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E-Scooter Chaos in Oslo, Norway

Oslo was European Green Capital in 2019

In 2020 sidewalks are filled with e-scooters

 

November 22, 2020
By Torgeir Johansen

European Commission:

“Today, Oslo, the capital city of Norway, has officially become the 2019 European Green Capital. In 2019 and beyond, it will act as an ambassador for sustainable urban development, sharing and promoting best practices that have been tried and tested in this Norwegian city to inspire others to make meaningful environment changes.”

In April 2019 electric-scooters arrived in Oslo. There are no regulations on use in the city. Sidewalks are blocked by e-scooters and pedestrians have to jump over or use the road for walking. Several blind people have been hurt, falling over these e-scooters. Most e-scooter riders travel on the sidewalks with a speed up to 20 km/h and pedestrians have been seriously hurt.

In a report from Oslo University Hospital from June 2020, over 800 e-scooter users was registered with injuries from April 2019 to Mars 2020. In August 2020 more than 200 was registred.

Oslo city is one of very few cities to allow bikes and e-scooters dominate the sidewalks.

I 2019 it was six different e-scooter operators:  Voi, Tier, Zvipp, Ryde, Lime og Circ. Total e-scooters for rent in Oslo is unknown, but some of the operators has more than 3000 e-scooters.

Copenhagen the capital of Denmark wants to ban rental electric scooters from 1 January 2021 in the city centre.

Electric-Scooters in Oslo 2019-2021

E Scooters riding on top of Oslo Opera House, June 2021.
E-scooters are blocking a sidewalk in Oslo, Norway.
E Scooters blocking sidewalk Majorstuen Oslo October 2020
E Scooter Aker Brygge Oslo July 2020
E-Scooter parking Sognsveien Oslo August 2019, blocking the sidewalk.
Riding an E-Scooter in the water Jernbanetorget Oslo