Last weekend, hundreds of motorcyclists protested in Bern over two parliamentary initiatives aimed at silencing their bikes. According to Le Matin, between 200 and 300 motorcyclists assembled to protest after calls were sent out via social media. The proposed laws would ban motorcycles emitting more than 95 decibels from Swiss roads. 95 decibels is around […]
Children soon allowed to cycle with pedestrians in Switzerland
Switzerland’s government recently announced that children up to 12 will be allowed to cycle on footpaths from 1 January 2021. The new rules will allow all young children to ride on footpaths when there is no cycle lane. Currently, only first grade primary school children can cycle on sidewalks in Switzerland. The government said that […]
Young cyclists could soon be allowed to ride on Swiss footpaths
As part of an effort to make cycling safer for children, Switzerland’s government is planning to change the law to allow children under 12 to cycle on footpaths, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes. This year, The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) plans to introduce a package of measures aimed at improving traffic flow and safety. […]
Swiss winter holiday traffic forecast
Ahead of the holidays, Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) published its winter holiday traffic forecast. Traffic jams and slowdowns are expected on the following stretches of road: Spiez – Kandersteg Gampel – Goppenstein Brunnen – Flüelen (Axenstrasse) Rarogne – Brigue Bellinzone – Locarno The map below shows these are other stretches where progress is likely […]
2020 Swiss highway stickers on sale
Next year’s Swiss highway sticker, or vignette, is now on sale. Every year it changes colour. This year it’s red. The last time it was this colour was in 2014. Last year, stiffer penalties of up to 3 years in prison were introduced for vignette fraud. The amount lost from various forms of cheating is estimated to […]
Petition to ban SUVs in Lausanne
A petition to ban SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) from entering Lausanne could be presented to the city’s municipality and then to the cantonal government, according to the newspaper Le Matin. The petition, which, according to Le Matin, has 1,200 signatures – their website shows a figure of around 800 – aims to ban large vehicles […]
Geneva to ban Uber if it doesn’t change its operating model
After a legal analyis the government of the canton of Geneva has decided that drivers of the ride hailing service are employees rather than independent contractors, effectively banning Uber from operating under its current model. In an interview with RTS, Mauro Poggia, a lawyer and Geneva state councillor, said that Uber is a transport company […]
Swiss parliamentary commission supports fuel tax hike
The parliamentary environmental commission has endorsed a plan to increase the taxes on fuel in Switzerland. Following support for a fuel tax increase by the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, the commission said it supports a rise of 10 cents a litre until 2024 and 12 cents a litre from 2025. These increases are […]
Swiss fact: it is illegal to drive with your lights off during the day
In Switzerland, it is compulsory to drive with lights on during the day. The law came into force on 1 January 2014, as part of a package of rules to reduce accidents, known as Via Sicura. The lights rule is set out in article 41 of the Swiss federal road transport act and also applies […]
New taxes on flights and fuel accepted by Swiss upper house
A majority of the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, recently agreed to raise the tax on fuel and introduce a tax on flights. The plan was accepted by 37 of the 41 members who voted, according to 20 Minutes. To honour its commitment to the Paris climate agreement, Switzerland needs to cut greenhouse gas […]
