Travelling Publicly

While fifteen per cent of students are likely to use the subway or the tram at least once a week, this only applies to seven per cent of the population. Nils Vibe at the Institute of Transport Economics points out that few students have children that need transportation, and therefore manage easily without a car. Another factor increasing student use of public transport is the fact that they often live in central urban locations where the public transport system is well developed.

Oslo Sporveier, the Oslo Public Transport Company, is to extend the subway to Blindern campus all the way to Carl Berners plass. The subway extension which is to transform the Blindern line into a circular line is to be completed in 2006.

Despite being due to be re-opened this month, the study room in the Sophus Bugge building continues closed, depriving students revising for their exams of 320 sorely needed desks. Most seats at the University Library are filled by 9 a.m., forcing late arrivals to engage in an hour-long hunt for an empty desk in the Helga Eng, Vilhelm Bjerknes or Eilert Sundts buildings. The senior architect Leif J. Haugen assures the students that working conditions in the refurbished library will be greatly improved once the library does open again.