Debate post This is a debate entry, written by an external contributor. The post expresses the writer’s views.
So it is understood that the tolls cost so much that the poor cannot afford to drive. But poor people drive cars in the first place, Vikre? It costs a lot of money to get the sticker, an extremely large amount of money to buy a car, and a lot of money to use and maintain it with fast charging or petrol, workshop visits, tires and inspections. You must be able to pay all of this before a toll bill is issued.
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– Get poor people out of traffic!
Poor people can’t afford that, Vikre. The poor walk, cycle and take the bus. This also applies to many other groups. Those who are too young or too old to drive, those who do not have good enough health, vision or ability to do so, those who struggle with drug addiction, and those who have been disqualified from driving. All these people must also have the opportunity to get where they are going.
Most of the money for city package phase 1 went to road measures that motorists greatly benefit from, especially the Hovengatunellen in Porsgrunn, and a new roadway. 36 from Geiteryggen towards Gvarv. Phase 2 is likely to allow walking, cycling and the collective to get a somewhat larger share of the cake. It benefits those who have the least. Our bus service in particular is cheap and good, and that’s because of the city package. But it actually also benefits motorists!
Among those who take the bus, walk or cycle, there are also people who could have driven a car. When they do not, there will be more space on the roads and less congestion for those who still drive, and the need for money for road construction and maintenance will be reduced. That is the whole point of city packages: It pays to stimulate as many people as possible to choose something other than the car. In addition, there are secondary effects such as that walking or cycling improves health and well-being, and less car traffic results in better air quality. Both parts reduce costs in the healthcare system. And business traffic gets there more easily.
To say no to city package phase 2 is to say no to one of Norway’s best and cheapest bus services, no to cheap electric city bikes, no to safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists. If the FRP gets what they want, it will be harder for those who have the least to get around in traffic, not easier. Not everyone can drive, so we have to say yes to city package phase 2!
