Settling into Oslo - Norway - page 76

The subway (T-banen) has four branch lines to the east. The Western Sub-
urban route (including Holmenkollen) has four lines to the residential sections
and recreation grounds west and north of the city. Subways and trains leave from
near the National Theater on Karl Johans Gate.
For schedule and fare information, call Trafikanten ( & 81-50-01-76 ). Auto-
mated machines cancel tickets. Drivers sell single-trip tickets for 20NOK
($2.85); children travel for half fare. An eight-coupon Flexi card costs 150NOK
($21), and is half price for children. Maxi cards can be used for unlimited trans-
fers for 1 hour from the time the ticket is stamped.
BY TAXI
If you need a taxi, call & 23-23-23-23, available 24 hours a day. Reserve at least
an hour in advance.
Hiring a taxi is very expensive in Oslo. Tariffs start at 30NOK ($4.25) for hailed
taxis in the streets or at 49NOK ($6.95) if you summon one in advance. In addi-
tion to regular fares, there are lethal surcharges between 5 and 10pm costing
110NOK ($16), or between 10pm and 4am costing 210NOK ($30). All taxis
have meters, and Norwegian cab drivers are generally honest. When a cab is avail-
able, a roof light goes on. Taxis can be hailed on the street, provided they're more
than 91m (300 ft.) from a taxi rank. The most difficult time to hail a taxi is Mon-
day to Friday from 8:30 to 10am and 3 to 5pm, and Saturday from 8:30 to 10am.
BY CAR
Driving is not a practical way to get around Oslo because parking is limited. The
efficient public transportation system makes a private car unnecessary. You can
reach even the most isolated areas by public transportation.
Among the multistory parking lots in the city center, the best is Vestre Vika
Bilpark, Dronning Mauds Gate ( & 22-83-35-35 ). The cost of parking a car in
a public garage is 40NOK ($5.70) per hour or 175NOK ($25) for 24 hours.
Illegally parked cars are towed away. For car problems, call the NAF Alarm Cen-
ter ( & 22-34-14-00 ), available 24 hours a day.
BY FERRY
Beginning in mid-April, ferries depart for Bygdøy from Pier 3 in front of the
Oslo Rådhuset. For schedules, call Båtservice ( & 23-35-68-90 ). The ferry or
bus to Bygdøy is a good choice, because parking there is limited. Other ferries
leave for various parts of the Oslofjord. Inquire at the Tourist Information
Office, Fridtjof Nansens Plass 5, N-0160 Oslo ( & 24-14-77-00 ).
BY BICYCLE
Den Rustne Eike, Vestbaneplassen 2 ( & 22-83-52-08 ), rents bikes at moder-
ate rates, complete with free maps of interesting routes in Oslo and its environs.
The cost is 265NOK ($38) per day or 800NOK ($114) per week, with a
1,000NOK ($142) deposit required. It's open May to October daily from 9am
to 9pm; in the off season, it's open Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm.
FAST FACTS: Oslo
American Express American Express Reisebyrå, Karl Johans Gate 33
( & 22-98-37-00 ), is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 10am
to 3pm.