– I was shocked when I had to pay the bill for me and two children. I think it is extremely exclusionary, said Pernille Johansen when news met her on the express boat on the way to Steigen from Bodø. She believes this is something that must be prioritized in elongated countries such as Norway: – If they are going to have people in the rural areas, they must reduce the prices. The state manages to find money for a lot of other things, so I don’t understand why it shouldn’t be possible to create money for that too, she adds. The government has made ferries free and air tickets on the short-haul network cheaper. Now the mayor of Steigen municipality, Aase Refsnes, believes that it is time for the government to also reduce the prices for fast boats. – This is our tram. For a family of four with two school children, it costs NOK 2,880 to take a round-trip day trip from Bogen in Steigen to their nearest town, Bodø. The residents of Steigen have to take this journey for everyday services such as visiting the pharmacy. – This is our tram. Paying NOK 3,000 to take the tram is too expensive, says the mayor. Mayor of Steigen, Aase Refsnes (SV) believes it is a myth that it is cheaper to live in the district. Photo: Elena Junie Paulsen / news When the news about cheaper flights came out, Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum said that it was important for the government to make it easier and cheaper to travel along the coast. Refsnes believes that fast boat prices must also come down before Vedum can say they are satisfied. – It is far too expensive, especially at a time when many feel the rising prices hard on their wallets. Even before the price reduction on flights, it was often much cheaper to fly than to take a fast boat from Svolvær to Bodø, she says to news. The alternative to the speed boat is a drive of approximately three and a half hours on what the mayor calls a very bad national road. The fastest and easiest way to get to Bodø is therefore by boat. – Now the government must tackle this “hole” in the policy and ensure halved prices also for speedboats Island municipality: – Many refuse to take the speedboat In a completely different part of the country, another mayor sits and shares the view of the Steigen mayor. In the island municipality of Smøla in Møre og Romsdal, many are completely dependent on the fast boat service. – The prices of speedboats have risen a lot in recent years and as it is today, the price is too high. This makes many people reluctant to take the fast boat, says mayor Svein Roksvåg (Sp). If you are going to take the same starting point as in Steigen, it costs NOK 3,720 for a family of four who take a round-trip speedboat from Smøla (Edøya) to Trondheim. He says that the government must give more money to the county councils to finance a larger part of the pie. Mayor Svein Roksvåg in Smøla municipality says that as an island municipality they are completely dependent on the fast boat service. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news – That is why it is so expensive today and, because there is underfunding of the fast boat service. – Why is this important to you with the fast boat as one of its lifeblood? – It is extremely important. Smøla is an island municipality and we do not have a secondary school. All our young people are going to upper secondary school. Most in Kristiansund. Then the speedboat is the means of transport. In addition, we have elderly people who are going to hospital, so the fast boat is the way to travel. Already covers 75 per cent – It’s too expensive, says Deputy Chairman of the County Council, Svein Eggesvik. According to the county council, the county council already covers 75 percent of the tickets. This means that the tickets for the family of four actually cost close to NOK 12,000. County councilor Svein Eggesvik says it is important that the state contributes as they have done with ferries and planes. Photo: Nordland county municipality If the price is to be halved, they need an additional NOK 29 million. It’s money they don’t have, according to Eggesvik. This is despite the fact that the county council has just released the news that they are going with 790 million plus for 2022. – The county council receives money from the state and we are dependent on them contributing more if we are to reduce the price. He adds that the operating costs of fast boats, ferries and buses have increased considerably recently. In addition, Nordland has a backlog of road work. If the state chooses to reduce ticket prices, Eggesvik believes it will also lead to more people using the offer. – The county municipalities are free to cut prices – There are many needs throughout Norway, and we have to make tough priorities, says State Secretary Cecilie Knibe Kroglund. State Secretary Cecilie Knibe Kroglund believes it is up to the county municipalities even if they should prioritize the fast boats. Photo: Kai Stokkeland The Hurdal platform assumed that the government should invest in free ferries for islands and other communities without a road connection to the mainland. Whether speedboat prices are to be reduced – it is up to the county municipalities themselves, Kroglund believes. – The state allocates funds for ferries and boat routes in the county municipalities, and the county municipalities are free to cut the prices on the boat routes. It is the county councils that are responsible for the speed boat offer, and that means, among other things, deciding what the offer should look like, she says.
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A family of four must pay NOK 3,000 for speedboat tickets – mayor demands halving – news Nordland
