How Oslo Achieved Zero Pedestrian and Bicycle Fatalities and How You Can Apply What Worked

Oslo, the capital of Norway, has become the first city in the world to achieve zero pedestrian and bicycle fatalities. This remarkable feat was accomplished through bold leadership, innovative urban design, and a focus on road safety.

As other cities look to follow Oslo’s lead, it’s important to understand the key factors that enabled their success. Here’s an in-depth look at how Oslo did it, and how these strategies can be applied elsewhere.

Background on Vision Zero in Oslo

In 2015, Oslo announced an ambitious goal known as Vision Zero – to eliminate all pedestrian and bicycle fatalities and severe injuries on city roads. This built upon ongoing efforts dating back to the 1970s to reduce traffic collisions in Oslo.

Key to Vision Zero was a fundamental shift in mindset about traffic deaths – recognizing that they are preventable with thoughtful urban design. Oslo committed to prioritizing safety over vehicular speed and convenience.

Oslo’s leaders recognized that achieving Vision Zero would require redesigning roads to be inherently safe, especially for vulnerable groups like pedestrians and cyclists. This meant reducing and enforcing speed limits, improving infrastructure like sidewalks and bike lanes, and making intersections safer.

Education campaigns aimed to promote behavioral change among drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. But the emphasis was on creating self-enforcing “passive” safety measures that minimized risk, rather than relying solely on compliance.

Phased Implementation

The city took a phased approach to realize its Vision Zero ambitions:

Phase 1 (2015-2019) focused on central Oslo, with initiatives like:

Lowering speed limits from 50 km/h to 40 km/h (and later 30 km/h).
Removing on-street parking to widen sidewalks and add protected bike lanes.
Installing pedestrian crossings, safety islands, and other features at dangerous intersections.

Phase 2 (2020-2024) expanded improvements citywide, including:

Upgrading 300 km of sidewalks to meet minimum width standards.
Adding physical separation between bike and car lanes across main roads.
Redesigning hazardous locations like roundabouts.
Further expanding 30 km/h speed zones.

Throughout, data analysis guided decisions on where to target investments for maximum impact. As successes emerged, Oslo accelerated plans to rapidly scale up improvements.

Key Infrastructure Changes

Oslo implemented many innovative street design interventions to improve safety. Here are some of the most impactful changes:

Protected Bike Lanes

Oslo added over 100 km of protected bike lanes with concrete curbs or other physical separation from cars. These create a sense of safety that invites more cycling. Bike lanes were plowed in winter – rare in most cities.

Sidewalk Widening & Curb Extensions

Narrow sidewalks were expanded to meet minimum 2 meter width standards. Curb extensions shortened crossing distances for pedestrians while slowing turning vehicles.

Pedestrian Crossings & Refuge Islands

Hundreds of new pedestrian crossings were added on main roads, many with refuge islands allowing staged crossing. Crosswalks were raised slightly to prioritize pedestrian visibility.

Roundabout Redesigns

Multi-lane roundabouts with complex pedestrian crossings were redesigned or replaced with safer intersections. Advance stop lines and reduced lanes improved sightlines.

Traffic Calming

Traffic calming measures like speed humps, chicanes, and lane narrowing were widely implemented, especially around schools and in neighborhoods.

Lower Speed Limits & Enforcement

Speed limits were reduced to 30 km/h on most streets. Enhanced enforcement used mobile and red light cameras to deter violations. Fines were issued based on income.

Educational Campaigns

Infrastructure changes were paired with public education campaigns promoting safe mobility for all road users. These helped build public buy-in and change behaviors. Key initiatives included:

Driver training on sharing the road safely with pedestrians and cyclists.
Community speed watch programs enabling citizens to monitor speeds.
School zone safety programs educating children.
Marketing to promote walking, cycling, and public transport.
Data visualization showing traffic injuries on maps to spur action.

Results: Zero Fatalities Achieved

In 2019, Oslo recorded zero pedestrian or bicyclist fatalities on its roads for the first time. This milestone occurred just four years after the launch of Vision Zero, demonstrating the impact of urgent, concentrated action.

Previously, about a dozen pedestrians died in traffic annually. Oslo’s leaders chose not to accept this status quo as inevitable. Their commitment to prioritizing safety bore fruit.

From 2015-2020, the number of severe injuries also declined by nearly 40%. Overall traffic fatalities dropped 20% during this period. Walking, cycling, and transit mode shares grew as the city became safer and more inviting.

