Tag Archive: Norway

1. Norway wins 2025 ETSC PIN Award for outstanding road safety progress

   30/06/2025 14:32 Comments Off on Norway wins 2025 ETSC PIN Award for outstanding road safety progress

   Source: ETSC Press Release

   ETSC annual report shows EU still falling short of 2030 road safety goals

   The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has awarded its prestigious 2025 Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Award to Norway, recognising the country’s sustained commitment to road safety and long-term success in reducing road deaths.

   The announcement comes alongside the publication of the 19th PIN Annual Report, which reveals mixed progress across Europe and a clear warning: the EU is significantly off track to meet its target of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

   Norway: a model of vision and action

   Norway remains Europe’s safest country for road users, with just 16 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2024, the lowest rate among the 32 countries monitored by the ETSC PIN programme.

   This remarkable performance reflects Norway’s long-standing adoption of a Safe System approach to road safety and continuous innovation in national and local road safety policy.

   The award recognises a wide range of strategic initiatives:

   • The National Plan of Action for Road Safety 2022–2025 – “Towards Vision Zero”, featuring 179 concrete measures across 15 priority areas, has a target of fewer than 50 annual road deaths by 2030 and aims for zero deaths by 2050.
   • A newly launched BEST research programme is strengthening evidence-based policymaking and evaluating both existing and emerging road safety interventions.
   • Legislative reforms, such as the 2020 amendment to the Road Traffic Law, now require in-depth investigations of all fatal crashes and mandatory autopsies to support crash analysis.
   • Youth-focused safety reforms, including stricter driver training, a double penalty points system for new drivers, and targeted communications campaigns, have reduced deaths among young road users.
   • Local innovation includes the Heart Zones programme to ensure car-free areas around schools, and the Traffic Safe Municipalities certification scheme, encouraging community-level road safety leadership.

   “Norway continues to show what’s possible when a country commits to road safety at every level – from government strategy to local planning,” said Antonio Avenoso, ETSC Executive Director. “Their results are no accident; they’re the product of clear targets, rigorous implementation, and national ambition.”

   EU progress: still too slow

   While Norway sets a leading example, the broader European picture is concerning.

   According to the 19th ETSC PIN Annual Report, road deaths in the EU27 decreased by just 2% in 2024 compared to 2023.

   Since the baseline year of 2019, deaths have fallen by only 12%, far short of the 27% reduction needed by now to stay on course for a 50% cut by 2030.

   Some countries have made significant strides:

   • Lithuania leads with a 35% drop in road deaths since 2019 and is the only country to halve road deaths over the last decade.
   • Belgium, Poland, and Slovenia also report reductions above 25% since 2019.

   However, eight countries saw an increase in deaths in 2024, including Switzerland and Estonia. In total, 20,017 people died on EU roads in 2024, and serious injury reductions continue to lag behind death reductions.

   The cost of inaction

   The report calculates that around 23,800 lives have been saved since 2014 due to road safety improvements. The estimated societal benefit of these saved lives amounts to €60 billion. Yet, had the EU achieved the needed 6.7% annual reduction rate, an additional 49,600 lives could have been saved corresponding to a benefit to society worth €124 billion.

   Time for renewed commitment to the Safe System approach

   To get back on track, the ETSC is urging both EU institutions and national governments to take stronger action and implement the Safe System approach .

   “Norway proves that road deaths are not inevitable – they are preventable. But every country in Europe must now follow their example,” said Avenoso. “We know what works. The real challenge is political will. Without bold national and EU-level action, thousands more lives will be lost unnecessarily.”

   Notes to editors:

   Download the 2025 PIN Annual Report at:
   www.etsc.eu/pin19

   Follow ETSC on Bluesky @etsc_eu and LinkedIn. #PIN2025

   

   

   The European Transport Safety Council is the independent voice for road safety in Europe.

   ETSC’s Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) programme receives financial support from the German Road Safety Council (DVR), Toyota Motor Europe, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, CITA – the International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee and Fundación MAPFRE.

   For further information:

   Dudley Curtis, Communications Manager, dc@etsc.eu
   www.etsc.eu

2. E-scooter fleet doubles and permits extended in Oslo

   25/11/2024 13:50 Comments Off on E-scooter fleet doubles and permits extended in Oslo

   Source: ZAG Daily

   Oslo plans to increase its shared e-scooter fleet from 8,000 to 16,000 vehicles starting April 1, 2025, with an option to raise the total to 18,000 if needed.

   Oslo City Council has also approved extending operator permits from one to two years, aiming to improve micromobility access in the city’s outskirts, where car ownership is higher, and public transport less accessible.

   These changes are intended to position shared e-scooters as a supplement to public transport, enhancing transit connectivity and reducing car use. The city’s public transport authority, Ruter, played a consultative role in the decision. Øyvind Kragh Kjos, Ruter’s Shared Mobility Product Specialist, highlighted the focus on expanding access in low-density areas and improving links to bus stops.

   The updated regulations adjust fleet distribution across the city, based on its ring road system:

   • Within Ring 2: 4,400 e-scooters (no change).
   • Between Ring 2 and Ring 3: 3,200 e-scooters (an increase of 800).
   • Outside Ring 3: 8,400 e-scooters.

