Zurich's Policies Favor People & Transit, Not Cars
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- When it comes to transportation options and smart city planning, you can argue Zurich, Switzerland takes the top prize in the world. The city has deployed a number of polices and practices that make commuting, living and working in Zurich a pleasant experience whichever mode (or modes) of travel you use.
For one, back in the mid-1990s, via a city decree referred to as "The Great Compromise", Zurich decided it keep their number of parking spaces fixed at current levels. So on the rare occasion they need to justify building new parking spaces, they must find other areas within the city limits to eliminate parking. And as a bonus: many of the new spaces come in the form of underground garages, which allows for more car-free streets, plazas and shared space solutions.
Secondly, Zurich has a very intricate series of over 4500 sensors throughout the city designed to monitor the number of cars entering its limits. When that number exceeds the level Zurich's streets can comfortably accommodate, all cars are halted on highways and main roads in to the city until congestion is relieved. Thus, traffic continually flows with little or no back-up in the city.
When it comes to mass transit options, Zurich has a network of comfortable commuter trains, buses, and the magnificent gem of the city: its 15 line tram system. Trams run everywhere frequently and are easy to hop on and off. The coordination of the lines is a wonder to behold as trams pull into circular hubs from all directions. It is an on-going dance of commuters: a synchronicity of transit. And it's the preferred way to travel in the city center. Business men in suits traveling to the richest banks in the world ride next to moms and skateboarders.
That's only the beginning of some of the great things going on in Zurich. We haven't even touched on the bike mode share (6% and climbing) the amazing parks and rivers that have been cleaned up and filled with people socializing after work. The wonderful car-free/light pathways are filled with restaurants and tourists all times of the day. At least if you can never get to Zurich, you'll be able to experience a bit of what it is like via our Streetfilm.
Note: statistics cited are from the Mobility and Transport Microcencus of 2010 by the Federal Government of Switzerland. The survey on the travel behavior is done every 5 years since 1974.
I love the part about limiting the number of cars and all the technology they've invested to do just that. More cities should be doing this! The health of our climate and the health of people depends on this!
I live in Zurich but i prefer to cycle everywhere. Trams and Busses are great but slow. The fastest way from A to B is by bicycle, even with this horrible cycle lanes here. Just watch at 0:47 and 5:30 - no space for a cycle lane, actually the politicians wanted to put the cyclists on the sidewalk together with the pedestrians - thanks to our cycle lobby here they have to find another solution. The biggest problem is they do not want to take away space from the cars. The people here voted more than once that they want to promote cycling in the city. But as long they do not want to "hurt" the cars, nothing will change. So it will stay at this lousy 6% cycling unless they will give us more safe cycle paths. To cycle next to these tram tracks and between cars and trucks is dangerous.
The movie is nice but it doesn't show that Zurich is still a car-centric city. Even with the limited parking spaces, there are still too many cars everywhere. There is congestion every day from Monday to Friday because lots of people commute by car from outside the city to work here.
And in the 30-km/h-streets - we have a lot of them and they are great - there are often parking lots on both sides. Very funny to cycle next to dooring zones.
"The biggest problem is they do not want to take away space from the cars."
It seems to be common denominator everywhere. Car industry must be lobbying pretty hard in every country.
So ... du fahrsch gärn Velo. Abr ghörsch hoffendlich scho ehnr zu dene wo sich s Velo ehrlich bim Velo-Händlr chauffed, odr ???
S gitt nämmli vill zvill Arschlöchr wo Velo chläue tüend und dänn Schwarz aaschprayed.
Hallo, meinst Du mich? Wie kommst Du darauf, dass ich Velos klaue, gahts no. Ich bin a) Mitglied bei ProVelo (Du auch?) und fahre b) ein S-Pedelec von Flyer, da muss ich froh sein, wenn mir das Teil nicht geklaut wird :P
HelenaRG71 Dann ist ja alles in Ordnung. Mein vorheriger Kommentar bezog sich auf die vielen Chaoten die so ziemlich alles klauen das andere sich ehrlich erworben haben.
5:50 so thats why there is always traffic at the highway exits, now I am not even mad
I thought it was bad traffic light programming…
I wish Singapore has a temperate climate for cycling culture to kick off. We have dedicated bicycle lanes but the humid weather is off-putting
Excellent, many thanks for this. Would love to see Oslo, Norway being as progressive. Looks like parking was the big driver here - street parking takes up so much room, and cars are parked on average 98% of the time!
Im living in Zurich and Im loving it here :)
Mariella Lucia Pola Thanks. Glad you loved the video. I can't wait to go back one day!
+Mariella Lucia Pola Why you love Zurich ?
In the UK the car ownership is generally 3 per household. I'd love to see more cycling infrastructure and the cull of car ownership in the UK.
No it's not? It's 1.2 per household
Very well organized. Impressive.
I'm always shocked by how good the transit system is compared to the terrible cycling infrastructure.
literally a constant hazard whenever you're on a bike lmao
great ideas!
Historic Compromise - no new parking spots; what's removed is replaced elsewhere, parking lots below the city not usually replicable
rail (on time, frequent at peak, labeled) great for movement up and down hills
sensors on streets into the city, keep congestion outside if core is reaching capacity via green light duration
lack of bicycling infrastructure though ~6% users
majority walking and transit
I keep that all in mind and it looks very nice!
trams and trolleybuses in Zurich make it the best public transit city in the world!
Way forward 👍
very professional short doc... super nice 2 watch:) we export our system worldwide (>see mexico) i live in basel and i love it. everything works like a clockwork.
The kind of great comment wish I would have had when I put it together! Thanks.
