Uploaded on 2015-05-07 by PoppyK

1) On my way to work, I took this picture from the Strømsbrua bus stop in Stavanger on a cold, rainy and dark rainy morning. Weather conditions make it a requirement to be visible on the streets, which means that all cars have to drive with their lights on and cyclists are required to wear bright, reflective jackets. We can also see a Statoil sign which I chose to include as oil & gas is the biggest employer in the city of Stavanger (oil capital of Norway). Notice that two lanes are available for cars while one lane is available for use by bikes and buses alone. These three lanes together accomodate thousands of commuters from Stavanger to Forus, the business area. 2) Two invisible pieces of information I want to discuss are car transport and traffic management. Because it is windy, cold and rainy for most part of the year, car transport is the main means of transport. For many people oil consumption also plays the part of sustaining their jobs. Although quality of life is fairly high in Stavanger, morning traffic jams and congestion compromise it every day. Though everyone knows it, fairly few people choose to use the bus or cycle and even fewer negotiate different start times with their employers as parenting obligations for most require them to drop off children before 7 am and then drive to work. Most workers in Forus start between 7 and 8 and spend on average 45 minutes stuck in traffic for a journey that shouldn't take more than 11 minutes (11 km). Bikeways and buses are of fairly high standard and are both reliable and efficient transport alternatives. 3) I believe that mobility improvements should be designed around the needs of parents with small children and commuters to Forus. Though more of a cultural change issue, the City could use a mobility strategy exercise to engage people in a debate about working hours such that it becomes socially acceptable to have different starting times and end of business times. As a cyclist who doesn't want to drive I really do enjoy the cycling infrastructure in Stavanger which brings me around beautiful fjords and a forest on the way to work. However, for many people the strong winds act as a deterrent. Morning commute by bike may be a more attractive option if the city invests in wind protection solutions. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14309916921971766.jpg