Vision Zero, how Oslo made progress

Oslo and Washington, DC are roughly the same size. In 2019, the former had zero pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and DC had 14. So what did Oslo do that made the difference?

One thing is that they started with a head start. In 1975 Oslo had 41 traffic deaths and DC had 74. But that doesn't entirely account for them getting to 1 and DC to 27 in 35 years. 

Over the last five years, the city has taken dramatic steps to reduce vehicular traffic in its downtown, including replacing nearly all on-street parking with bike lanes and sidewalks. Major streets have been closed to cars, and congestion pricing raised the fee to drive into the city center, with the goal of making most of downtown car-free by 2019.

Oslo has not only reduced the number of places where it is possible to drive, the city has also lowered the speed limit, which significantly contributes to a reduction in deaths

One effort cited by Steen that may have contributed to the drop in child deaths are the new “heart zones” drawn around Oslo’s schools, where officials are making physical changes to streets to protect students walking and biking to school, including closing streets to cars during school hours.

So there's nothing magical about it. Having fewer drivers, going slower while creating more space for cyclists and pedestrians is what it takes. I don't think anyone is surprised by that. Which leads one to ask? If we already know how to get to zero deaths, why haven't we done it?

But there is hope for DC still.

Progress was also uneven for Oslo in the early years after setting its own Vision Zero goal. But it’s Oslo’s car-free zones that have made the difference, Steen told Aftenposten, because overall roadway deaths haven’t reduced across Norway in recent years the way Oslo’s have plummeted.

BTW, Helsinki also had zero pedestrian and cyclist deaths last year. 

The improvement in traffic safety is the sum of several factors. Traffic safety has improved due to betterments to the street environment, increasing traffic control, the development of vehicle safety measures and technology, and the development of rescue services. Reducing speed limits has also been a key factor

Helsinki decided to lower speed limits in 2018, and the new limits took force last year. Currently, the speed limit on streets in residential areas and the city centre is primarily 30 km/h. The speed limit on main streets is 50 km/h in suburban areas and 40 km/h in the inner city.

The City will start installing 70 new traffic control cameras and making alterations aimed at improving the safety of pedestrian crossings in the most dangerous locations this year. 

Comments

[fongfong]

I've been to Oslo.

I would say that even in Norway, having devoted infrastructure for cyclists is the key element. Its not that Norwegian drivers are inherently better or nicer.

So in downtown Oslo, and throughout the town, there is dedicated bike infrastructure to take you off of the main roads, many of which are still car-centric. It's just that there are so many alternatives that you just don't see cyclists taking those routes.

When we rode out of town to the Viking museum and the infrastructure disappeared - I was riding with my then 10 year-old - we were consigned to road riding on two-laners and it was just as bad as cycling anywhere else.