Veierland in Vestfold and Telemark is a car-free island with 100 permanent residents. The ferry is the lifeline that connects the island to life on the mainland. But the residents have to settle for continuing to pay for the ferry trip out of their own pockets. Association leader Anne Veierland on the ferry M/F Jutøya on the way to the car-free island of Veierland in Færder municipality. Photo: Veronica Westhrin / news The government wants to reduce the living costs of all ferry travelers throughout Norway. Ferry fares are halved. Islands and communities without a road to the mainland get a free ferry. The intention of the government’s proposal for more free ferries is to make it easier for people to live in rural areas. But, it’s not quite that simple. Along the entire coast of Norway, there are car-free islands that are not included in the scheme. Don’t understand why they don’t get ferry support The permanent residents of the island of Veierland in the Tønsbergfjord use bicycles and ferries as means of transportation. The wheelbarrows lined up by the quay have become the island’s trademark. They are used to transport things that the residents must have moved. Anne Veierland is head of the charity on the island. The islanders want to be as green and environmentally friendly as possible, she says. – We don’t want cars here. That will spoil the charm. Anne Veierland on her way to the ferry terminal. The wheelbarrows on Veierland have become one of the island’s trademarks. They are used to transport things on the car-free island. Photo: Veronica Westhrin / news The head of the charity association finds it difficult to understand the logic in that only car ferries come under the scheme. – It is highly remarkable that it goes on cars that are being transported. It is us citizens who pay our ticket. We get the extra cost of living on an island, she says. Veierland believes that support for a free ferry could make it more attractive to live on the island. The island community also does not want to introduce car traffic in order to have the opportunity to come under the support scheme. – It is very strange that we should be punished for being a car-free island. It would have been completely appropriate if we could get a free ferry, she says. All along the coast there are commuters who cannot cover their transport at sea. So only ferries that transport cars are free. All other passenger traffic costs money. This fast ferry connecting Bodø-Svolvær will not be free. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news Island communities that use fast boats don’t get a penny from the state budget either. – Completely backwards Anine Stausland cycles around the car-free island between Færder and Sandefjord. She is deputy municipal council representative for the Green Party in Færder municipality and lives in Veierland. – It’s really backwards. The point of the free ferry is that it should make it easier for people to live in special places that need a ferry connection. Anine Stausland cycles around the car-free island of Veierland. She is deputy municipal council representative for the Green Party in Færder municipality. Photo: Veronica Westhrin / news The ferry is the lifeblood of Veierland, she believes. – Our ferry transports school children, food and emergency services and everything we need here, says Stausland. The good life throughout Norway With the proposal for the national budget that was presented on Thursday last week, the government believes that it has fulfilled the promises from the Hurdal platform. – The government is working to ensure that people can live, work and live good lives throughout Norway, writes Local Government and District Minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik in a press release about the state budget. news has not been able to get a comment from the Ministry of Transport on this matter.
ttn-69
Veierland does not get a free ferry because the island is car-free – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
