So what is Karl Johan Gate (pronounced Karl Yohan Gata) ? Is it truly car-free? Is it handicap/stroller accessible? Does no one go there because of the lack of parking (okay I think all of us smart people know the answer to this one).
Karl Johan Gate is the mainstreet in Oslo, Norway. It's mostly a pedestrian/cyclist mall that goes from the Palace (don't miss the changing of the guards at 1:30pm) to the Central Train Station (which is also a bustling giant indoor shopping center).
First of all it is much bigger and longer than I expected it to be. It's not a block, it is block after block. It's bustling. These pictures were taken on a Sunday so you could see the street-it's so much busier on weekdays. And if it rains all of a sudden, well instead of heading into their cars and leaving, everyone heads into the shops and restaurants and businesses make even more money that way.
I would not say though that it is completely car free, although I'd say it is very car-low. At each street there is a crossing where cars can go straight only. I assume this will change when/if Oslo goes car free in a few years. As of currently there were few cars at these crossings anyways. I wouldn't miss the crossings and from the looks of the number of people vs cars can't imagine many other people would either.
During weekdays you also get a number of delivery vehicles.
And it is super handicap stroller friendly too. Lots of stroller and wheel chairs too!
