The case in summary: Tonje Humberset Lilleås, who has limited mobility, uses an all-terrain wheelchair which gives her the opportunity to move in nature. Use of the off-road wheelchair in forests and fields is currently illegal, which means that Tonje is breaking the law when she uses it outside the designated paths. A change in the law has been proposed that would allow the use of aids such as the off-road wheelchair in nature, if they do not have a greater potential for damage than traffic on foot. Although the Nature Conservation Prohibition believes it is important that as many people as possible get to experience nature, the organization is concerned that a new motoring act does not allow vehicles that damage nature. Tonje hopes that the new proposal will be adopted, so that she and others with reduced mobility can travel in nature legally. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. An unpleasant encounter with a rock during a bike ride restricted the freedom of movement of Tonje Humberset Lilleås. That was ten years ago. With failing health in recent years, the crutches have been supplemented with a wheelchair. Ski tours, bike tours, summit tours and forest tours. Tonje stayed at home while his wife and children were out. – We have tried to adapt so that I could take part in short trips, where we barely go into the forest for bonfires. But there have been many days where mum has sat at home, hasn’t she, Sigve, says Tonje to the five-year-old running past. – We have two quite active boys. It’s nothing special to stay at home all day. Just getting out makes life so much better. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news Breaking the law to be with her family On the eve of last year, she was introduced to a new type of wheelchair. One who could even drive over large logs if she wanted to. At first glance, the vehicle may look like a small off-road vehicle, but it is primarily developed for and intended for people with mobility challenges. – There was no way for everything I achieved. So yes, there was an enormous feeling of freedom, and that feeling of freedom was all I could think about as we drove away. That we just have to have one like that. The problem is that it is currently illegal to use in forests and fields. After Tonje got the off-road wheelchair, the family has gone on trips together several times every single week. – At first I thought that this would give me freedom, mobility and independence back. But today I say that there is a quality of life on four wheels, says Tonje Lilleås. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news Today’s walk in Gåsbuskogen goes along a forest path adapted for wheelchairs. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news But if the boys want to take the shortcuts across the winding path, or into the blueberry thickets to pick a berry or two, mum Tonje can now also follow. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news Tonje believes the off-road wheelchair does no more damage to nature than with a normal mountain bike. – In some cases, I would say perhaps even less, because the weight is distributed on four wheels instead of just two narrow ones, she claims. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news – Before we got the ExoQuad, Tonje was almost always at home while I was out with the boys. So it’s very worth it, says Sunniva Lilleås about the acquisition. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news – This is the new normal for us now. I hope it will be like this in the winter as well, that people will understand that it is important that Tonje gets to participate even if she then has to drive on the ski slopes, says Sunniva Lilleås about the family now going on trips several times a week. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news There could be a change in the law There is only a small sliver of joy: Because it is illegal to use in forests and fields, Tonje is in reality breaking the law every time she follows the children outside the prepared paths. Tonje is fully aware of that. And precisely this law is about to be changed. – You can say that this is expensive, that not everyone should get this. But I’m not sure if you can put a price in kroner and øre on the quality of life this provides, says Tonje. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news At the end of May, a committee put forward proposals for changes to the Motor Traffic Act. Among other things, the committee wants the law not to apply to aids designed to compensate for reduced mobility, if traveling with the aid does not have a significantly greater potential for injury than traveling on foot. This bill is now out for consultation. In an e-mail, the Ministry of Climate and the Environment writes to news that they must listen to the input, and use it as an important basis for further work. Motorized transport in the countryside and aids for the disabled In the current legislation, motorized transport in the countryside is basically illegal. A committee was asked to look at the regulations and propose changes to the law. The use and rights of the disabled was one of the topics the committee was asked to look into. At the end of May, the committee presented its proposal. Here the following is proposed: – that the Act should not apply to travel with aids that are designed to compensate for reduced mobility, as long as travel with the aid does not have a significantly greater potential for injury than travel on foot – that the ministry should be able to issue regulations on which aids which fall outside the scope of the law – that the use of all motorized wheelchairs must be permitted on roads and footpaths – that a special permit is established for travel on snow-covered ground and frozen watercourses for persons with permanent impairments that result in a significantly reduced ability to move The proposal for the new law is out for consultation with a deadline of 15 September. Source: The Motor Traffic Committee’s report, NOU 2024:10, New Motor Traffic Act Difficult trade-off The head of the Nature Conservation Association in the Interior, Ole Midthun, believes it is important that the change in the law does not harm nature. – The Nature Conservancy is concerned that this change in the law does not lead to more vehicles entering nature and damaging it. At the same time, Midthun is concerned that as many people as possible get the opportunity to experience Norwegian nature. – We think it is good that people get the adaptations needed to get out into nature, but it must not come at the expense of it. Ole Midthun is the county leader of the Norwegian Nature Conservation Association Inlandet. He is concerned with safeguarding both respect for nature and the rights of the disabled as best as possible. Photo: Bjørnar Morønning / news Ole Midthun points out that the question of this is not the same everywhere, and that the dilemma around equality must be seen in a different light. – Recently, there has been a growing problem that able-bodied people go too much outside hiking trails. In my opinion, it should possibly be forbidden to go off hiking trails in certain areas, such as national parks, he says. Keeping nature in mind Midthun also points out the importance of hiking trails being universally designed, and that everyone who walks in nature, regardless of their level of function, has respect for nature and vulnerable species. The terrain roller chair Tonje has bought is manufactured in Norway by Exotek. Founder and board member Sigurd Groven tells news that they have taken several measures to minimize how much it affects nature. – We have designed the off-road wheelchair so that it will not cause significantly greater damage to nature than pedestrians, says Groven. According to him, the pressure on each wheel is about the same as a normal bicycle, and since the tires have such a large volume, the vehicle is very gentle on vegetation and the ground. Sigurd Groven himself has a disability, and has developed the off-road wheelchair that Tonje uses. Photo: Privat A happier person in nature For Tonje, the off-road wheelchair is not an exclusive toy car, but the legs that enable her to get around almost everywhere. – There are many good aids that are offered, but it is almost like you have to be satisfied with a little less if you have a disability. I don’t think that’s right, says Tonje Lilleås. Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news – I become a happier person simply by being allowed to feel the fresh air, feeling the sun warming my face, being outside, hearing the wind blowing in the trees. Just be where I am. I belong in nature. The wheelchair opens up opportunities I didn’t think would be possible to get back again. Tonje believes and hopes that the new proposal will go through, so that she too can travel in nature on the right side of the law. – The old law was never intended to affect wheelchair users, she says. Published 11.08.2024, at 19.34
ttn-69
The off-road wheelchair gives Tonje Lilleås the freedom to be with her family on trips – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
