasibility study for the reduction of traffic and the operation of urban logistics: Prepare a feasibility study to find solutions that reduce vehicle traffic and at the same time facilitate priority traffic groups. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in January 2021.
Activity in Vaterlandsparken: “Summer at Vaterland” – Youth with summer jobs are park hosts and on-site producers. Also bicycle loans and repairs.
Grants for social, cultural and ecological activities: It is a measure with great potential when it comes to urban life. The measure includes grants for small measures of urban life that are not supported through regular arts and culture support programs. The scheme is expected to start in September. (Based on: https://www.kk.dk/artikel/sharing-copenhagen)
Know your city: Kvadraturen’s cultural heritage maps are further developed on a new digital dissemination platform. It is expected to be completed during 2020.
Monitoring of temporary measures 2017-2019: Preparation of a plan for further monitoring of pilots and other temporary measures of car-free city life: assessment, plan for continuation, further development or completion of measures.
Traffic and parking information system: Continuation of BYM’s work with HC’s smart parking and Ring 1 traffic management in collaboration with the Bilfritt byliv Program and the collaborative project Smarter transport in the Oslo region (STOR). The measure aims to facilitate data exchange with a focus on traffic and parking in central Oslo (real time). The planned completion is February 2021.
The same applies to the business community, which must contribute assets. This cannot be done by bicycle or public transport. Many shops have already disappeared as a result of car-free urban life, including the traditional furniture stores in Møllergata.
Also read: Oslo’s most prestigious project costs 100 million a year: a new report does not measure the effect
Many mosques are affected
It is not just companies that are affected. Other offers also become more difficult to access when parking opportunities disappear.
In the area to which the urban life without cars will now expand, there are many mosques. Mosques are used by people from all over the city. Not everyone is equally young and active.
Did the Hermstad councilor ask you if it’s okay for parking opportunities to disappear? I doubt.
Cecilie Lyngby. Photo: Lise Åserud (NTB scanpix)
Also read: Here the municipality of Oslo knocks down the banners: – Fear
Religion is important to many people. This applies to both those who go to the mosque and those who go to church. If the city is in practice closed to many so that they are not allowed to participate, many will find it very intrusive.
The eternal uproar in the area
As usual, when the City Council advocates car free, it is the need for space that stands out.
The area must be clear of the car. But why then should the area be filled with so many useless things?
In the rest of the city center, parking lots have been replaced by rusty iron boxes full of weeds, street furniture that hardly anyone uses, and other facilities of varying quality.
Also read: Extreme chaos at the gate of Oslo: here the bus driver surrenders
How this works in a few summer months is one thing. The rest of the year is totally useless. In winter, it is snowy and prevents accessibility and makes extraction difficult.
No evaluations of consequences
The City Council has never presented any assessment on the need for the land and its usefulness.
Impact evaluations, as usual, are completely absent. Perhaps the City Development Agency should think a little before implementing dramatic new measures.
As a permanent MP for the MDG city council, Arild Hermstad has made a number of mistakes in the past.
The bicycle lanes in Bygdøy Allé, as is well known, have caused major problems for public transport. The attempt to shut down Kongsveien ended in an embarrassing withdrawal when she did not even inform her colleagues at the city council before the plot was exposed in the media.
How well has Arild Hermstad anchored the plans this time around?
Also read: Measurement: Oslo people are positive about a car-free city center
A city open to all
It will be exciting to see. If an entire district is now going to be closed to car traffic so that many people have trouble getting to the mosque or using other offerings, it is not certain that it will go unnoticed.
Also read: This is how they will plant 100,000 trees in Oslo, but the city council does not know how much it will cost
In any case, we at FNB will work hard to ensure that these dramatic plans are not implemented. For us, it is important that the city is open to everyone.
This means that it will still be possible to drive to Tøyen and Greenland for anyone who wants to.
