An idea to start charging road tolls in southern Iceland has caused significant debate in recent days.
Stod 2 reported on Wednesday that the government, the Roads Administration and pension funds were discussing the option of imposing road tolls for users of all the main roads in and out of the capital region of Reykjavik.
The tolls on Sudurlandsvegur, Vesturlandsvegur and Reykjanesbraut would be used to fund the widening of Sudurlandsvegur south of Reykjavik towards Hveragerdi and Selfoss. The idea also fits with a current international trend towards road tolls as a measure to fight climate change by reducing unessential traffic.
(Photo: Vesturlandsvegur, from DV.is)
Robert Marshall, Social Democrat MP and member of the parliamentary transport steering group said he is not opposed to the idea in principle. He told Visir.is that people automatically assumed that the tolls would be similar to the Hvalfjordur tunnel when the discussion began; but if a small road toll, something like ISK 100 (USD 0.79) could allow for Sudurlandsvegur to be made into a two-lane highway, he thinks it is worth looking into. Cars currently pay ISK 800 (USD 6.35) to drive through the Hvalfjordur tunnel.
“The idea also fits with a current international trend towards road tolls as a measure to fight climate change by reducing unessential traffic”
The idea also fits with a current international trend towards presenting new tax-raising schemes as for the benefit of the environment. And the citizens lap it up!
Let’s hope that they will not make Iceland like the crappy taxed Norway.
Nonsense!! Now the state wants to suck money from anywhere especially with the typical concept of “pennies” .Here and there.
“The idea also fits with a current international trend towards road tolls as a measure to fight climate change by reducing unessential traffic.”
Yeah because we produce so much pollution!! also climate change has nothing to do with any of this.
This country is falling in a spiral to anything and people does not seen to realize nothing. If the media and government would say ” Eat crap, is good for you and it will help the economy, the pride of the nation, ect…” Im sure lots people will do it.
They have lost commonsense and critical thinking.
TOLLS FOR DRIVING ON THIS ROADS? THEY HAVE TO BE OUT OF THEIR MIND. ICELANDIC ROADS ARE THE WORST ROADS, BY GREAT DIFFERENCE, IN THE WHOLE EUROPE. ROADS IN ICELAND ARE NOT EVEN AS GOOD AS IN COUNTRIES LIKE MARROCCO OR EGYPT.
EVEN THE ROAD FROM REYKJAVÍK TO KEFLAVÍK, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE MODERN ROADS OF ICELAND. THEY ARE JUST PURE CRAP, THE ROAD HAS INCLINATIONS OF 15% OR MORE IN MUCH OF THE PARTS. IT IS A REAL PROOF OF HOW BAD ARE THEY IN MAKING ROADS AND ALL STUFF HERE. THE ONLY GOOD THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY, TALKING ABOUT BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE, HAVE BEEN MADE BY FOREIGN COMPANIES.
IT IS LIKE THE FAMOUS TAX THEY HAVE NOW ON TV AND RADIO. 17.000 KRONURS A YEAR, KIND OF LIKE 10O EUROS FOR WATCHING THIS CRAP OF TV AND LISTENING TO THIS HORRIBLE RADIO. PAYING THIS MONEY FOR WATCHING 30 YEARS OLD TV SERIES LIKE “DINASTY”. YES I AM NOT JOCKING, THEY PUT DINASTY ON TV HERE, AND THE REST IS JUST TV CRAP OF STUPID ICELANDIC TV PROGRAMS WHERE THE GUY WORKING AT THE SUPERMARKET SINGS HORRIBLE PLAY-BACKS… IT IS JUST FOR MASOQUIST REALLY. SEEIN ALL THIS ICELANDIC ARTIST TRYING TO IMITATE INTERNATIONAL STARS. AND THEY DO IT SO BAD, THAT YOU WANT TO VOMIT OR JUST LAUGH AT THEM. EXCEPT WHEN THEY SING THEIR ICELANDIC VERSION OF ANY SONG. JUST THINK ABOUT HEARING A FAT UGLY ICELANDIC GUY SINGING MICHAEL JACKSON SONGS IN ICELANDIC OR HOUSEWIFES SINGING JANIS JAPLIN´S SONGS… IT IS SUCH A CIRCUS… COME AND SEE IT, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE 100 EUROS..
FOR THAT MONEY YOU CAN GET INTERNET CONNECTION, INTERNATIONAL TV. AND HUNDREDS OF GREAT CHANNELS ANYWHERE IN ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY.
ICELAND IS RETROGRADE, HAS THE WORST ROADS EVER IN EUROPE ( WHEN THEY HAVE ROADS BECAUSE ACTUALLY MANY VILLAGES ARE ONLY REACHEABLE BY LAND-FULL OF ROCKS COUNTRY ROADS)… AND THEN YOU SEE THE ICELANDERS DRIVING THEIR EXPENSIVE JEEPS THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY TO JUST GET IN THEIR HOUSES WITH THE CHEAPEST TIN ROOF AND WALLS FILLED WITH CARTONPAPER… THEY REMEMBER ME OF THE FABELAS I SAW IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BUT HEY THEY MANAGE TO MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE THE OTHER SCANDINAVIAN HOUSES… SO SAD…
THE RICHEST NATION IN THE WORLD. … I THINK IT LOOKS MUCH MORE LIKE ANY 3RD WORLD COUNTRY, WITH THIS ROADS FULL OF HOLES AND CRAP TV…
Balkanson, living in Norway I am much agree with you when it comes til road tolls. These tolls have been used for paying for some road distances and when the income has reached the necessary amount it has been removed. I live in an area of Norway where we don’t have road tolls so it is just on some longer trips I face it.
