Minister of Transport and Communications Knut Arild Hareide says he is deeply concerned about the development of accidents on electric scooters, and the conflicts they create with pedestrians. Therefore will now propose a blood alcohol limit, a ban on driving on sidewalks, a ban on the use of helmets for the youngest and an age limit of 12 years.
It is a shame and a scandal that he has allowed the problems with these very dangerous electric vehicles to grow from day to day. For three years in a row, they have littered the country’s capital. The damage to the electric scooters has exploded. The police have asked for strict measures. The emergency service has repeatedly said strongly.
The government deserves strong criticism for not intervening when the problems arose in full.
It is not only in Oslo that the use of these vehicles creates major problems for traffic flow and for pedestrians. People in Bergen and Trondheim experience the same thing. Now it must be said to Hareide’s defense that it was not he who introduced the electric scooters, or the standing mopeds which is a better name. It is former Minister of Transport Ketil Solvik-Olsen from FrP who has received the dubious honor of being the father of standing mopeds.
Hareide will still be remembered for not being able to clean up the misery. He continued the FRP policy. Admittedly, the legislation has been changed so that the municipality has the opportunity to regulate something more. This means, for example, that the number of standing mopeds in Oslo will be cut from 25,000 to 8,000. This will help somewhat. But we will not get rid of the misery until a new change in law and regulations is in place after a new round of consultation. It will not happen until the spring of next year.
The story of the standing mopeds is a good example of how wrong things go when the government leaves it to the market to control development. In other countries, the use of vehicles is strongly regulated. In Norway, it is free movement. The foreign owners of the standing mopeds looked to Norway. There were no restrictions here. Just a lot of easy money to make. The market was quickly filled with standing mopeds.
The government deserves strong criticism for not intervening when the problems arose in full. A government’s first duty is to protect the interests of the population. It can not take into account the capitalists’ pursuit of profit. The Solberg government failed when it mattered most. It is too late to repair a damaged reputation with a bill shortly before the election.
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