   Fabian Paasche Engesæth, Associate at Oslo-based mobility consulting firm Movability, commented that the move contrasts with more restrictive approaches in cities like Paris and Madrid, emphasising Oslo’s focus on leveraging e-scooters to enhance transit availability. “The cap increase improves the commercial viability for operators while benefiting citizens in underserved areas,” he said.

   Impact on Operators

   Voi, Ryde, and Bolt, the three operators awarded contracts in Oslo, welcomed the new regulations. Christina Moe Gjerde, Voi’s Vice President for Northern Europe, described the changes as a significant opportunity to meet growing demand for sustainable transport. She noted that the longer contract period provides stability for long-term investments, while increased fleet capacity allows better service coverage and stronger integration with public transport.

   Ryde CEO Tobias Balchen praised Oslo’s approach to addressing specific urban transport challenges rather than applying strict caps citywide. He emphasised that the regulations reflect a shift toward recognising micromobility as an integral part of urban transport systems.

   Looking Ahead

   Oslo previously reduced its e-scooter fleet from nearly 20,000 to comply with tighter regulations, prompting some operators to exit the market. The new framework, however, is seen as a “game-changer” by Movability Advisor Morten Askeland, who noted that it enhances Oslo’s attractiveness as a key market for operators. The upcoming tender process is expected to be highly competitive as operators prepare to capitalize on the city’s expanded commercial potential.

3. Oslo Metropolitan University is seeking PhD candidates for Cargo Bike Urbanism

   11/12/2023 14:19 Comments Off on Oslo Metropolitan University is seeking PhD candidates for Cargo Bike Urbanism

   Source: OsloMet

   Oslo Metropolitan University’s Department of Built Environment is recruiting for their PhD fellowship for Cargo Bike Urbanism.

   This exciting opportunity is a full-time, salaried position working with an international team committed to researching the power of cargo bikes in fostering sustainable mobility solutions. OsloMet University, Norway’s third-largest university, seeks a candidate for a PhD Fellowship in Cargo Bike Urbanism within the “Car-goNE-City” project. The initiative, funded by JPI Urban Europe’s Driving Urban Transitions program, aims to explore shared cargo bike mobility’s potential in transforming urban landscapes toward sustainable 15-minute cities. Affiliated with the TransFrUrban research group, the candidate will contribute to the Car-goNE-City project’s goals, including studying shared mobility in 15-minute cities, assessing cargo bikes’ role in reducing car use, and engaging residents in participatory design across European cities.

   The three-year fellowship involves collaborating with project partners, guided by a PhD supervisor at OsloMet, with the expected completion and defense of a doctoral thesis leading to a PhD degree. The position starts in Fall 2024., and offers the chance to shape the future of sustainable transportation.

   Click here to learn more about the position.

4. Exotek all-terrain wheelchair features on Norwegian TV2 news

   04/12/2023 14:09 Comments Off on Exotek all-terrain wheelchair features on Norwegian TV2 news

   TikTok user Liv Tone Lind took the electric, all terrain quadbike out into the woods for a test ride with her service dog

   Source: LinkedIn, TV2

   Norwegian quadbike brand and LEVA-EU member, Exotek, made an appearance on national TV news as their Exoquad electric wheelchair was put through its paces by TikTok user Liv Tone Lind. The 50 year old posts details of her everyday life with limited mobility, and her service dog Hippi, on her channel MyHippiDog.

   Lind’s test ride featured not only on the TV news but also in an online article. There she told TV2 how she had not been out to enjoy a nature trail in over 10 years. As she navigated the rough and wooded terrain, with Hippi in tow, she shared:

   “The right to get out into the woods and fields – that’s the only thing I miss!…What a feeling, it’s absolutely insane!”, adding “This is absolutely fantastic!…I just have to have that chair, because that freedom means so much!”

   Eelco Van WeerdhuizenEelco Van Weerdhuizen, CEO/Co-owner at Exotek, shared the news clip on LinkedIn, saying

   “Fantastic to see an enormous positivity despite an extremely difficult situation. Liv Tone is a true example for many!”

   The makers write that Exoquad was made to be a tool for reclaiming outdoor inclusion and personal freedom. Their products are first and foremost intended for people with some degree of reduced gait function, but can be used by anyone, including people without mobility impairments.

   Exotek is Norwegian company founded in 2020 by Mattias Storvestre and Sigurd Groven. The intention was to develop an electric all-terrain vehicle for the mobility impaired. The brand is on a mission to bring nature and people back together.

   Watch the news piece in full over on Exotek’s LinkedIn page.

   

5. Podbike begins construction of final FRIKAR e-bike

   31/10/2022 13:04 Comments Off on Podbike begins construction of final FRIKAR e-bike

   The updated version of LEVA-EU member Podbike’s FRIKAR vehicle will incorporate all design and engineering changes from the last 12 months.

   

   Construction is underway at Podbike HQ in Stavanger, Norway, with the bike being slowly and deliberately built by hand. This precision allows the team to develop its compilation documentation during assembly; following this, the final model will be tested for a month. After a successful testing period, the pre-ordered models will be hand-assembled and the scalability of manufacturing will be analysed.

   When Podbike set out in 2016, it was predicted that their bikes would be commercially available some time ago. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, supply chain problems, funding shortfalls, and design challenges have continually set back the release date. For this reason, the team is not yet able to commit to a final release date. Despite this, the previously confirmed roll-out plan will be followed: FRIKAR will be delivered to pre-order customers in Norway first and then to customers in Germany in 2023. The model will launch in other European countries, one at a time.