We also have used tolls to pay for bridges. But looking at how much tax and duty we pay when by a car and fill fuel on here in Norway, these incomes more than pay for the roads. I don’t know what taxes you have in Iceland for this.
To SIR EURO, what country do you live in?
“To SIR EURO, what country do you live in?”
I was wondering what planet SIR EURO lives on…
So, they are thinking of making the road from Keflavik to Reykjavik a toll road. Now the first thing the tourist can do upon arriving in Iceland is pay a toll to leave the airport. Just lovely! Another outstanding example of “outside the box” thinking. Or maybe just not thinking at all.
@Rolf
Indeed, transportation on your own is a bit discouraged there. At least, you won’t end to have nearly torn apart roads (cracks, holes,….) as here – northern italy
Mvg.
@Balkanson – The reason we have toll stations in Norway is that it cost money to build these roads. This weekend i drived from Stavanger to Bergen – a distance of 200 km. This include 3 under sea crossings with with a total lenght of 20 km and the deepest tunnels go down to 260 meters. The two first are now free because they are paid down, tha latest is newer and cross money. In addition there are two ferry crossings we also pay for. It takes +/- 5 hours to drive the distance, depend on the ferries.
There is total of more than 900 road tunnels in Norway – total distance is 7-800 km. The longest is + 24km. In addition ther are more tha 700 railroad tunnels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tunnels_in_Norway
I is difficult and terrible expensive to build roads here – those who have been on the west coast should now.
If you know a way to get these free, please tell us. You are welcome to come here and make it.
Of course many people don´t like to pay taxes, but at least there is a theory that says that it is those who use the roads that pays.
I don´t agree with those who say it is overtaxed and expensive here. You must combine what you get out of the money you earn and how long it take you to work for those thing you want to buy.
Our system is basically ment to those who live here, just like every other country. If you want some level of quality, then you have to work for it and use the coins to pay for what you want and expect to get, either it is public og private service.
I agree with Tim66 it does not helps tourism when you have to pay after 1km driving. But embedding 1000ISK of tax in the car rental prices would not make a big change and surely worth it…
Considering the weather conditions, the use of nailed tyres in the winter and the amount of salt needed to keep the roads clear, I think the road conditions are very good here. Repairs are made quickly and without many weeks of traffic cones signifying that something is about to happen but no evidence of any work going on! I travelled around the West fjords this summer and I was warned how bad the roads might be, I was surprised that almost everywhere had very good road surfaces.
Sir Euros comments are without foundation and borderline rascist, I am wondering what the mediators of this site are doing to allow such drivel through!
TO JIM AND ROLF. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME TO ICELAND, WHERE I LIVE AND TAKE A DRIVE AROUND. 40% OF THE ROADS ARE JUST LAND ROADS. ICELANDERS HAVE BEEN SO “RICH” BUT UNABLE TO PAY FOR DECENT ROADS. THE REST 60% IS PATCHED ALL THE WAY, WITH HOLES, TERRIBLE INCLINATIONS, VERY DANGEROUS ROADS. THAT ARE BTW VERY BAD SIGNED. ROADS IN ICELAND ARE A REAL MESS, EVEN ICELANDERS SAY THAT A LOT. TAKE A DRIVE FROM REYKJAVÍK TO AKUREYRI. AND THEN LET ME HEAR WHAT YOU THINK….
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU HAVE FIRST HAND INFORMATION AND REAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ALL AROUND ICELAND AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT ANY COUNTRY ROAD IN EUROPE IS MORE SUITABLE FO CARS AND MORE SAFE THAN WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN ICELAND.
IF YOU ALSO HAVE BEEN TO ICELAND YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE MAIN CONSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY FOREIGN COMPANIES. STARTING BY THE PORT OF REYKJAVÍK, AND DO YOU KNOW KARANJUKA? BUILD BY AN ITALIAN COMPANY, WITH CHINESE AND TURKISH HANDS… BUT THEN THEY HAD THIS AGREEMENT OF EMPLOYING ICELANDERS AS WELL… SO A FRIEND OF MINE, WHO HAS NOT EVEN FINISHED SECONDARY SCHOOL, WAS HIRED AS THE SUPERVISOR FOR WORK SAFETY…
SO GO FIGURE… THIS IS ICELAND MY FRIENDS, IT DOES NOT MATTER, IF YOU KNOW THE RIGHT GUY YOU CAN GET ANY JOB YOU WANT. NO WONDER WHY BANKS WERE CROWED BY INCOMPETENT PEOPLE THAT HAD NO IDEA OF FINANCE AND BANKING… BUT OF COURSE, THEY ARE ICELANDERS, SO THEY THINK THAT SOMEHOW THEY “KNOW IT ALL”… I MEAN, IF YOU GO TO A BUSINESS SCHOOL IN LONDON, MANHEIM, OR THE LIKE… PEOPLE JUST GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS TO LOOSE TIME AND LEARN NOTHING… LETS SAY WE SHOULD GO TO ICELAND AND LEARN FROM ICELANDERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERTS IN EVERYTHING, THEY JUST GOT IT GENETICALLY…
GOT IT JIM?
