In early February, the requirement for a home office was abolished, and people were able to return to the office to a greater extent.
It has left its mark on public transport in the capital area, where sales of ticket sales have risen sharply.
– INCREASE: There are still fewer than normal people taking public transport, but the number has increased after the reopening. Photo: Ruter
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In recent weeks, we have had around 85 percent of the turnover we had for the corresponding period in 2019, says press officer in Ruter, Knut-Martin Løken.
In comparison, turnover was 60 percent at the beginning of 2022.
– Sales of the 30-day ticket have increased slightly more than the single ticket, which means that we are closer to the old normal, says Løken, and adds:
– And we are very happy about that, because all ticket revenues go back to the public transport service.
Fewer take trains
But despite the increase, there is still about 15 percent before public transport in Oslo is back where it was in 2019. For train traffic, almost 20 percent remains.
Vy’s communications manager, Gina Scholz, says they see changes in people’s travel patterns before and after the pandemic measures.
– There are still fewer people traveling. There are probably more who choose the car or have a home office, or it is a combination, says Scholz.
– FEWER TRAVELERS: One in five who took the train to work before the pandemic has now found other solutions. Photo: Vy
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However, she believes there may be more train passengers for several reasons. Among other things due to higher interest rates and fuel prices, but also because more people want to go to the office again.
Scholz also hopes that a new solution for ticket prices that offers a discount on single tickets will get more people back on the trains, even though so far more people are choosing the car for work.
More people choose a car
– A NEW NORMAL: The general manager of Bergen parking, Trond Birkeland, thinks the full parking garages are a new normal. Photo: Erik Teige / TV 2
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In Bygarasjen, a three-storey car park in the center of Bergen with 2205 parking spaces, the battle for spaces has intensified in recent weeks.
– Now there is good pressure here, after the reopening in February. We definitely notice that people are back in a more normal everyday life, says general manager of Bergen parking, Trond Birkeland.
He says the progress is similar to the one before the pandemic, but does not rule out that more people are taking the car now – even though more are still in their home offices.
– It may be that it is even higher now, which makes it even a little fuller, he says.
– – NO BREAKING POINT: The parking manager thinks the situation is still not chaotic. Photo: Tor Henning Flaatten / TV 2
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But despite the fact that the parking garages are full, the parking manager denies that this is a breaking point.
– We have not reached the breaking point. I understand that some people find it frustrating when it is full. But we have not reached a breaking point, says Birkeland.
He believes that the full parking garages are something you have to settle for in the future as well, and points out that the pandemic may have changed people’s travel habits in everyday life.
– NEW NORMAL: This will continue to be the case in the future, believes the general manager of Bergen parking. Photo: Tor Henning Flaatten / TV 2
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– We are talking about a new normal. People work more at home, and then it may well be that you want to avoid buying a monthly pass on the bus, and rather use the car on the days you go to the office, he says.
Need more travelers
Skyss director Målfrid Vik Sønstabø says that in some areas they are now back where they were in 2019 – but that they also notice that more people than before choose to take the car into the city.
– We need more people to travel collectively, so that there is no queue and chaos. And then we need to get back those who traveled with us before, says Sønstabø.
– NEED MORE: The shuttle director wants more travelers, and encourages people to choose bus and light rail over car. Photo: Tor Henning Flaatten / TV 2
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The director does not rule out that more flexible ticket solutions can be an alternative to entice more people to travel by public transport and rather leave the car.
– It is a possibility, yes. Absolutely. We must help create the opportunities for a good region and a good city to live in. Then we must take advantage of all the opportunities and get those who can travel with us to travel with us, she says.
Sønstabø is clear that they want more people back to public transport, and that Skyss has a clear goal going forward:
– We must get more people to travel with us.
Fewer people drive public transport
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