Oslo shows that with bold vision, rapid implementation, and people-first street design, major improvements are possible in a short timeframe. Their success demonstrates that traffic deaths are preventable, not inevitable.

Benefits Beyond Safety

In addition to the primary goal of eliminating traffic fatalities, Oslo’s transformation has yielded many other benefits:

Better mobility – By designing streets to be safe for all users, cycling and walking become more attractive options. This reduces car dependence.
Economic gains – Designing for pedestrians and cyclists creates vibrant, livable urban spaces that draw investment and tourism.
Improved health – More active mobility means greater physical activity and lower emissions.
Social equity – Safe streets are more inclusive of children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Environmental sustainability – Increased walking, cycling, and transit lower carbon emissions and noise.

These benefits highlight how safety gains and broader city goals can be mutually reinforcing – with the right policies, safe and sustainable mobility advance together.

Factors Enabling Oslo’s Success

Oslo was able to achieve its ambitious Vision Zero target by skillfully putting in place interlocking policies and practices. Key success factors included:

Strong Vision & Leadership

Bold goal – Targeting zero fatalities (rather than just reductions) aligned values and politics.
Commitment – Leaders stayed consistent, united, and willing to take risks to advance Vision Zero.
Coordination – Alignment across government agencies to enable quick action.

Effective Process

Data analysis – Extensive traffic data guided where to invest for maximum impact.
Consultation – Planners worked with communities to tailor local solutions.
Iteration – Oslo adapted and accelerated plans based on empirical safety impacts.

Multidisciplinary Perspectives

Holistic view – Engineers, urban designers, policymakers, and health experts collaborated.
Systems approach – Interventions were layered to achieve synergistic effects.

Sufficient Investment

Funding – Financial and political capital sustained rapid deployment.
Quick build – Low-cost materials enabled fast installation of early projects.

Culture Change

Vision Zero marketing – Simple messaging reinforced new safety mindset.
Co-creation – Programs like community speed watch built public ownership.
New priorities – Cultural shift not to prioritize cars over vulnerable road users.

These factors demonstrate the importance of alignment – across policies, agencies, stakeholders, and the public – to enable transformative change. Oslo provides an excellent model.

Applicability in Other Cities

Oslo’s example carries important lessons for others striving to reach Vision Zero. Various interventions can be adapted to fit local contexts.

However, efforts must go beyond copying specific tactics. Success requires embracing fundamental principles:

Traffic deaths are preventable, not inevitable.
Safety is prioritized over driver convenience.
Streets should serve people – not just vehicles.
Quick action is possible with urgency and boldness.

With tailored application of Oslo’s technical and social innovations, more cities can make rapid progress.

Vision Zero represents a new paradigm – that we can and should design forgiving roads enabling human mistakes. This philosophical shift underpins meaningful change.

Next Steps for Vision Zero

While Oslo has made huge strides, its Vision Zero work continues:

Expanding 30 km/h zones to cover most streets.
Further upgrades to bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Increased enforcement through new speed and red light cameras.
More programs educating professional drivers on sharing the road.

And the next horizon is applying Vision Zero priorities to even broader transportation policy, such as:

Linking urban planning and land use for safer mobility.
Prioritizing safety in procurement of buses, trams, and trains.
Incentivizing uptake of newer, safer vehicles and mobility innovations.

Achieving zero traffic fatalities is an ongoing process. Oslo’s breakthrough shows it is possible with commitment and courage to reimagine streets.

Call to Action: Make Your City Next

Oslo has demonstrated that with smart policies, rapid change is possible. Lives can be saved by designing for safety.

As an engaged resident, you have power to advance Vision Zero in your own community. Here are key ways to get involved:

Advocate for urgent action from local leaders and share success stories like Oslo’s. Build coalitions to maintain pressure.

Participate in planning processes to inject safety priorities into policies and projects. Provide input on unsafe locations that need improvement.

Model behavior by driving cautiously, respecting pedestrians, and promoting safe habits. Be part of the culture change.

Educate others in your community about the preventable nature of traffic deaths. Spread Vision Zero messaging through social media.

Encourage innovation in redesigning streets to prioritize safety in a holistic, human-centered manner.

Vision Zero represents a new paradigm of safety thinking that transforms outcomes. Oslo has proven that eliminating traffic fatalities is within reach. Now it is up to citizens and leaders worldwide to demand and design streets where human life is protected above all else.

The path forward begins with believing dramatic change is possible. Progress requires commitment to policies that make safety the highest priority. Like Oslo, your city can make rapid lifesaving improvements – if we boldly reimagine streets for people.