TO NAME OTHER EXAMPLES, THE CULTURE HOUSE IN AKUREYRI, A HUGE PROJECT OF MILLIONS OF EUROS. BUILT BY A GERMAN-LITUANIAN COMPANY. WE HAD GUYS FROM GERMANY, RUSSIA, ESTONIA, EVERYWHERE,,, THE HOUSE OF THE MUSIC IN REYKJAVÍK? THE SAME… A FOREIGN COMPANY.
ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT IS EMPLOYED FOR CONSTRUCTION IN ICELAND COMES FROM ABROAD. THERE IS NOT EVEN DECENT CONSTRUCTION WOOD IN THIS COUNTRY, IT HAS TO BE IMPORTED FROM ABROAD. ALL THE MACHINERY,ETC… AND WITH THE MACHINERY THEY HAVE TO IMPORT TECHNICIANS THAT KNOW HOW TO USE THEM. THEN… WHEN ICELANDERS HAVE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING JUST BY THEMSELVES, IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE OF VERY LOW QUALITY. SO NOW, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT MAKING A ROAD IS AN EASY TASK, WELL JIM, ICELANDERS THOUGHT THE SAME… RESULTS?? COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF….
I LIVE IN ICELAND, AND IF IT WOULD BE A PLANET, THIS WOULD BE THE PLANET OF THE APES. ALLEGORY TO THE HOLLYWOOD MOVIE WHERE HUMAN ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE TO A PLANET RULED BY IGNORANT, EGOCENTRIC, APES WITH A VERY PRONOUNCED SENSE OF SUPERIORITY… AND THAT WERE NOT ABLE, NOT WILLING TO, RECOGNIZE THEIR MISTAKES AND LEARN FROM OTHERS…
sir euro speaks as if he lives in Iceland, if that is true why do you bother? i have rarely seen a good word about this coutry in one of your posts, if you are so down on it(and do in fact live here) then why not just get out, we do not need or want people with such a negative attitude here.
yes of course there are problems here, many of them right now. the goverment is a joke but due to being taken from behind by the uk and imf they need to tax everything just to try and get us out of the mess.
i am not Icelandic i was born in England but i will happily take Icelandic citizenship when i can, it is a beautiful place to live and until this current crisis had a standard of living not often found elsewhere. in time it will crawl out of this mess and once again be the envy of many countries i am sure.
WELL, MAYBE MY PROBLEM IS THAT I AM FROM SWITZERLAND. AND, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN THERE YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED THE QUALITY OF THE ROADS, AND ANY OTHER TRANSPORTATIONS, LIKE TRAINS ETC… SO SORRY TO TELL, BUT WHEN IN ICELAND IS SEE ICELANDERS WITH THEIR SENSE OF SUPERIORITY DRIVING THIS 3RD WORLD LIKE ROADS… SORRY, BUT I CAN´T RESIST MYSELF AND I LAUGH… I ALSO LAUGH, OR CRY BECAUSE IT IS SO SAD TO SEE THIS SOCIAL DRAMA, WHEN I SEE THAT ICELANDIC SOCIETY IS NOT A MODEST SOCIETY, BUT JUST THE OPPOSITE. A PUNCH OF REDNECKS MOST OF THEM WITHOUT A GOOD EDUCATION, WHO THINK ( OR THOUGHT?) THEY WHERE THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT LACK OF MODESTY IS A MAN’S WORST ENEMY.
AND NOW, THEY ARE SO BAD AT DOING BUSINESS. THIS PEOPLE HAVE NOT THE TRADITION OR KNOWLEDGE FOR IT. BUT WHAT THEY HAVE IN TRADITION , WHAT IS THAT JIM? IT IS TO CATTLE COWS AND SHEEPS, AND THE VIKING RAIDS. PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY RAID EACH OTHER FOR CENTURIES, FAMILIES THAT ATTACKED EACH OTHER, RAIDS AND ROBBERY WHERE A COMMON PRACTICE… UNTIL TODAY, WHERE THE SAME HAS HAPPENED BUT AT A MUCH BIGGER LEVEL. A GANG OF BANKERS AND BUSINESSMEN, SCREWING EACH OTHER, SCREWING THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.. AND SCREWING IT ALL.. BANKRUPT..
