Bikes In Norway
The Abandoned Bike Story. It is very common here in Norway for bikes to be stolen. When they are stolen then someone rides it for while and then just leaves it. Once it is left it maybe there for several days. Sometimes someone else will pick the bike up and use it for a while. The above bike set in front of our rock wall for about 2 weeks. Then a suddenly as it appeared it disappeared.

Bikes are a very important means of transportation here in Norway. Vehicles are very expensive. A Mini van will cost around $50,000.00. So most families if they have vehicle only have one. The public transportation(buses) is a big means of transportation here and is wonderful and easy to take.
But most people ride bikes. It is starting to get darker earlier and staying darker later and so we are beginning to see many blinking lights on bikes and yellow reflector vest. This is a sure sign that winter is upon us!! (Time to buy more candles and bigger watt light bulbs!)

One of my seminary students rides her bike to seminary every morning, in the dark, and rain. I am sure it takes her about 15-20 minutes. Her mom rides in with her on her own bike, because her mom is going to school full time and uses that time to study. The student is never late and never absent!!!

These bikes are lined up outside of a middle school. There is a law here in Norway that children can only be dropped off so many meters from the school. Most of the schools are neighborhood schools until they reach high school. So because of the law it is easier for kids to ride their bikes or to walk to school rather than being bused or having their parents drop them off.

One morning while I was sitting at the bus stop this group of young men came together to ride to school together. Everyone here wears helmets.

One day in the pouring rain a school group came to the two girls statue for a field trip.

Bikes are also very expensive here. For just an ordinary bike (My kids call it an old lady bike, It has a basket on the front) would cost about $300.00 to $500.00. But it is so much cheaper than cars. They have wonderful bike lanes and paths here for the bikers. This country truly encourages efficiency with traveling.