– We have really worked for this and we have been keen to be able to give something back that we can see the immediate effect of for the residents, in a demanding economic time, says Stavanger Mayor Kari Nessa Nordtun to news after the decision. From 3 July, Stavanger residents can travel for free with public transport throughout Nord-Jæren. A total of NOK 200 million is agreed to give the siddis the opportunity to hop on a bus, train and boat at no cost. – I am sure it will be a success, says Nessa Nordtun. It has not yet been decided how long the offer will be valid. But the mayor is clear that she wants to carry out as planned, which is until 2024. The offer only applies to people who live in Stavanger municipality. If you live elsewhere in Rogaland, you will have to pay for your ticket in the usual way. 42 out of 67 voted in favor in the municipal council. The proposal was adopted after a debate of around four hours. 42 out of 67 voted for free bus during the municipal council meeting. Photo: Øystein Ellingsen / news Working with a ticket solution Although it will be free to travel by bus, train and boat, passengers still need a ticket. The ticket solution for the vast majority of people is being tested in the municipality now, and is not ready yet. Communications adviser in Stavanger municipality, Ståle Madland Schjelderup, says that they are working hard day and night to get the best possible ticket system. – First you must register on a collective register on the municipality’s website, with BankID. This is done only once. Then you can start taking out the tickets you need. Single ticket, monthly ticket or whatever you need. After that, it says “pling” on your mobile, and then you have received your ticket on the Kolumbus app. He encourages you to only choose a ticket as needed, so that the scheme can be kept going for as long as possible. – If you travel a lot or commute, you take a period ticket. But if you only travel a couple of times a month, it’s fine if you take a single ticket each time. For people without the smartphone, there will be another solution. But it’s not ready yet. – Kolumbus will help us with that too. They are really good at finding arrangements, says Schjelderup. When the ticket solution is ready, it will be posted on Stavanger municipality’s website. – Scandalous During the municipal council meeting, there was no discussion of the proposal. FrP’s mayoral candidate, Leif Arne Moi Nilsen, believes the proposal for a free bus is a scandal. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – This free bus case is the worst thing I have experienced in my 32 years as a politician. The proceedings have been unjustified, and I would call it a scandal, says FrP’s mayoral candidate, Leif Arne Moi Nilsen, from the podium. He believes, however, that money should be spent on expanding the bus service, so that there are more frequent departures in more places. – It is scandalous that the majority parties are running over everyone to win the election with this desperate proposal, he says. After the proposal was adopted, he told news that it was all a desperate attempt to win over voters based on what he believed to be bad opinion polls. And he gets support from the Conservative Party’s mayoral candidate in Stavanger, Sissel Knutsen Hegdal. The Conservative Party’s mayoral candidate in Stavanger, Sissel Knutsen Hegdal, believes the proposal is rushed work. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – This is hasty work from the majority parties. In my 20 years in politics, I cannot remember a case that has been so poorly prepared. Working hard The administration in the municipality has worked hard with a proposal for how a free bus can be introduced. The municipal director originally believed that there was only money for five months of free offers. In a new note, however, it was revealed that the money can last longer. With the new calculations in the note, which group leader for the Labor Party, Dag Mossige, calls more realistic, it is estimated that the measure could last between eight and 12 months. Accused of “electoral fraud” The parties Arbeiderpartiet, Folkets Parti, MDG, Rødt, Senterpartiet and SV all agree that Stavanger, as the first large Norwegian city, must fully finance public transport on behalf of its own residents. When the news was released four weeks ago, it made headlines across the country. The proposal was called “election fraud” by the opposition, and several questioned the use of money. The mayor of Stavanger, Kari Nessa Nordtun, has been accused of “electoral fraud”, after the proposal for a free bus was put forward at the end of May. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – We want to make it easier and free for people to get to work. In addition, it is a good climate measure to get more people to use public transport and to cycle, said group leader for the Labor Party, Dag Mossige, to news when the proposal was put forward. On the other hand, the Høyre’s mayoral candidate in Stavanger, Sissel Knutsen Hegdal, thought this was an obvious election campaign stunt. Proposed to be used as a campaign The municipal director sent a memo to the municipal council last week. There he and the administration recommended introducing the offer of free public transport as a campaign, effective from the first working day in July, which is 3 July. The proposed campaign will only apply until 2023, which is therefore significantly shorter than the politicians want. Mayor Kari Nessa Nordtun and municipal director Per Kristian Vareide in Stavanger. Photo: Tom Edvindsen / news – Our aim is to offer this longer than what is in the proposal, replied Stavanger mayor Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap). Nordtun adds that the county council should not lose out on the project, but that it is also not a goal that they should earn large sums from the offer.
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– I am sure that this will be a success – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