THE SOLUTION? LETS RAID THE TOURIST AND THE DECENT WORKERS, LETS THEM PAY FOR DRIVING THE ROADS… HAHAHA, I REALLY DON´T WANT TO PAY FOR THIS NORDIC VERSION OF THE CAMEL TROPHY, WITH THIS ROADS THAT ARE FLOODED BY RIVERS, FULL OF ROCKS AND HOLES…
THEY MIGHT BE OUT OF THEIR MINDS
Well, for the description on roads and T.V. I’m sure SIR EURO lives in Iceland, no question about it.
Why does the mad one (who would obviously benefit from electroconvulsive shock therapy) call himself SIR EURO if he’s a Swiss person living in Iceland? SIR is very British and EURO is very continental Europe.
With the population and the area size of Iceland, I am very satisfied with the quality and coverage of roads in Iceland. Just imagine how the authority has to repair the roads every summer after excessive used of road by studded tires over the long winter.
To SIR EURO – so you live in Iceland. Well, I have very little experience with your roads. I stayed in Iceland for a week late autumn last year and for a week late summer this year. A couple of friends drove the Golden circle last year, we visited Akranes this year, driving round Hvalfjørdur to Akranes and the tunnel back to Reykjavik. Most other trips where in the Reykjavik area. In my opinion the roads were quit good.
As you understand I live in Norway, not in any town so I am dependent of the roads out on country. To me the icelandic roads are just as good as the norwegian ones. Well, to you that just say how bad our roads in Norway are.
I think Øystein’s comment is a good one in telling about road tolls in Norway.
you gotta love SIR EURO sometimes. Spends so much time slagging of Iceland yet his own country has its beautiful infrastructure courtesy of stolen Jewish money from WWII.
I spent a month last summer working in Switzerland. Thanks for the money. Boring Boring Boring place.
Ill take Iceland any day.
And having driven almost every road in Europe in the last 15 years, they are in the most part no better or no worse than Icelandic roads.
Now lets talk Africa…..
TV anywhere in the world is rubbish.
The Main Roads in Iceland are FAR better than they are in the UK, but many smaller ones in the country are dirt or dust tracks at best, so it does depend where SIR EURO is driving.
Tolls? Are they going to use it to make more good roads to drive on, or just to give it to the rich?
I spent 5 weeks driving those roads last summer, There rough, but I will still drive them. 4 weel drive here I come! Next year I plan to really go off road.
“OH CRAP” SIR EURO IS BACK!!! PLEASE PRETTY PLRASE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP, GET OUT OF ICELAND.
I have to spend 20$ just to get off the Island were I live, and the roads are still really bad. There are sooo many cars on the roads, but the roads won’t fix themselves.
If people think that tolls are going to keep them from driving they’re mad. It will just cost more money for people to get around and it will come out of there pockets. It’s bad enough that they have to pay for what their bankers did, now they have to pay more to drive to work. Well if you want the luxury of a car, well it will cost money to maintain them. When will they make bike routes?
Now I will pay for that!
Iceland has much better roads than Norway, even than Sweden.
I currentlylive in the usa, and they are constanstly bluioling roads here in the southwest, go up north and the roads in big cities are scarey even here, I would go back home anyday as soon as I can get the money, I was ripped from IS. at 5, but have 3 degrees:2 ba’s & 1 masters. Icelanders need education and less greed, but good people. You have to be one to know one, IS. has come a long way and life there is close and hard, but I love it. Wait for me Iceland, anyway you are. Love You and miss you much, hard in USA too, b/c everything is made in China, and health care sucks, Without it too bad, people only care about themselves!!! SAD! What happened to humanity? IN TX.
Sorry about my misspelling of building, dark in here and tired, sorry. USA has good and lots of bad, crime is bad and a money maker. IN Iceland they don’t ruin your life and take care of their people, the loss of funds is due to young arrogant idiots who thought they could live rich and very much like the USA, I have seen it! But I still wish I never was taken away from IS. by my Mother, it ruined my family, and a bad step father!! One thing Icveland will do is get out and learn from there mistakes, and it will thrive again. We have very high tolls, cost alot to park and its costs to do everything, Most are losing there jobs, only the 1% live well, rest are penching pennies. You only can travel if you live in Ny or close b/c of expensive airfare’s like the old days. This world is going to hell, love those you can and stay healthy. Iceland do not start eating fat food like USA, over 50% obese! Watch out Europe!!!! And Scandanavia. Bless Island(ye elka thou).
Sorry misspelled Iceland, so sorry, writting to fast and my nails hit extra keys, to quick to send.
Bless Viking’s, be proud, you have good roads! Few tolls would oy kill you, just make sure they stop when paid for in full. Be careful who you hire-foreign, You guys used to speak more English, why aren’t people learning it, is it b/c the base is gone, if NATO comes you better get it going in school. Bless Vikes! ER
We have one toll road in England that by-passes Birmingham and one of the busiest motorways in the UK, the M6. It costs £4.50 for a car to travel along its 30 or more miles. Most of the time it is virtually empty. No one wants to pay tolls. The best way to reduce emissions is to make public transport cheap and accessible and make cars cleaner and more energy efficient. Iceland needs tourism. The relative emptiness of your roads make them a pleasure to travel on. Keep them free.
sylvia from merseyside
That Euro guy is a parody of himself.
The roads around the country are excellent considering the weather and winter tyre use.
