Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society

0 comments at 3:23 pm posted by zoro

On a recent visit to Norway I was elated to see how bikeable and walkable the two cities I visited (Bergen and Oslo) are. I only visited the city core in both cities, so I can’t speak for the suburbs, but overall both cities are very easy to get around on foot and the cycling traffic was steady at all times of the day. If I’d been there for a bit longer I would have gladly tracked down a bike to take advantage of the great cycling conditions!

On a recent visit to Norway I was elated to see how bikeable and walkable the two cities I visited (Bergen and Oslo) are. I only visited the city core in both cities, so I can’t speak for the suburbs, but overall both cities are very easy to get around on foot and the cycling traffic was steady at all times of the day. If I’d been there for a bit longer I would have gladly tracked down a bike to take advantage of the great cycling conditions! Cars seem to have less of a choke hold on the city streets, so it is easier for bikes and buses and trams and pedestrians to integrate into the transportation fabric. There are also plenty of bike lock-up facilities throughout the downtown core in Oslo and Bergen, so it is convenient to to ride your bike from one place to the next (no need to worry about trying to track down a secure place to leave your bike).  It was exciting to see massive bike racks full of bikes at many points in Oslo.  There is also a bike-share program in Oslo that is apparently very successful, which helps to increase the ability of people to access bikes. Both Bergen and Oslo are much more dense than Edmonton, so it is really pleasant to ride (or walk) around as you can take in the amazing architecture and landscape without worrying too much about how long it will take you to get to your destination. I was pleased to see how many people were riding utilitarian/commuting bikes—replete with baskets, paniers, and easy-going frames that seem to be designed to commute throughout the city. There were also a plethora of well-dressed people zipping around all the time, adding a touch of class to their rides.

One thing that really struck me was something I witnessed as I wandered around the harbour in Oslo on Sunday: there were hundreds upon hundreds of people of all ages walking around the large car-free walkways around the harbour (in addition to other walkways around the city).Some people were enjoying coffee and lunch at open patios at restaurants, others were taking in free museums and galleries. It was an incredible thing to see so many families and friends out enjoying time together. The crucial thing was that none of the shops were open,  so all of the activity in the city was focused on something other than consuming goods, which seemed to create a more relaxed, collective feeling as I walked around drinking it all in. It is ironic that the only time I have seen as many Edmontonians concentrated in one place walking around is in the malls before the holidays…

Just imagine how incredible it would be for us to have readily accessible,  car-free walkways integrated into the city core to encourage us to enjoy the beauty of the city on a sunny weekend afternoon. It really changes how you experience the city!