Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Karl Johan Gate -Mainstreet Oslo where people matter more than cars

Warning: Envy Trigger


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!




                                    

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