Dirt tracks are in the main for sparsely populated areas and sparsely used roads.
“The idea also fits with a current international trend towards road tolls as a measure to fight climate change by reducing unessential traffic.”
Eh? is not the idea to use the climate change as an excuse to increase road use tax for all essential and non essential. use of the road?
Robert Marshall mp says “but if a small road toll, something like ISK 100 (USD 0.79) could allow for Sudurlandsvegur to be made into a two-lane highway, he thinks it is worth looking into.”
The plan is to reduce traffic with a toll so would there be not be even less of an argument for the construction a dual carraigeway?
It is a strange to propagate a plan to reduce traffic if it is already known not to work,
reduce traffic = (introduce toll + build wider road) = attract more traffic?
“Now lets talk Africa…..”
Are you comparing us to Africa? if not, whats the point?
“That Euro guy is a parody of himself.
The roads around the country are excellent considering the weather and winter tyre use.
Dirt tracks are in the main for sparsely populated areas and sparsely used roads.”
AND NOW IS MY TURN TO ASK KNOWLESS, IN WHICH COUNTRY DO YOU LIVE??
THEY MIGHT BE EXCELLENT IN ICELANDIC TERMS. BUT I CAN TELL YOU I HAVE TRAVELLED FOR MANY COUNTRIES, EVEN COUNTRIES CONSIDERED 3RD WORLD, AND I HAVE SEEM MUCH BETTER ROADS THAN IN ICELAND.
SPECIALLY BECAUSE OF WINTER AND WEATHER CONDITIONS ROADS SHOULD BE BETTER IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT THEY AREN´T, NO WONDER WHY DOZENS OF PEOPLE END FALLING OFF CLIFFS ROADS OR DRIVING INTO A RIVER IN MANY PLACES IN ICELAND EVERY YEAR.
THERE IS THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE CLAIMING FOR HAVING BETTER ROADS.. THEY HAVE EVEN DONE A MAP OF ICELAND WHERE THEY SHOW IN RED ALL THE VERY DANGEROUS ROADS THAT NEED URGENT REPAIR. BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO MONEY FOR THEM.
AND AS I SAID MORE THAN 45% OF ICELANDIC ROADS ARE NOT EVEN ASFALT BUT LAND ROADS FULL OF HOLES AND STONES. AND NOW GO AND ASK ALL THIS PEOPLE LIVING OUT OF REYKJAVÍK AND THE MAIN POPULATIONS IN ICELAND… THEY HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THIS DANGEROUS ROADS, THAT, DUE TO THEIR LOW QUALITY, ARE TOTALLY UNTRANSITABLE WHEN THE WINTER COMES… THEY ARE TOO DANGEROUS.
NOW, THE 55% OF ROADS THAT ARE WITH ASFALT, TAKE JUST A DRIVE FROM REYKJAVÍK TO AKUREYRI AND YOU WILL NOTICE IN WICH BAD STATE THE ROADS ARE IN ICELAND.
EVERY, AND I SAY EVERY TOURIST COMING TO ICELAND ALWAYS COMPLAINS ABOUT HOW BAD AND DANGEROUS ROADS ARE HERE, SPECIALLY IN THE WEST OF THE COUNTRY AND THE LESS POPULATED AREAS.
THERE IS A LOT OF ICELANDIC PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ROADS, MEDIA HAVE SILENCED THEM VERY WELL…
IF THEY WOULD MAKE AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH I AM SURE THAT MORE THAN 75% OF ICELANDERS WOULD SAY THAT ROADS IN THE CONTRY ARE BAD TO VERY BAD IN MOST OF THE TERRITORY…
AND NOW GIVE ME A BREAK, BECAUSE IF YOU DRIVE OUT OF REYKJAVÍK YOU MIGHT KNOW ALL THIS, ALSO IF YOU CONTACT TRANSPORT WORKERS WHO ARE ALWAYS RISKING THEIR LIVES IN THIS DANGEROUS ROADS THAT ARE NOT EVEN READY FOR THIS BIG TRUCKS… GO AND ASK THEM AND THEY WILL TELL YOU…
GO TO UK, GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN..ETC… AND COMPARE, WHAT IS AN EXCELLENT ROAD.. SPECIALLY THOSE YOU HAVE TO PAY…
SYLVIA, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. I DON´T AGREE WITH CREATING MORE ROADS IN ICELAND, BUT AT LEAST, THE MAJORITY OF ICELANDERS CLAIM THAT MOST OF THE ROADS DON´T OFFER A MINIMUM OF SECURITY.
