Conditions of carriage

TRAVEL CONDITIONS

Conditions of carriage for scheduled buses in Norway

Approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications February 27, 2004

Chapter I. Passengers

Section 1: Scope

The terms and conditions of carriage apply to travel by scheduled bus in Norway and are to be regarded as contractual terms between the passenger and the relevant transport operator.

Section 2: Getting on and off the bus

If there are officially designated stops, passengers must board and leave the bus at these stops. Passengers may also board and alight from the bus at places other than designated stops where this is in accordance with the traffic rules and it is safe to do so.

Section 3: Pricing – refunds

The Transport Operator shall apply rules for tariffs, including discount schemes, approved by the authority designated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications as the tariff authority for the route or bus company in question. These rules may also contain conditions for the refund of unused season tickets. Information about fares and discounts, including refund schemes and where to apply for them, shall be made available to passengers.

Section 4: Tickets

The purchase of a ticket entitles you to transportation. In the absence of special payment arrangements, tickets must be purchased when boarding the bus. Passengers are responsible for checking that they have received the correct ticket and change. Where possible, any complaints must be raised at that time. If a passenger has not been able to purchase a ticket at the correct time, this must be brought to the attention of the crew as soon as possible and before departure from the bus.

The ticket must be kept for the duration of the journey and shown to the crew or inspector on request. A passenger who fails to present a valid ticket or card for inspection must pay a penalty corresponding to twice the single fare for the journey, with a minimum of NOK 300. If a passenger misuses or attempts to misuse a card, it will be retained by the crew or inspector and a receipt will be issued. Passengers who refuse to pay the enforced fare or refuse to surrender the card may be reported to the police, cf. section 403 of the Penal Code. Pursuant to section 33 of Act no. 45 of June 21, 2002 on professional transport by motor vehicle and vessel, passengers without a valid ticket may be detained. Conditions for the detention of passengers must be specifically approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications with regard to the individual company’s conditions of carriage.

Section 5: Behavior

Passengers are obliged to show due respect for other passengers and comply with standard safety rules. Seat belts and other safety equipment shall be used where available. Talking to or otherwise disturbing the driver during the journey is not permitted.

Section 6: Smoking and drugs

The smoking ban must be observed. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and the use of other drugs is prohibited.

Section 7: Disturbances

The crew may refuse to carry passengers who are visibly intoxicated or who may otherwise cause inconvenience or offense to other passengers. Passengers who behave inappropriately or are otherwise a nuisance to other passengers may be removed from the bus if they do not follow the crew’s instructions.

Section 8: Passenger liability

Passengers are liable to pay compensation in accordance with standard compensation rules for damage caused to the bus or its equipment.

Chapter II. Baggage

Section 9: Hand luggage

Passengers may bring lightweight items (hand luggage) with a total weight not exceeding 20 kg per ticket. The luggage must be stored in such a way that it does not inconvenience other passengers or prevent passengers from leaving the bus.

Section 10: Other baggage

Where space permits and at the discretion of the crew, heavier or larger items or baggage may be carried for a baggage fee. Such items must be stored as specified by the crew. Prams and pushchairs may be carried where space permits and must be stored in accordance with the crew’s instructions. Bicycles that can be disassembled or folded can be carried in the luggage compartment. Other bicycles may only be carried on buses with a bicycle rack or other suitable device, and where there is sufficient space and the driver considers it appropriate.

Section 11: Live animals

Pets are not allowed to travel on the Pulpit Rock tour bus.

Section 12: Liability and compensation for loss of or damage to baggage

The transport operator is not liable for loss of or damage to freight unless willful or gross negligence on the part of the operator can be proven. The company’s liability is otherwise regulated by the Automobile Liability Act of February 3, 1961.

For luggage for which a fee has been paid in accordance with section 9, the transport operator shall be liable for loss or damage affecting the luggage from the time it is brought on to the bus until it reaches its destination. However, this does not apply if the loss or damage is the result of fault or negligence on the part of the passenger to whom the luggage belongs. When determining the level of compensation, the Road Freight Contracts Act of December 20, 1974 applies. Section 32(2) of the Act stipulates that compensation in connection with transport within Norway may not exceed 17 SDRs for each kilogram of the gross weight of the property that is lost (SDR – special drawing rights – is an international currency unit defined by the International Monetary Fund).

Section 13: Complaints

Anyone wishing to claim compensation under the provisions of section 11 must do so within a reasonable time and without undue delay.

Chapter III. Liability and damages

Section 14: The Company’s liability for delays and cancellations

Where possible, the transport operator shall inform passengers of cancellations, delays and other service interruptions, and indicate what passengers should do in that situation. Minor delays must be taken into account. The passenger is deemed to have accepted any delays that were already known when the contract of carriage was concluded.

If a journey is canceled or interrupted, the carrier shall arrange for onward carriage within a reasonable time, depending on the circumstances. What is considered to be “within a reasonable time” is decided on a case-by-case basis. Where onward carriage does not take place or has not taken place within a reasonable time, passengers are entitled to compensation for loss suffered if the Carrier has acted negligently. Proof of any losses must be sent to the transport operator. Only direct losses will be covered and customers are obliged to limit their losses.

Section 15. Personal injury liability

In the event of personal injury, the carrier is liable in accordance with the provisions of the Automobile Liability Act.

Travel guarantee

Under the terms of our travel guarantee, we have an obligation to do our best to get you to your destination on time. If you have a complaint, we will do everything in our power to learn from our mistakes so that the problem does not recur.

If, despite these efforts, there are delays or other errors in the service, we will:

• give you the best possible information about what is happening
• provide you with information as soon as possible about alternative transportation or alternative routes
• to the extent possible, arrange alternative transportation

If alternative transportation cannot be provided, we will reimburse your documented taxi, private car or other alternative transportation expenses – if you are more than:

• 20 minutes delayed on journeys under 1 hour: up to NOK 550
• 40 minutes late on journeys of between 1 and 3 hours: up to NOK 825
• 60 minutes delayed on journeys over 3 hours: up to NOK 1100

For journeys of more than 3 hours, if the delay results in you not reaching your destination until the following day, you will be reimbursed the actual cost of any accommodation. This must be pre-approved by the transportation company you use (or intended to use) when the service is canceled or delayed.

In order for your claim to be valid, you must complete and send us a travel guarantee form or a written request within one month of the delay occurring. We will respond to your request as soon as possible, and no later than four weeks after we have received it.

When does the warranty apply?

The basic rule is that the travel guarantee always applies. However, if the delay or cancellation is notified in advance, or you know or should have known that the reason for the delay cannot be attributed to the transportation provider, we cannot offer a refund. The travel guarantee does not apply if the delay or cancellation is due to circumstances beyond the transport provider’s control, such as extraordinary weather conditions or natural events, unforeseen problems with the road or other traffic conditions, public orders or prohibitions, strikes or lockouts, etc. The travel guarantee does not cover consequential losses caused by the delay, such as missed dental appointments, business meetings or flights.

Transfer rules

Naturally, many of the passengers traveling on the Pulpit Rock bus and Flybussen afterwards are on their way to catch a flight. If a journey involves a transfer from bus to plane, a certain transfer time must be allowed. When transferring from Flybussen bus to airplane, the applicable transfer time is 60 minutes. The airline’s check-in deadline must also be taken into account.

If a passenger chooses a Flybussen service that is not scheduled to arrive early enough to allow for 60 minutes of travel time, no claim can be made for reimbursement of costs for alternative transportation or other expenses incurred as a result.