I´ve been living in Switzerland, and it´s normal to have an Halbtax (half-fair) for public transport, or a Generalabo (unlimited use of public transport) - i LOVE Switzerland! Grüezi/Bonjour/Allegra!
I don't see how eliminating car traffic from a street would hurt business. Unless, of course, you're running a oil change shop.
+DreamWave Dave When there's a parking lot in front of your shop your clients can stop there, get in your shop, buy a pillow and get back into their car, and all of that within 5 minutes. When there is a centralised parking somewhere in the city it might be a 500 meters walk to the shop or more, so buying a pillow in the same shop takes at least 15 minutes. Your shop will loose clients who are too lazy to walk 10 minutes because they will look for a shop that still has a parking lot or they will to to a shopping center with (free) parking lots.
Even though I'm in favour of parking lot free cities I can't deny the shop keeper's arguments.
Yeah sure people have to take a car to buy a pillow. You know on one single parking lot for 1 car you can park about 10 bicycles. So 10 more potential clients. And studies have shown that cyclists are the better clients. Every second household in Zurich is without a car today. These people don't starve to death or sleep on the floor because they cannot buy a pillow anymore. I myself live in Zurich and I can walk over the street into a bigger shopping center. Check these studies. Car drivers are not the better clients, if you drive through a city with 30 km/h or faster you don't even notice the smaller shops.
When you want to buy a pillow using your car, the parking lot in front of the shop is usually already taken... Often by the shopkeeper itself :-)
DreamWave Dave In Switzerland we are encouraged to use our great transport and why? We want to keep pollution at a minimum in our beautiful country and fresh air to breathe. Business is always good anyway and salaries high. Provided you have languages and not only English and the right qualifications.
@@HelenaRG71 I agree, I cycle through my cit centre HULL every week because it's on my way home from work I'll park up pop by and pick up my shopping. Something I never did in car because of the traffic and parking charges. unfortunately I tend to spend a little more than I used to at times, bonus for the shops not so much for my pocket... but on the other hand I save £88 per month on fuel so I can afford the hit.
A plug for the trolleybuses: Not shown in the video trolleybuses, some bi-articulated, are a part of the public transport mix and battery trolleybuses, which can run beyond the wires, will enable most street public transport to be almost carbon neutral and pollution free. The trains are electric, that goes without saying. The limitation on access to the city for private cars is an interesting idea.
Take that, Vienna !
It's always the same fears, about business depending on automobiles. Business doesn't depend on automobile traffic or parking spaces. It depends on people. Foot traffic.
All the reasons I love to go back...
great info.... thank you the post
Nice Video from Zürich 😀
Nice Video. :)
I favor Transit also. I guess I have to live in Europe because I sure as hell, don't get much transit in the majority of the USA.
i can ear your jamaican accent in di 90s lol
One major factor completely went forgotten: The Swiss public transportation system is "perfect" but it's bloody expensive !!
Sven Lima it's actually not expensive enough to cover all costs and that's why it gets subventioned by taxes. The ratio public transport price/income per person is pretty standard if you compare it to other countries.
To put it in relation: A 1 year pass for all transportations in the region (ZVV, Kanton Zürich) for bus, ship, cablecar, train costs half a month's salary for an average worker - for some it's more for others it's less.
Sven Lima exactly. F.ex. In Germany you pay € 4190 for Bahncard 100. In Switzerland you pay CHF 3665 for the General Abonnement. In Germany, the average salary is € 2200/month, in Switzerland CHF 4700. So we already have a way better offer, even without considering that the GA is more accepted on Bus/Tram/Ship & offers calculated connections (In Germany, you often find yourself waiting for your connection for a longer time). :)
Sven Lima not on Swiss wages it isn't
The current system of freeways, highways, and unchecked pollution from cars is expensive. I'd much rather my tax funds go towards protecting the planet and investing in more efficient transportation. Transporting 100 people by bus or train is more space efficient and fuel efficient than those 100 people driving a car.
7:34 that bicycle man Literally spitted on the road!!!!!!
Omg ewww
I'm not a fan of bicycle lanes alongside tram tracks. It is too easy for a bike wheel to get caught in the tram tracks. The video devotes about 15 seconds to this issue.
Zurich has a great transit system, but it is a lot smaller than a lot of US cities.
but? I'd say that makes it even more impressive
As u hear the 1st guy speak, u Know HE'S JAMAICAN
nice but rideing and driveing in america is enter at your own risk its more like demolition derby
Zurich's policies favour people & transit, not cars is the correct spelling, Americans!
Henry Bass why? Do you pronounce a dyphthong?
Heimweh!
If public transit is really convenient and you can plan a complex day of errands around it then it's a viable choice to cars. The problem is putting in good transit is hyper expensive from the standpoint of obtaining new transit right of way corridors from privately owned land and insuring a sufficient urban density to insure the transit route can pay for itself. This is that chicken and egg problem that will always plague Canadian and US cities..
9:04 Now try to fetch your bicycle in the center of that cluster... :-)
Taking cars off the street creates a demand for indoor parking and increases visibility for cyclists and drivers on the street level. And, while putting parking underground is the best aesthetic idea yet, how much money are they really going to spend on that? I wish all this so-called livability didn't involve so much discrimination against the driving community. Where are all the trolleys and streetcars in New York City? There aren't any new subway lines being rolled out. Mass transit is a joke. Options are always nice. Personally I believe in all forms of transportation. How fast do those trolleys in the video go?
Emilio Lopez discrimination?
Nobody is discriminating against drivers. You still get streets built for free
Given all the environmental, social, and public health damage done by cars why should they not be up under control?
Oh my gosh you're being discriminated by not being allowed to destroy the city. Noooooo, you can't drive your 2 ton truck that stays parked 98% of the time and only ever has 1 person in it.