Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on strategic sustainable mobility goals, discourses, plans and strategies in Norwegian urban regions

Abstract

This paper examines how uncertainty induced by the Covid-19 pandemic influenced strategic sustainable land-use and mobility goals, discourses, plans and strategies in two Norwegian urban regions, and, based on this, discusses the strengths and vulnerabilities of pre-pandemic policies. The analysis draws on 21 in-depth interviews with a panel of leading professionals in two Norwegian urban regions conducted during (2021) and after (2024) the pandemic, complemented with reviews of planning documents produced before, during and after this period. The study finds that although changes in travel behavioural during the pandemic heightened uncertainty, they did not significantly influence planning discourses, and as a result, pre-pandemic sustainable mobility goals and strategies were not challenged or altered. This resilience is explained by their strong political and professional anchoring, institutionalisation through agreements and plans, and grounding in robust and widely accepted knowledge, which also constitute key strengths of the goals and strategies. However, their dependence on continued public transport improvements amid rising costs and uncertain funding, and land-use strategies aimed at limiting urban sprawl being susceptible to challenge, were identified as key vulnerabilities warranting careful attention to ensure progress towards sustainable mobility. The findings also indicate that the pandemic did not create scope for exercising power more forcefully to pursuit sustainable mobility goals. The paper addresses knowledge gaps in the pandemic literature, while also contributing to the broader research on sustainable mobility governance and offering insights relevant for planning and policymaking.