Norway
Oslo
UMR Index Rank
#17
(-3)
Score: 61%
Sustainable Mobility
#2
(-1)
Score: 76.6%
Public Transit
#9
(=)
Score: 65.3%
Technology Adoption
#12
Score: 54.6%
| Population | 1.1 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 324 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 3,253 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 94,660 |
UMR Index Rank
#17
(-3)
Score: 61%
Sustainable Mobility
#2
(-1)
Score: 76.6%
Public Transit
#9
(=)
Score: 65.3%
Technology Adoption
#12
Score: 54.6%
What Oslo Does Well In Urban Mobility
Oslo’s position at 17th place in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index reflects its strong green credentials. The city excels in the Sustainable Mobility sub-index, where it claims the second spot behind Helsinki.
The Norwegian capital is pursuing an ambitious strategy and aims to become the world’s first emission-free city by 2030. The city has benefited from government investment and incentives to establish itself as a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) market share in sales, earning its moniker as the EV capital of the world. In 2024 sales of EVs outnumbered internal combustion engine vehicles for the first time in Norway.
Oslo is decarbonizing its public transport system as well. The tram and metro already run on renewable energy and the city aims by 2028 to electrify the entire public transport system, which also includes buses and ferries. Oslo transport authority Ruter has been replacing internal combustion engine buses with cleaner alternatives, intending for 60% of the bus fleet to be fully electric by 2025.
The city has become a world leader in air quality and made great progress in reducing light and noise pollution. In 2019 the local government committed to adding more stringent benchmarks in measuring air quality and to building additional anti-noise barriers along roadways. Other improvements, including car-free zones, EV adoption, and winter speed limits during periods of higher dust pollution, also have reduced pollution.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Oslo’s Transportation System
While Oslo benefits from electrification with renewable energy, it still needs to increase public transit ridership to lower the share of personal cars in the modal mix. To encourage public transit use, the city has been testing a flexible ticket plan called Reis, which offers discounts based on the number of tickets a commuter purchases each month. It also has invested in parking spaces for car-sharing services, with multiple companies offering their services. This includes a partnership with a car-sharing cooperative in which cars are owned by the members themselves.
Oslo lags behind top-performing cities in Europe on cycling adoption. While cold winters pose a challenge, the Norwegian city does have a cycling strategy that focuses on increasing adoption and is investing to expand the cycle path network across the city and create dedicated bike lanes. The city also has a public bicycle-sharing system called Oslo City Bikes, which allows residents to locate and unlock bikes through an app and has a yearly subscription option that costs NOK589 ($54).
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Oslo Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Oslo scores well on the Public Transit sub- index, but the city can still improve its offerings. To reach the next level, Oslo can extend the operating hours of its tram from an average of 19.5 hours a day to 24 hours, which is what Copenhagen offers. The T-Bane, Oslo’s metro, currently operates with automation Level 2, meaning trains run automatically but drivers must monitor safety in stations. The city can invest more in autonomous transit to extend the metro’s operating hours and improve its efficiency.
Oslo’s road quality and connectivity lag behind top performers. First, facing a harsh winter climate, Oslo needs to provide regular road maintenance by fixing potholes and using advanced material and methods that increase the lifespan of roads. Second, the city can improve road connectivity by implementing smart traffic management systems to optimize traffic flows.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley