Bus, Route cuts | You can adapt to the fact that the bus runs every half hour and not every 20 minutes. That it does not come at all is unacceptable

“I choose me April”, wrote Bjørnson, reminding us of the month’s importance for nature’s changes, even if it causes both falls and upheavals. In April, Buskerud county council also chose itself. And I who had no idea that the blue bear had come out of the den once? And far less was able to make a ruckus! But it has become that.

Because although it is stated in all declarations, from the government via county municipalities down to the smallest municipality, that the focus will now be on public transport, cycling and walking, the main committee for transport in our county municipality (which is no longer Viken) has decided that from now on it will be the most of the latter, – cycling and walking.

There will be bus trips less of.

Behindthe reason was the county council’s budget work before Christmas which showed that the expenses for bus routes in the county had run completely wild. Why, we heard less about. Therefore, the subsidy for 2024 had to be cut by NOK 45 million. And it was urgent. County director Gro Solberg got Brakar’s management to draw up a savings plan that certainly didn’t look that pretty, nor was it easy to read. I have tried. She presented a thorough presentation of the case to the main committee, which on 9 April (sic) had gathered for a meeting in a log cabin, almost inside Krokskogen (were they anxious about listeners?).

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Because the meeting was, understandably, not very pleasant with such a matter on the agenda. Even if they consoled each other as best they could, the committee’s decision at the end of the meeting would be quite as impactful for the public.

The halls, which had lobbied well and always succeeds, saved the route along national highway 7. And the Liungs, good at lobbying too and all are not lost behind a bus, had embellished director Gro’s suggestion and saved the bus to Oslo (line 169), – where it by the way, trains also run, – occasionally.

Drammen, who had enough with its famous refugee decision and not having time to lobby, it was the municipality that had to reciprocate and the result was deplorable:

Although all the routes in the city must withstand a decrease in departures, fewer summer routes and evening trips, the worst was the lines to Tolerud (21), Austad skog (15), Mælen (16) and Strøtvet/Underlia (14), – all of which will be closed!

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That the bus goes every half hour and no longer every 20 minutes, one can adapt. But the fact that the bus does not come at all is completely unacceptable to the public. For those who have a car, there is a solution, but for young people, the elderly and others without a car, the situation will become completely unsustainable and completely contrary to all climate goals.

But the committee had more than route closures on the programme. The bus company Brakar was strictly told not to hire new employees, and they also had to stop marketing so that more people could be tempted to use the bus. The politicians must have thought that Bamsen Brakar had “rolled” a lot in the past year.

Where were you going? so save more? The Progress Party, which is self sufficient, believed in its proposal that it was “the green shift”, with the expensive, electric buses, that was the cause of the misery. Saving money by gassing up with old diesel buses was the way to go, they thought. Another tempting point was to raise the tariffs, but that, explained director Gro, would be of little use. In any case, this was not a task for the main committee. Of course, only the county council can decide on roof increases.

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How have we Ended up in this situation? I think the people of Dram have themselves to thank. If Buskerudbyen had been introduced five years ago, as it was supposed to be, possibly with some adjustments, the urban growth agreement would have been in place and the scandal avoided. The fact that Drammen’s mayor has now finally understood the plan and will start investigating a toll solution therefore bodes well.

The decision in the main committee also shows the inadequacy of the policy and the lack of coordination between the levels of administration. The government’s priority goals of increased investment in public transport and decisions close to where people live fade before they have passed the Lierskogen, and show with all clarity the sky-wide distance between bold election promises and everyday practical politics.

– And we who still remembers party leader Vedum, who before the election, traveled around the country and proclaimed that “now it was the turn of the common people”, must realize that it was obviously not bus trips he was thinking of.

More about the bus from Drammens Tidende

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