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Report shows almost two-thirds disagree with ban on electric bikes in Norway’s national parks

Electrical bicycle. Illustration image. Photo: Berit Roald / NTB

A report from the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research shows that as many as 64% of respondents surveyed disagree about a ban on electric bicycles in Norway’s national parks.

64% of respondents disagreed with eletric bike ban

The Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA) has released a report in which a survey found that two thirds of respondents disagreed with the current ban on electric bicycles in Norway’s national parks.
The report, “Electric cycling in Jotunheim National Park” showed that 64% of respondents were against the ban on electric bicycles whilst 18% were in favor.

Norway considers electric bicycles motorized vehicles and thus they are prohibited from use in all of its protected national parks. Yet this latest survey follows a trend of those not happy with the ban. A field survey last year found that 67% were in favor of electric bicycle use along Glitterheimveien in Jotunheimen National Park.

Two sided debate, most want some restrictions on trail use

Vegard Gundersen, a researcher for the NINA, spoke to NTB about the results from the report and the two sided nature of this debate. He felt that the survey showed that “the most important argument was a desire to give everyone the opportunity to use the road.”

Gundersen also stated that there is a counterargument for the limited use of electric bicycles. He further explained that “in Norway, we are in an early phase, where people have not fully explored the possibilities that electric bicycles provide. But we know from other studies that it will expand and that we will have greater terrain wear.”

The survey also found that a clear majority (56%) oppose opening up national park trails for a variety of vehicles or sporting equipment – whether electric or not. Just 21% were in favor of this.

Source : © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayTravel

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