Earlier this year, the electric cars in several places in Norway were thrown off the roads, which normally belong to public transport. But now the politicians have regretted it.
Norway has recently focused heavily on access to bus lanes for electric cars with more passengers, especially several selected and highly trafficked routes.
Several parties in the Norwegian Storting are now demanding that the Norwegian government together with the National Roads Administration must open the bus lanes during rush hour for electric cars with passengers. According to the parties, this should not apply to electric vans and trucks, but only to passenger cars with at least one extra passenger.
– The Storting asks the government, together with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, to take the initiative to open the public transport lane on the E18 from Asker to Sandvika for electric cars with passengers during rush hour.
– The intersection requirement shall not apply to electric vans and lorries, says the transport committee, which is behind the proposal, in the Storting.
This is written by the Norwegian news agency NBT.
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The Transport Committee's majority, which consists of the parties Fremskrittspartiet, Hoyre, Socialist Liberal Party and Liberal Party. But overall, these parties do not have a majority in the Storting. However, the proposal can get a majority if it is supported, for example, by the party Rodt in the vote on 14 November.
The majority in the transport committee also wants the government to consider extending the scheme to the section from Sandvika to Oslo, but with a requirement for at least two passengers in the electric cars. As with the stretch between Asker and Sandvika, it is proposed that vans and lorries be exempted from the requirement in the scheme.
– We are satisfied that the committee has recognized that the situation on the roads in and around Oslo has created significant problems for both local traffic and road safety. Especially because there is increased pressure on the smaller roads, which constitutes a safety risk, says Frank Sve from the Progressive Party.
Electric cars' access to bus lanes was initially restricted on 6 May in connection with Oslo Ring 1 being closed for three years to enable the construction of a new government quarter.
After pressure, however, the road service and the Ministry of Transport reversed later in the year, and the bus lanes were opened again at weekends. Now a majority in the transport committee wants the opening to be extended further.
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