Is the road the goal? (digital)

The stricter infection control measures adopted by the Norwegian authorities for the Bergen region from 7-14 February mean that LitFestBergen must cancel all physical events. All ticket purchases for physical events will be refunded. Streaming tickets costing NOK 40.00 for this event will be available at ticketco.no. A number of programme items will be shown free on YouTube.

Norway ranks as one of the most car-dependent countries in the world, and Bergen is no exception. With 90 per cent of journeys in the city made by car, this has shaped its present form. 

That has been a conscious policy, maintains Ulrik Eriksen  in his book Et land på fire hjul. He demonstrates how facilitating the car has had major consequences for planning, development and settlement in Norway, particularly in the towns. It has moved from being confined to the wealthy to perhaps the quintessential mass-market object. Eriksen discusses motoring and politics with Bergens Tidende journalist Hans K Mjelva. 

Is there any way back? How should Norway and Bergen deal with transport and traffic in the future? Scientist Siddharth Sareen joins Eriksen on stage to discuss car-free zones, the light rail system and what tomorrow might bring. The final minutes will be allocated to questions from the audience.

This event will be in Norwegian.