Sykkler (Bicycles)
City streets of Oslo.
Sunshine, snow, rain, and wind- no matter what the weather you are bound to see bicycles in the streets, paths, and trails of Norway. While this isn’t terribly shocking, it has been fun to see all the different kinds of bikes used in Norway.
A wooden bike cart.
Of course, there are the ‘regular’ bikes with battery-operated headlights and their careful drivers wearing helmets. Then there are the bikes to accommodate multiple passengers. There are bikes with buckets, bikes with trailers, and bikes with back sets for one or more children.
A bike to transport two additional passengers.
Children ride their bikes to school and leave them in large bike ‘parking lots’ outside the school building. There are even bike ‘hotels’ located near train stations so that the bikes are accessible upon return. Bike rental stations are also available in bigger cities, particularly close to university campuses.
A school’s bike lot in Lillestrom.
Children learn how to ride bikes at a young age, perhaps starting with strider bikes to build balance and then moving up to smaller bikes. It’s not uncommon to see families carrying small bikes when they are out for their Sunday afternoon walks through parks and trails.
A young child using a strider bike.
Teachers have shared that they bike to school. Many have one or two children that they drop off at daycare. When I asked how they managed to bike up the hills with the extra weight, they noted that they can use the motorized option on their e-bike to create a boost of power when needed.
Bikers hitting passing through a park in Oslo.
Bikers can also be found zipping along hiking tracks throughout the countryside. Just last week, I took the T-bane to Frognerseteren Café overlooking Oslo. Numerous young people rode the subway to the top of the hill, then disembarked at the Café and rode their mountain bikes down the narrow dirt bike paths through the woods. The youngsters were outfitted in special helmets and chest guards to prevent injury. What a great alternative to video games and social media scrolling!
In Minnesota, morning and afternoon traffic refers to the density of cars on the road. However, traffic in Norway also applies to bikes on the paths and streets. Cyclists use hand signals to indicate their direction and if a pedestrian is in the way, the cyclist will ring a quiet bell to signal their presence. I have never rented a bike or used a bike in Norway, because I’m not familiar with the rules of the road. However, I enjoy seeing the various bikes with their cheerful drivers and passengers.
A child’s front-seat bike ride on a walking trail outside Oslo.
