Young people meeting at the Westfjords Youth Parliament in Suðureyri have made better public transport between municipalities their clearest regional priority.
Participants said limited connections make it harder to attend sports, cultural events and social activities or reach services that support health and wellbeing, particularly for young people living outside the area’s larger towns.
Youth Parliament Says Poor Connections Limit Sports, Culture and Social Participation Across the Westfjords
- Public transport emerged repeatedly as the Westfjords Youth Parliament’s top practical concern.
- Participants say transport gaps limit access to sports, culture, social life and services.
- The youth parliament is calling on both the state and municipalities to act.
Transport described as a condition for equal participation
The youth parliament was held in Suðureyri from September 16 to 18. Bæjarins Besta reports that transport concerns surfaced across otherwise different workshops because activities available in one part of the Westfjords are often inaccessible to young people elsewhere.
The argument echoes broader regional-development concerns. Iceland Review recently covered consultation on Iceland’s 2027–2041 regional development plan and regional differences in infrastructure priorities.
Transport is a recurring challenge in sparsely populated regions where roads, flights and ferries often substitute for one another. Iceland Review’s earlier look at Iceland’s ferry network examined the same problem from the perspective of coastal communities.
Sources: Bæjarins Besta; RÚV
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