https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Opponents of the new motorway say it’s unnecessary and will cause pollution, while supporters argue that any attempt to stop the motorway would amount to a “declaration of war”. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200114/a-declaration-of-war-france-geneva-lock-horns-over-new-motorway-constriction Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:23:19 +0100 a-declaration-of-war-france-geneva-lock-horns-over-new-motorway-constriction Opening in mid-December, the Léman Express is set to be Europe’s largest cross-border train network. Here’s how it will reduce journey times and cut traffic in and around Geneva. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191117/how-the-new-lman-express-will-cut-genevas-traffic-woes Sun, 17 Nov 2019 22:52:57 +0100 how-the-new-lman-express-will-cut-genevas-traffic-woes The Swiss capital of Bern is set to introduce a pilot project that will change the way its inhabitants cross roads in future. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191007/bern-implementing-pilot-pedestrian-countdown-light-project-to-improve-road-safety Mon, 07 Oct 2019 14:32:37 +0200 bern-implementing-pilot-pedestrian-countdown-light-project-to-improve-road-safety Gotthard Road tunnel in central Switzerland is known for heavy jams during long weekends and this holiday weekend is no different. https://www.thelocal.ch/20190529/almost-an-hour-in-gotthard-tunnel-for-holiday-weekend Wed, 29 May 2019 16:15:58 +0200 almost-an-hour-in-gotthard-tunnel-for-holiday-weekend Zurich is planning to close part of the city's iconic Langstrasse street to cars during daylight hours from next year but not everyone is happy with the plans. https://www.thelocal.ch/20190220/zurichs-langstrasse-set-to-become-partially-car-free-at-last Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:50:24 +0100 zurichs-langstrasse-set-to-become-partially-car-free-at-last In a twist on the classic fine for running a red light, a French driver in Geneva was recently slapped with a 250-Swiss franc penalty for failing to go when a traffic signal turned green. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180821/driver-fined-for-failing-to-go-on-green-light-geneva-switzerland Tue, 21 Aug 2018 23:06:09 +0200 driver-fined-for-failing-to-go-on-green-light-geneva-switzerland When it comes to life on the roads, there is no more controversial figure than that of the renegade cyclist who mounts the footpath, runs red lights and acts as if the rest of the world doesn’t exist. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180307/renegade-cyclists-swiss-politicians-call-for-higher-fines-cycling Wed, 07 Mar 2018 12:34:50 +0100 renegade-cyclists-swiss-politicians-call-for-higher-fines-cycling While the Swiss cities of Geneva and Zurich regularly come near the top of international rankings for quality of life, they have now also received the somewhat more dubious honour of appearing high on the list in terms of traffic congestion. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180207/switzerland-geneva-and-zurich-among-worlds-worst-for-traffic-study Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:50:47 +0100 switzerland-geneva-and-zurich-among-worlds-worst-for-traffic-study The air quality in many Swiss cities is very poor and levels of a greenhouse gas exceed European emissions standards, according to an environmental organization. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180111/campaign-draws-attention-to-filthy-air-in-swiss-cities Thu, 11 Jan 2018 14:01:22 +0100 campaign-draws-attention-to-filthy-air-in-swiss-cities A low-pressure front named Zubin swept across the northern half of Switzerland on Wednesday night bringing strong winds and leaving a trail of destruction. https://www.thelocal.ch/20171214/storm-brings-traffic-chaos-in-its-wake Thu, 14 Dec 2017 09:44:37 +0100 storm-brings-traffic-chaos-in-its-wake Authorities in Geneva are hoping that an app-based car sharing scheme aimed at short-hop journeys will help ease congestion in the city after it launches on November 5th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20161021/geneva-car-share-scheme-could-help-reduce-city-traffic Fri, 21 Oct 2016 13:11:27 +0200 geneva-car-share-scheme-could-help-reduce-city-traffic A bridge over Lake Geneva could become a reality after residents of the largest town on the lake accepted the idea in a referendum on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160606/geneva-gives-thumbs-up-to-lake-crossing Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:41:43 +0200 geneva-gives-thumbs-up-to-lake-crossing Should Geneva build a crossing over Lac Léman? Residents of the francophone city will finally get their say on the long-standing question in a referendum on June 5th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160511/geneva-to-vote-on-building-bridge-over-lake Wed, 11 May 2016 13:53:27 +0200 geneva-to-vote-on-building-bridge-over-lake With plenty of people heading south for the Ascension Day long weekend, traffic will be heavy on Swiss roads in coming days. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160504/switzerland-braces-for-heavy-holiday-traffic Wed, 04 May 2016 14:07:02 +0200 switzerland-braces-for-heavy-holiday-traffic Holidaymakers heading south for the Easter break are being warned to expect the traditional major holdup at the Gotthard road tunnel. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160324/queues-build-at-gotthard-as-easter-approaches Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:02:44 +0100 queues-build-at-gotthard-as-easter-approaches Swiss voters on Sunday gave strong backing to plans for a second tube to be added to the Gotthard road tunnel under the Alps. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160229/voters-give-green-light-to-new-gotthard-road-tunnel Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:33:08 +0100 voters-give-green-light-to-new-gotthard-road-tunnel Swiss roads are safer than at any point since 1945, but motorcyclists are at greater risk of an accident than car drivers, according to new statistics. https://www.thelocal.ch/20150724/road-deaths-drop-to-lowest-level-in-70-years Fri, 24 Jul 2015 10:51:26 +0200 road-deaths-drop-to-lowest-level-in-70-years After unseasonably mild weather in the run-up to Christmas, frigid temperatures and heavy snow hit Switzerland over the weekend causing chaos on the roads, rails and at airports. https://www.thelocal.ch/20141229/winters-arrival-brings-swiss-travel-chaos Mon, 29 Dec 2014 11:33:51 +0100 winters-arrival-brings-swiss-travel-chaos Foreigners living in Switzerland cannot be asked to pass a Swiss driving test in order to swap their foreign driving licence for a Swiss one, regardless of when they apply, the Federal Court has said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140718/federal-court-no-tests-for-expat-drivers Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:17:00 +0200 federal-court-no-tests-for-expat-drivers Authorities are warning of traffic jams on Swiss roads starting on Friday when school holidays begin in several cantons, including Geneva and Graubünden. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140627/summer-traffic-jams-set-to-begin-this-weekend Fri, 27 Jun 2014 12:57:00 +0200 summer-traffic-jams-set-to-begin-this-weekend