Oslo is the capital city of Norway and has a population of around 700.000 inhabitants, while the functional urban area comprises 1,7 million people. The city is surrounded by the nationally protected Marka Forest and the Oslo Fjord. The population is young, highly-educated, and diverse – one third of the population is first- or second-generation immigrants. Oslo is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and a governmental centre and hub for Norwegian trade, banking and shipping. The biggest industry sector in Oslo is the knowledge intensive business services sector. About 30% of Norwegian R&D activity takes place in Oslo, which also hosts around 80.000 students, making it the biggest student city in Norway. Oslo was named European Green Capital in 2019 by the European Commission for its holistic and citizen-oriented green policies and has an ambition to become one of the first zero emission cities in the world with an aim of 95% reduction in climate emissions by 2030.

Right now, we are establishing the Oslo Living Lab to co-create, test, deploy, replicate and upscale zero emission solutions.

Overview of the first set of measures

Oslo Living Lab will explore how it is possible to optimise the use of existing infrastructure and transport solutions through new measures, hubs and new collaboration and business models that will both reduce traffic in the city, reduce climate emissions and meet the user’s needs.

Oslo has four initial concepts in planning at the moment:

1. Mobility on demand for people and freight
2. Integration of micro mobility with public transport
3. Goods delivery in the Zero Emission Zone
4. Mobility hub network

In MOVE21, Oslo has a strong ambition to lower emissions by developing innovative new solutions, particularly combining persons and goods. To achieve this, the Oslo LL has commenced work on concepts that can be applied in several places like Filipstad, Oslo City Center, Ski Station and other.

Focus areas and test sites

Integration of micro mobility with public transport

The concept of «Integration of micro mobility with public transport» is driven by the idea of offering individuals, be it tourists or residents, an option of an agile and multi-module option of transport.The aim is to offer user a service that is easy to use, intuitive and at the same time reduces the carbon footprint and congestion of the traditional transportation options utilized in big cities.

For this particular project the focus will be on Oslo City centre with boundaries at Ring 3 where we can locate both scheduled transport and micro mobility services. Combining the two will give users an option for the first, last and hopefully middle mile of their journey in the city centre. The main challenges we face in this type of innovation is

• • Data security
  • Financial business models, public vs private
  • Customer experience and support

Goods delivery in the Zero Emission Zone

Where in Oslo City Center is it possible to create a ZEZ and traffic reducing zone that takes into account a viable business life?

In this pilot, we investigate the possibilities of designing a concentrated area of Oslo where we can test zero emission goods delivery. The pilot should be both emissions and traffic reducing. We believe the zone needs to be viable, feasible and attractive for delivery actors, the inhabitants, and the affected businesses alike.

We see the need for co-deliveries (samlast), data sharing and zero emission vehicles.

Mobility hub network

Using mobility hub “best practice” this concept aims at providing citizens with a cost efficient and flexible alternative to car ownership. Through implementing a network of “neighbourhood hubs” in an area of Oslo, we will investigate how to break down these barriers, to increase use of public transportation and reduce use of the private car. We will not only establish a network of shared cars, but also explore how cargo bikes, private bikes and micro mobility can supplement car sharing and how they all increase the attractiveness of public transport.

We are already exploring two local mobility hubs, Filipstad and Ski station. We will continue to develop these locations, but through the initial piloting, it has become clear that two hubs are not enough to change the mobility behaviour of a district. To improve availability, we believe in increasing the number of nodes in the network.

What is the innovation?

There are different innovative parts in each concept. The most important innovation elements are seen in data sharing, development of viable business models and new services and in co-delivery.

If you have ideas or suggestions that can be useful, please do not hesitate to contact:

• Patryk Bubilek, Project manager for the Oslo Living Lab
  patrycjusz.bubilek@bym.oslo.kommune.no
• Tiina Ruohonen, Project coordinator:
• tiina.ruohonen@byr.oslo.kommune.no