Genvejene

Genvejene, the shortcuts, is the definite plural form of the Norwegian term genvei, used to denote routes that are shorter than the usual main routes. In everyday language and in urban planning, genveier refer to paths or roads intended to reduce travel distance or time by bypassing longer corridors.

Genveiene can take several forms: formal through-streets designed to carry through traffic, designated pedestrian or bicycle corridors, or informal cut-throughs created by the layout of neighborhoods. They connect origins and destinations such as residential areas, workplaces, schools, or transit hubs, and they may also emerge from grid optimizations or land use patterns.

The presence of genveiene can lower congestion on primary arterials and shorten trips, but they can also concentrate traffic in certain streets, raise noise and safety concerns in sensitive areas, and complicate neighborhood livability. Municipalities address these trade-offs with measures such as traffic-calming, restricted through-traffic regimes, speed limits, or signage to guide drivers toward main routes while preserving accessibility for residents and pedestrians.

Linguistically, genveiene is the Bokmål definite plural form of genvei. Related terms exist in other Norwegian varieties, with forms such as genveier (indefinite plural) or genvei (singular).