I GUESS THAT WHEN THIS COUNTRY GETS IN THE EU, AND EU INSPECTORS COME HERE… WELL, ROADS WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WILL CLAIM ICELAND TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.. AND YEAH, IT WILL PROBABLY THE BEGINNING OF THE CIVILIZED ERA OF THIS COUNTRY. AS THEY WILL GET HUGE EU BUDGETS TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COUNTRY. ROADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
LETS FACE IT, WITH EU HELP YOU WOULD GET BETTER ROADS= BETTER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM= BETTER ECONOMY… AND SO ON…
YOU MIGHT EVEN GET A TRAIN IF YOU ARE LUCKY, AND YOU COULD FINALLY EMPLOY ALL THAT ABUNDANT NATURAL ENERGY YOU HAVE, THAT YOU CANNOT EXPORT OUT BUT THAT YOU CAN USE TO PUT A SPEED TRAIN LIINE THAT COULD GO AROUND THE COUNTRY, SO PEOPLE COULD TRAVEL EASILY, CHEAP, BEING ECO-FRIENDLY AND WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, TRAVELLING SAVE…
CAMON, EVEN COUNTRIES LIKE SPAIN HAVE THE MOST MODERN SPEED TRAIN LINES IN THE WORLD… HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN TO TENERIFE? YOU SEE ON OF THE MOST MODERN SHORT DISTANCE TRAINS IN THE WORLD… AND IT IS JUST A TINY ICELAND. THE TRAIN HAS REDUCED THE USE OF CARS AND BUSES, IS COMPLETELY CLEAN, WORKS WITH SOLAR ENERGY…
ICELAND IS REALLY ACKWARD IN TRANSPORTATION, WITH ALL THIS ENERGY I DON´T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON´T HAVE A DECENT TRAIN.
PLEASE, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN ICELAND…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC4YBHoaWfY
>PLEASE, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN ICELAND…
Yawn. Makes no sense. 6m people vs 300k.
BTW, what happend to you? And why are you back?
AND NOW, FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO HIDE THE TRUTH, AND SPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO NOW IT,,, HERE IS A VIDEO ABOUT ICELANDIC ROADS… WHAT ANY EU CITIZEN WOULD TAKE AS A PARIS DAKAR EXPERIENCE IS SADLY THE DAILY REALITY OF MANY ICELANDERS IN THEIR WAY TO WORK OR SCHOOL
THAT IS THEY 45% OF ICELANDIC ROADS THAT ARE COMMONLY TRAVELED BY ICELANDERS, MANY TIMES AS THEIR ONLY WAY OF COMMUNICATION OUT OF THE PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClejJkkVYnE
LOOK, HOW UNSAFE THE ROADS ARE, SOME TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND STUFF BUT THE ROAD IS SO CRAP AND UNSECURE, NOTICE HOW SCARED AND DISAPOINTED THIS PEOPLE IS IN THE VIDEO..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZt1fl2Fz9I&feature=related
AND THIS ONE IS REALLY FUNNY…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zgsssWSmI&NR=1
SO KNOWLESS WHO IS A PARODY OF HIMSELF??
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF 3RD WORLD LIKE ICELANDIC ROADS… MOST OF WICH YOU WILL HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND THE COUNTRY… IDEAL FOR THE 4X4W DRIVERS…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDNqca_9iz8
Africa has really bad roads.
I would rather walk than join the bl**dy EU, stuff your trains and your EU propaganda Gus or Euro or whatever you call your self,
If you had ever been to Iceland you might have noticed that we have alot of mountains here and lots of snow in the winter, trains are not a option here, thats why no one ever talks about trains here, its would be a stupid idea.
some one once mentioned a possibility of a subway between Keflavik and Reykjavik, thats it,
Iceland will never join the EU,
there is not a snowball chance in hell of that ever happening, do your EU trolling somewhere else, im sick of it.
Beeing completly honest, GUS is not that far off, in fact we can not talk about Iceland’s roads because there is acctually only ONE, we should be talking about Icelandic ROAD(one) which is number “1″ and goes arround the island, the rest of the “roads” are pretty much just like the videos that GUS has posted, and off course we can play the we “like nature” card, but the fact of the matter is that outside route “1″ and few other very short exeptions, everything else is like the videos shown, lets not lie to ourselves, in roads and transportation we are way way far behind, then again we don’t need that much anyways, this is a very small and scarsly populated country.
@Axel. Didn’t you say the same about Icesave deal?
in fact you couldn’t be more wrong, as a matter of fact “there is no snowball chance in hell” that Iceland will not join EU, and I’m not pro Iceland joining EU at all, but the problem is that there is no other chioce, the economic situation has taken our “independence” away, Iceland is no longer makeing its oun decisions, mark my words Icealnd WIL join EU. No matter what partty is in power, the green the red the blue or yellow or purple if you want, Iceland will join Europe, the party that makes the decisions now and from now on is the IMF/UE/forign investors “aliance party”. Sorry… reallity hurts.
There used to be a train track in Iceland for your information, but given the 25 earthquakes a day and the small population it will never come back.
I can only think by all your suggestions that you are a road builder and you want more work ?
For the life of me and I think I can say for many people who have commented on this wonderful forum that you are way out on your own here, given the population and the weather conditions these roads are much better than most of Europe.
I am surprised that your comments are able to be posted, are you sure your not a bitter “Icesave” saver, who just wants to moan and gripe.
I do not wish to be personnal and I really enjoy these forums but I really do feel you are on your own here.
@Waterman and Alex
There are lots of mountains and earthquakes in Japan too and they have the best railway system in the world (I travelled there by train myself and was hugely impressed).
