02 Nov - Efficiencies

One of the culture aspects that continues to impress me is the Norwegian efficiency. The US may have tried to implement efficiency in corporations and production environments. At least it has been attempted, that’s more than could be said for our government. Remind me, why do we still use paper ballots?

First worthy mention are the toll booths… or lack thereof. Don’t get me wrong, even the roads cost money in this expensive country, however there are no booths. Actually, there are signs that specifically say “do not stop, do not slow down”. All cars must have the electronic toll card in their windshield (including rental cars), so all tolls are drive-thru at 60+km/hr (~40 mph). Oh yes, Norway will take your money as quickly as possible.

Second, the grocery store check-out follows the same “quick money” motto. When the grocery bill is totaled, do not hand all your cash to the checker clerk. Hand the bills to the clerk and deposit coins in the coin machine. The same machine that dispenses coins for your change, will gladly eat your metal currency. If you do hand them to the clerk, there is a roll of the eyes before the clerk’s arm reaches over and the hand blindly deposits them in the machine’s mouth. That hand knows right where the slot is from the previous Americ.. oblivious customers.

Third, the metal tokens themselves are efficient… or maybe just inflated. The currency coins are in equivalent US amounts of $3.75, $1.75, $0.20, and $0.10. They have no equivalent nickels , let alone pennies. Actually, the dime equivalent is treated like a hot potato. If you can offload them onto the clerk, you “win”. Not even the parking meters accept the low-life half kroner.

Fourth, the little ticket that waits in line for you. At NY delis and the DMV, I was introduced to the Take-A-Number system. You find the little red dispenser, tear off the ticket, peek over everyone else’s shoulders to see whom to trade with, then fall in your seat until the red lights proclaim your number. Never have I seen such a system in an event venue (Oslo Opera House). I’m surprised more corporations have not caught onto the idea that the person can relax and browse the floor while waiting. The customer is not restricted to a certain location. This has worked well in the Post Offices where there are other items to buy (cards, bookmarks, post cards, ribbons, wrapping, and boxes with a cherry on top). I’ll restrain myself from any comments regarding our homeland’s government postal system. The trickiest part of this number pull system is when the little red number spewer is not in an obvious location or there are enough people browsing to take the attention away from the lighted signs that if they installed any further from eye-level, would be part of the ceiling tiles. It’s especially embarrassing when the oblivious customer approaches the counter, back of the neck burning from the browsers’’ scowls, only to be rejected by the counter worker to “take a number” (but in Norwegian).

The fifth, last (for tonight), and most effective is nothing new… traffic circles. They are scary to less experience circlists and those whom are used to the peace of the traffic light. Jamie was white knuckled while sitting passenger in a couple of the dozen circles we circled. It would be great to see circles replace the 4-way residential stops in the South Bay. I can even imagine a creative, partially underground one at some of the Pacific Coast Highway intersections. They are fun to drive, easier on the neck (only look one direction), force cars to slow down, and for those that don’t the pedestrians at least gets a squealing tire warning of the oncoming hurdle.

That’s my thoughts on efficiency. If anyone knows a government official that has any access to any of these five topics, please let me know. Enjoy!