The Urban Environment Agency continues Bylivsgata Grønland as a traffic-reducing measure in connection with the Swedish Road Administration’s closure of Ring 1. In Bylivsgata Nedre Grünerløkka, it has been decided that the driving pattern will continue after October and Bylivsgata Torshov will be rigged down a month earlier than planned.
– Oslo City Council wants to make the city greener, with more urban spaces where people and businesses thrive, and now it is finally ready for a new summer season in the streets of city life. I think the urban streets have been a very exciting test arena. In Bylivsgata Nedre Grünerløkka, we have tested a new driving pattern which will now become permanent. I am particularly happy that it has worked so well in Greenland and that the measure is now being extended, says Marit Vea, city councilor for the environment and transport.
Urban streets for a better urban environment and increased urban life
In 2023, three city life streets were established as temporary measures to create a better urban environment and increased city life under the auspices of the Car-Free City Life programme. Bylivsgatene has been developed with three different content concepts to obtain experience-based knowledge in the work on future urban development.
Traffic counts, qualitative and quantitative surveys and contact with stakeholders have been carried out to gain experience on use, effect, traffic and operation. All three streets were established last year with a possible duration of 15 months and decommissioning in October 2024. Now both changes and adaptations have been decided in all three streets.
Read more about the urban streets in Oslo
Bylivsgata Grønland will be continued as a traffic-reducing measure
In connection with the closure of Ring 1, Bylivsgata Grønland will continue with an activity concept. The Planning and Building Agency has approved the building application with an extension of five years, but no decision has been taken on how long it will stand. As a temporary measure, the street can be rigged down or adapted in a short time.
– The extension is being introduced as a traffic-reducing measure and a countermeasure to an expected increase in traffic in Greenland as a detour to, among other things, Galgeberg in connection with the Norwegian Road Administration closing Ring 1. None of the streets in Greenland are designed for this increase in traffic, which means negative consequences for both the inhabitants and the local business community, explains Rune Gjøs, divisional director at the Urban Environment Agency. Counts have been carried out in Greenland and we will monitor the situation in the area going forward.
In 2022, we recorded a total reduction in traffic in the area and a reduction in urban life of 80%. For 2023, a traffic reduction in Bylivsgata of 68% has been recorded, with a reduction of 3,500 cars (from 5,150 to 1,650).
– In addition, we have a goal that a continuation of Bylivsgata will lead to a permanent reduction in traffic in the area, says Gjøs.
Read more about Bylivsgata Grønland
Read more about the Urban Environment Agency’s measures in connection with the Swedish Road Administration’s closure of Ring 1
Press release: 47 million for urban life: Better, greener urban life and more public-private cooperation
Tags: Continuation city life streets Oslo municipality
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