Moreover there is plenty of snow in Japan too.
Countries like Norway and Russia have lots of mountains and snow too, much more so than Iceland and they manage to operate a large and efficient train system.
Railways have te great advantage that they transport people more fuel efficiently.
Iceland would be able to save a lot of money, not having to import so much fuel .
“given the population and the weather conditions these roads are much better than most of Europe.”
This comment may work for someone that has no idea about Iceland but dont fool your self. We have bad roads by choice and laziness.
Dont forget that the USA wanted to build roads for us during WW2 and it was denied. I Dont agree in that all Africa has bad roads, I have seen better roads than here and of course similar conditions as here, the only difference is that here no one will drive them with a Ferrari as compared in some places in Africa.
The lack of a train is a reflection of the backward way of thinking of some people, product cost would be lower as transportation is cost efficient among other benefits that a train system would have.
Over 200.000 people live in the Reykjavik region,
the biggest town outside that area is Akureyri, it has 17.000 people, the rest live in many small towns all over Iceland,
where are the trains supposed to go ?
if they would go to Akureyri we will have to drill a tunnel from Reykjavik to Akureyri some 300 km,
and build at least 2 large bidges, one of them will have to cross Hvalfjord,
this is silly, useless to waste time on a brainless idea,
there is a big difference between a train and a car, trains go from 0-300 km or selected cruize speed and stays there until destination,
so sharp turns can be tricky just to mention one problem from a long list.
without lots of tunnels this would be more like a rollercoaster.
There is nothing wrong with Icelandic roads,
We have the best and the worst roads in the world,
while driving on those excellent roads you can enjoy the most beutiful landscape in the world,
people should apreciate what they have, not complaint and ask for more.
“There used to be a train track in Iceland for your information,”
2 small trains came in 1913 to be used in building Reykjavik harbour.
” the party that makes the decisions now and from now on is the IMF/UE/forign investors “aliance party”. Sorry… reallity hurts”
Only the social deomocrats want to join the EU, no one else, that is simply not enough, and far from it, the chance of a desicion to ratify a descicion to enter EU is very obviously zero, only a comlete idiot would dream of such stupidity, in a referendum ca 70% would vote NO, a Icelandic no is not negotiable like the spineless Irish no.
“Dont forget that the USA wanted to build roads for us during WW2 and it was denied”
That was 1 road between Keflavik and Reykjavik,
and i am sure they would have done that for free,
never turn down a free lunch Aggi.
Indeed Alex but, imo, a light rail+narrow gauge transport system [route: Grindavik - Keflavik - (Hafnarfjordur/Kopavogur) Reykjavik Area - Selfoss - Stokkseyri] would be the most wise choice. With a plan to further extend the line up to Borgarnes (+ one stop in Akranes).
Do you like my idea ? :P
AXEL SAID
“Over 200.000 people live in the Reykjavik region,
the biggest town outside that area is Akureyri, it has 17.000 people, the rest live in many small towns all over Iceland,
where are the trains supposed to go ?”
TO THE FUTURE AXEL, TO THE FUTURE. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF POPULATION IN THE REYKJAVÍK AREA IS THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
THIS COUNTRY CANNOT DEVELOP ITS ECONOMY AND SOCIETY WITHOUT PROPER TRANSPORTATION. NOT ALL NATURAL RESOURCES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE REYKJAVÍK AREA, BUT ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
TRAIN IS DEVELOPMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES INVESTMENT,
FOR THE FUTURE AXEL,
REMEMBER WHEN THEY BUILT THE TRAIN LINE BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE WEST COAST IN USA. WHY DID THEY DO THAT IF MOST OF WHAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE WAS UNCIVILIZED, LOW POPULATED? BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO DEVELOP THOSE AREAS AND POPULATED THEM.
PEOPLE DON´T WANT TO LIVE OUT OF REYKJAVÍK OR AKUREYRI, NOR OUT OF THE FEW VILLAGES YOU CALL TOWNS. BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING OUT OF THEM. PEOPLE NEEDS SERVICES, TRANSPORTATIONS ETC…
CLEVER AXEL SAID:If you had ever been to Iceland you might have noticed that we have alot of mountains here and lots of snow in the winter, trains are not a option here
AXEL, YOU HAVE ALL OF US VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR COMMENTS. I AM HALF FROM SWITZERLAND. WE HAVE MOUNTAINS AND LOTS SNOW THERE TOO. AND TRAIN ARE THE MAIN OPTION FOR TRANSPORTATION.
“I don´t agree with those who say it is overtaxed and expensive here. You must combine what you get out of the money you earn and how long it take you to work for those thing you want to buy.”
PEOPLE IN ICELAND EARNS THE SAME THEY DID LAST YEAR. IF THEY ARE LUCKY BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THEIR SALARIES AND WORKING HOURS REDUCED. OR THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS. NOW WE HAVE THIS ALL NEW TAXES. AND SOON THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY 50% OF YOUR SALARIES. JUST WAIT. IT IS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN THAT THE MAIN PROBLEM FOR MOST OF ICELANDERS IS HOW TO PAY THEIR HOUSES. BANKS AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE TRYING TO HELP WITH DIFFERENT PLANS. SO OBVIOUSLY MOST OF THE PEOPLE CANNOT PAY BASIC EXPENSES WITH THE MONEY THEY MAKE IN THIS COUNTRY.
