The collective lane on the E18 will now be opened up to electric cars at weekends, the Ministry of Transport confirms in a press release on Thursday. The change applies to the stretch Asker – Lysaker, but it will take a few weeks before all the practicalities are in place. The electric drivers must therefore wait a while before they enter the lane. – We see that on the E18 from the west, accessibility has deteriorated. This applies particularly at weekends, says Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård. Nygård confirms to news that they will also open up the E6 from the north and south. – But it will take more time to put it in place. We are now prioritizing E18, because that is where the biggest challenges are, says the minister. CRISIS MEETING: On Thursday, Nygård will meet the mayors of Asker, Bærum and Oslo to discuss the public transport field on the E18. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB The city council is critical Oslo municipality, on the other hand, is critical and warns against electric cars in public transport lanes again as long as Ring 1 in central Oslo is closed. – I am very concerned that we do not allow a lot of private cars into the public transport zone so that there is a complete breakdown of traffic in the city, says transport councilor Marit Kristine Vea (V). Today there is a crisis meeting with Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård about the queues on the E18 from the west. CRITICAL: Oslo’s transport councilor Marit Kristine Vea told news yesterday that she is worried about what might happen if too many private cars again get access to the public transport area. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news – The capacity of the road network in the center is greatly reduced. We don’t have space for all the cars we have now taken out of the public transport zone, says Vea. – But opening up at weekends can’t be a problem then? – What I am concerned with is to ensure that public transport arrives and avoid moving the queue from Høvik and Sandvika and only closer to the city, she says. Marit Vea has proposed to the Minister of Transport to allow in electric vans and electric trucks, of which she says there are not that many. QUEUE FRUSTRATION: Commuters complain of hour-long queues on the route. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration confirms that there are more car queues from the west after the electric cars were thrown out of the public transport zone. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Desired by more But more people are probably happy about the change. Since the electric cars were thrown out of the public transport lanes in the Oslo area in May, there have been long queues in rush hour traffic in Asker and Bærum, both on the E18 and the side roads. There are also major delays in weekend traffic. The mayors of Asker and Bærum and the county council leader in Akershus have been asking for a meeting with the transport minister for a long time. Everyone wants the bus lane to be opened both for electric cars at weekends and for electric cars with several people in the car on weekdays. Now one of the wishes has already been fulfilled before today’s crisis meeting with the Minister for Transport about the queues on the E18. It also happens before the Storting is to hold a hearing on the queues on 8 October. CHEERING: Hoda Imad, Thilde Marie Børsum, and Ivar Granum (the group leaders in Bærum, Akershus and Asker Labor Party, respectively) are very pleased with today’s change. Photo: Sandra Tenud, Akershus Labor Party – It will hopefully make everyday life easier for more people, says Hoda Imad (Ap), group leader in Akershus County Council to news. Want the electric cars back full-time Several have requested major changes to control the queue problems. Frp is among those who want electric cars back full-time – not just at weekends. – I think it’s good that they open at weekends, but it’s just peanuts and symbolic politics, says Frp politician Bård Hoksrud to news. DISAGREE: FRP politician Bård Hoksrud wants more comprehensive changes. Photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / news Because the need is greatest on weekdays, says the politician. – We need to open every day. That’s when people stand in line and are very frustrated and don’t arrive on time. The measure to remove the electric cars from the public transport lane has been controversial, and 1 in 3 have wanted to get the electric cars back into the public transport lane. Published 29/08/2024, at 07.24 Updated 29.08.2024, at 08.35
ttn-69
The collective area on the E18 opens up for electric cars at weekends – Greater Oslo
