The case in summary: The bus between Stavanger and Jørpeland travels at 80 km/h and is often full, which causes passengers to stand in the aisle. According to the National Roads Administration, it is legal for passengers to stand on the bus in the 80-zone, as the bus is a class two bus. It is not only in the Stavanger region that buses drive with standing passengers at 80 km/h, it also happens in Innlandet, Trøndelag and in Western Norway. There has been no talk of changing the regulations for standing passengers in high-speed buses, according to Anette Hauge in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Kolumbus, which operates the buses, says there is no money to increase the number of departures or insert larger buses into the route. Trygg Trafikk and Mímir Kristjánsson (R) are concerned about traffic safety with standing passengers on high-speed buses. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Many people take the bus between Stavanger and Jørpeland. So many that they sometimes get completely full. And when you go on a bus that has no free seats, it is usual to stand in the aisle. At least if you take a bus in the city. But would you stand in a bus traveling at 80 kilometers per hour through a 14.4 kilometer long tunnel? On route 100 between Stavanger and Jørpeland in Strand municipality, people regularly stand in the aisle. And even if the bus is full, people are allowed on. Route 100 between Stavanger and Jørpeland in Strand municipality is a popular choice among commuters as the toll crossing between the two municipalities costs NOK 167 one way. Photo: Tobias Hovland / news Law with standing passengers – We understand that it can feel uncomfortable to stand on the bus, but it is of course in accordance with the current regulations, says Morten Nesvik, communications advisor at Kolumbus. The regulations do not prevent the bus companies from using standing spaces in 80 zones on some buses. It is perfectly legal. Buses in Norway are divided into classes one, two and three. Read more about the difference between the classes below: Different bus classes: Photo: Erik Waage / news Class 1 – City buses Area of use: This class includes buses that are primarily used in urban areas and have frequent stops. Capacity and design: The buses in class one have room for several standing passengers. They are designed with a low floor to make it easier to get on and off the bus quickly, which is important in city traffic with many short stops. Rules: They must have at least two doors to facilitate passenger flow, and are often less comfortable in terms of seats and legroom, as they are intended for short journeys. Class two – Suburban and regional buses Area of use: Class two buses are used on longer routes, for example between suburbs and cities. They have fewer stops than city buses, but are often used for daily commuting. Capacity and design: These buses have a mixture of sitting and standing, but mainly seating. They can have a low floor in the front part and a higher floor further back, which gives space for luggage. Rules: The buses must have safety equipment such as seat belts, and they tend to have fewer doors than class one buses, because passengers have more time to get on and off. Class three – Long-distance and express buses Area of use: Class three comprises buses for long distances or express routes, which often go between cities or across regions. Capacity and design: These buses are equipped with comfortable seats, more legroom, and no standing room. They also have luggage rooms for larger packages, and some have toilets and entertainment facilities such as Wi-Fi. Rules: Seat belts are required for all passengers, and there are often stricter requirements for comfort and safety. The buses are designed for long journeys, which requires better air conditioning and ergonomic seats. The regulations for these classes are regulated by EU directives and national regulations in Norway which set standards for both safety and passenger comfort. The bus between Jørpeland and Stavanger is a class two bus. So: – It is legal to have both seated and standing passengers in such a bus, says senior adviser Anette Hauge in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Would you stand in a full bus traveling at 80 km/h? 🚌 Yes. I have no problem with that!😎 No. I was waiting for the next bus!🙄 Show result Several places in the country It’s not just between Stavanger and Jørpeland that buses run with standing passengers at 80 kilometers an hour. In Innlandet and Trøndelag, many buses run on national and county roads in the 80 zone that connect smaller towns. Buses between Oslo and nearby municipalities often travel at high speeds on motorways and major county roads. Several bus routes along Western Norway run at high speeds on narrow national roads between cities such as Bergen and smaller places nearby such as Øygarden or Askøy. Kolumbus, which operates public transport in Rogaland, says that according to current regulations, passengers are allowed to stand for 80 kilometers per hour. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news There has been no talk of changing The requirements for the various bus types are governed by the EU. Hauge says the urban pattern in Norway means that some buses in class one and two have to drive on roads at high speed. – In Norway, there can be greater distances within the city limits, often with roads where the speed limit can be 80 kilometers per hour or higher, she says. The Ryfylke tunnel was opened in 2019 and replaced the ferry from Stavanger to Strand municipality. The tunnel is 14.4 kilometers long. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news When asked if there has been talk of changing the regulations, she answers this: – The Ministry of Transport owns the regulations and can possibly implement changes to the rules, but as far as we know there is no question of change these regulations. Tom Kalsås (Ap) is state secretary in the Ministry of Transport. He says consideration of traffic safety is emphasized where the routes go on roads with higher speed limits. – We are not working on changes that will apply to public transport stands for which the county councils are responsible, he says. He says it is the individual county council that assesses which buses should be used on the individual routes. Does not introduce more buses Nesvik in Kolumbus is responsible for the county council. He says they have 597 departures on the bus between Stavanger and Jørpeland within a month. On average, there are eight departures each month where there are not enough seats for everyone, he says. – So it is not often that passengers have to stand on the bus, he says. He says there are not enough finances in the county council to increase the number of departures or put larger buses on the route. Safe Traffic: – Problem situation we are familiar with – Oi. That’s what regional leader Knut Olav Nestås says for Trygg Trafikk Vestland, when he is told that people must stand in the aisle between Stavanger and Jørpeland. – But unfortunately this is a problem we are familiar with, he says. Knut Olav Nestås is regional manager for Trygg Trafikk Vestland. He says it is important that everyone gets the opportunity to sit with a seat belt on the bus. Photo: Morten Brakestad He highlights the consequences that can occur if a bus with passengers in the aisle stops suddenly or crashes at 80 kilometers per hour. – If you weigh 80 kilos and the bus stops suddenly, you weigh two tonnes in a collision. It shows which forces are at work, says Nestås. He believes it is important that you always have the opportunity to sit and wear a seat belt. – For us, traffic safety is the most important thing, he says. – Don’t blame the EU Storting representative Mímir Kristjánsson in Rødt says the authorities are not taking the problem seriously. – I am afraid that this will not be taken seriously until something serious happens. You almost have to ask yourself what it takes to take this seriously, he says. Storting representative Mímir Kristjánsson (R), says that more buses must be introduced as the rules are today so that people do not have to stand in the aisle. Photo: Agnete Brun Kristjánsson believes that we should not blame the EU regulations. – Many people find it unpleasant to have to stand in the aisle at 80 kilometers an hour, and the Norwegian Road Administration or the Norwegian authorities should be able to do something about that, regardless of the EU. Do you have any thoughts after reading the case? Use the comment field below, then!: Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Published 11.10.2024, at 21.18
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This is what the bus looked like at 80 km/h: – Law with standing passengers
