While in Stavanger for our partner meeting and stakeholder dialogue, Rebecca and Eva explored the city and the Jatta-district further for our podcast series 'The Low Car Diet'. Time for a recap and a peek behind the scenes!
Take 1: Gunn Jorun Aasland
On a Monday morning at the end of March, one day before our project meeting, two southern birds landed on Stavanger’s shores: Rebecca Karbaumer from the Hanseatic City of Bremen, the host of your webinar series, and Eva Missinne from the Belgian shared mobility developer Mpact, who records your favourite podcast. Follow their footsteps as they recorded our Stavanger-episode.
Shortly after arriving at Sola Airport, Rebecca and Eva walked through the narrow streets of Stavanger’s historic centre and the byparken with a clear goal in mind: the City Offices, built in a brutalist style, for a talk with Gunn Jorunn Aasland, the Director of City and Community Planning for Stavanger Kommune. During a pleasant conversation over coffee and cake, the Director told Rebecca and Eva more about Stavanger’s historic growth, the city’s shifting urban development since the early 2000s, and the ambition to reduce the high percentage of car ownership.
Discussing Stavanger's mobility vision with Gunn Jorunn Aasland.
The Stavanger City Offices, built in brutalist style.
Take 2: Tom, Felix, and the Seagulls
Leaving the city offices, it became clear that Stavanger is reinventing itself: the city hall, but also the library, are being fully renovated.
Time for a short walk through the bustling streets, up to their next appointment with Tom Rune Tjelta from the Jatta development company, and Felix Grimsrud from the proptech company Heime. Eva and Rebecca decided to record this part of the podcast on the streets, allowing the listener to immerse her/himself in the sound of the Stavanger, including motorised traffic and... confident seagulls!
On the streets of Stavanger, Tom explained why he, as a developer, thinks it is essential to offer on-site shared mobility solutions in housing projects. Felix, added to this that cars do not equal freedom, making an interesting comparison with Los Angeles, and showcasing how community-apps like Heime facilitate vehicle sharing.
Tom, Felix and Rebecca discussing shared mobility.
Eva from Mpact recording our podcast.
Take 3: Crane-spotting at the Jatta development site
Next, Eva and Rebecca left Stavanger’s hustle-and-bustle and jumped on a train towards even more hustle-and-bustle at the Jatta-Nord development site. Stepping out of the station after a short commute, it quickly became clear that the Jåttåvågen site is ideal for crane-spotting! Bulldozers, cranes, concrete mixers and other heavy machinery are building Stavanger 2.0.
Short commute to the Jatta development site.
Interested in crane-spotting, anyone?
Historically, Jatta was dedicated to constructing platforms for offshore drilling. Nowadays, it is transforming into a residential area designed for fossil-free mobility: comfortable cycle paths that do not intersect with motorised traffic, an emerging bus rapid transport system, and increased shared mobility being the key components of this transformation.
Rebecca and Eva were impressed! As Eva puts it:
“I was absolutely amazed by the size of the development site, and even more by the vision behind it. Motorised traffic goes underground, creating more space for cyclists and pedestrians and avoiding conflicts between modes.
When we were recording, some workers were installing benches. A few days later, trees had been planted. For me, this shows that greenery and spaces for social encounters are essential components of the Jatta project”.
Together with Imme Dirks Eskeland, Sven Martin Kørner, and Christin Berg from the City of Stavanger, Rebecca and Eva explored the huge site in more depth. They learned among other things about how the Jåttåvågen station will become the second largest transit stop in Stavanger, the future shared mobility offers and facilities for the area, and how the city and the local public transport operator Kolumbus will incentivize future residents to travel more sustainably. Through these initiatives, Stavanger contributes to achieving Norway’s ambitious Zero-Growth goals for urban areas:
"Greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, local air pollution and noise levels should be reduced through efficient land use and by shifting growth in passenger transport to public transport, cycling and walking."
The massive Jatta site.
Smooth cycling path under development.
Listen to the Sound of Stavanger
The journey through Stavanger and Jåttåvågen went beyond merely recording a podcast: it allowed Rebecca and Eva to experience how the city is taking its Low Car Diet seriously by embracing public transport and mainstreaming shared mobility.
Now it is up to you, dear reader, to immersive yourself into the Sound of Stavanger by listening to the latest episode of our podcast, or by exploring the city and the Jåttåvågen district yourself.
Credits
Host: Rebecca Karbaumer (Freie Hansestadt Bremen)
Intro, Sound & Music by Tjalle Groen (Mpact)
Recording by Eva Missinne (Mpact)
Podcast editing by Tjalle Groen(Mpact)
Pictures taken by Cornelia Cordes (Freie Hansestadt Bremen)
Article text by Jelten Baguet (Mpact)
Special thanks to Gunn Jorunn Aasland, Imme Dirks Eskeland, Sven Martin Kørner, Christin Berg (all Stavanger Kommune), Tom Rune Tjelta (Jatta), Felix Grimsrud (Heime)!