NOW, SPEAKING OF THOSE WHO HAVE SOME MONEY, LUXURY THINGS LIKE TRAVELLING, ONE YEAR AGO A FAMILY OF 4 HAD TO PAY 60.000 ISK EACH TO GO ONE WEEK TO SPAIN WITH HOTEL AND FLIGHT. NOW THEY HAVE TO PAY 120.000 EACH. AND OF COURSE, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY THE DOUBLE FOR EATING AND SHOPPING ABROAD AS THE KRONA IS SO WEAK.
ELIN
his world is going to hell, love those you can and stay healthy. Iceland do not start eating fat food like USA, over 50% obese!
ELIN 60% OF PEOPLE IN ICELAND ARE OVERWEIGHT. PLEASE, COME AND TAKE A LOOK. OBESITY HERE IS REALLY WORRYING. IN THE SCHOOL WHERE I TEACH I HAVE OBSERVED 3 OF EACH 5 STUDENTS PRESENTING OBESITY.
“Only the social deomocrats want to join the EU, no one else, that is simply not enough, and far from it, the chance of a desicion to ratify a descicion to enter EU is very obviously zero, only a comlete idiot would dream of such stupidity, in a referendum ca 70% would vote NO, a Icelandic no is not negotiable like the spineless Irish no.”
FOR THOSE WHO FEAR ICELAND GETTING IN THE EU. STAY CALM. WITH THIS NUMBERS, SUCH A RUINED ECONOMY, YOUR POLITICAL MESS AND A CURRENCY WITHOUT VALUE. I DON´T THINK YOU HAVE ANY CHANCE OF GETTING YOUR PASS FOR THE EUROSHOW IN YEARS TO COME.. SO REST CALM IN YOUR MISERY. POVERTY FOR YEARS TO COME IS WHAT YOU WILL HAVE… HOPEFULLY THE NEED WILL MAKE YOU THINK MORE CLEARLY.
AXEL.
“There is nothing wrong with Icelandic roads,
We have the best and the worst roads in the world,
while driving on those excellent roads you can enjoy the most beutiful landscape in the world,
AXEL, I AGREE WITH YOU, THERE ARE FANTASTIC LANDSCAPE TO LOOK WHILE YOU DRIVE IN ICELAND. SAD THAT I HAVE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE HOLES ON THE ROAD. AND THE OTHER CARS DRIVING IN THIS TINY INSECURE WAYS.
“people should apreciate what they have, not complaint and ask for more.”
OF COURSE NOT AXEL, 1500 PEOPLE RECEIVE CHARITY FOOD IN REYKJAVÍK EVERYDAY ( AROUND 300 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, HOUSES, AND ALL THEY HAVE ARE DEBTS) THE FOOD THEY GET IS GOOD AND WARM, SO WHY SHOULD THEY COMPLAIN AXEL?? WELL, MAYBE THEY SHOULD COMPLAIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HEAR TO THIS RELIGIOUS BULL**** OF THE CHURCH TO GET THEIR DAILY RATIONS.. LOVE JESUS!!
HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK OF LAO-TSE ? I AM SURE YOU HAVE, BECAUSE HE WAS TELLING THIS:
”
If people lack knowledge and desire
Then they can not act;
If no action is taken
Harmony remains.”
IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY A LAO-TSE STYLE OR WHAT??
GIVE ME A BREAK AXEL. IF PEOPLE SHOULD EVER COMPLAIN, THIS IS THE MOMENT. COMPLAINING IS FOR FREE… AND IF YOU DO IT YOU MIGHT GET SOMETHING. BUT IF YOU SHUT UP YOUR MOUTH… WHO IS GOING TO CARE?
Why not build train tracs by the shore line to Isafjordur :)
http://m5.is/?gluggi=frett&id=96413
The worst roads are in the North east part of the country because of the landscape,
and i can promise you that you will not find a single person in the West fjords that wants to join the EU.
densou said:
“Indeed Alex but, imo, a light rail+narrow gauge transport system [route: Grindavik - Keflavik - (Hafnarfjordur/Kopavogur) Reykjavik Area - Selfoss - Stokkseyri] would be the most wise choice. With a plan to further extend the line up to Borgarnes (+ one stop in Akranes).
Do you like my idea ? :P”
Not a bad idea, that area is highly populated and mostly flat, we have had alot of accidents in the past between Reykjavik-Keflavik and Reykjavik-Selfoss, this could take some of the traffic off those roads, lots of people in Selfoss and Keflavik work in Reykjavik, they would appreciate this, the only problem is that this is rather expensive.
I don’t think it’d be so expensive rather planning an entire railroad (with standard gauge) towards Western Fjords and/or Akuyeri.
Note: I used to play Iceland scenario (fan well made map) on Railroad Tycoon 3 :D I can’t be helped hehe :) that’s how I realized that.