I asked them about City Cycling (and driving) Norge Style. Here’s what I found out:

1) There are few obvious bike lanes in the city centre of Bergen. Many streets though, are blocked and calmed to stop drivers. I was staying close to Fosswinckels Gate that actually had a basketball court on it. How car unfriendly is that!! Cyclists had ramped cut-throughs.

2) Many cyclists use pavements for local trips. Helmet wearing is patchy, though I’d wear something on my head as it rains here all the time!

3) Further out I saw a bike tunnel that was big enough to drive my SmallCar® through. The cyclists were not happy! Norwegian cyclists are just like the ones at home and rarely smile.

4) Bergen has fairly quiet traffic and people do not race off at traffic lights ‘grand prix’style. If you hit a cyclist it is your fault whatever the circumstances.

5) Bergen has had road tolls for years - income generated is twice that originally forecast and has been used to inprove roads and public transport.

6) Bergen has steep hills and heavy rain. All bikes have mudguards and gears though I saw a few of the 3 speed variety.

7) Cycling levels are still higher here than UK and obesity is low.

My host for the visit was Ingebjorg Norstrom who is also a SmallCar® importer for the Fyllingsdalen district. Like many Norwegians Ingebjorg has a Hytte (hutta) in the mountains where she likes to spend weekends and I was honoured to be invited to join her. All however, did not go as planned. Whilst Inge was sorting out the special SmallTrailer® to tow behind her car I decided to take a quick drive round town. This was a gross error of judgement.

Unfortunately within ten minutes I had managed to ‘lose’my SmallCar® by mistakenly driving through a bus-only tunnel on Olav Kyres Gate. I was easily apprehended by the police at the other end as there is a barrier that can only be worked by buses.

The shame of it all - dear reader this must rate as my worst driving experience ever. I did try explaining to the Politi that I was Bobby McWheeler, the famous online motoring correspondent with around 100 readers and that bus lanes back home were painted bright green or red. I also pointed out that the hill that the tunnel went through was in fact too steep for my little car.