Switzerland, soft mobility leader
Switzerland has invested massively in soft and sustainable mobility:
- 12,000 km of signposted cycle paths (SwitzerlandMobility network)
- 65,000 km of hiking trails
- Mobility CarSharing: 3,000 cars in 1,500 stations
- Publibike: 8,500 public bicycles
- E-bikes: 30% of all bikes sold, fast-growing
Bike and e-bike
Cycling advantages in Switzerland
- Quality infrastructure: separated paths, markings, signage
- Safety: Switzerland among the best cycling safety rates
- Train + bike combo: bike transport free or cheap on most trains
- Economy: no petrol, low maintenance
- Health: daily exercise
E-bike
- 25 km/h category: no licence needed, classic bike
- 45 km/h category (S-pedelec): helmet mandatory, registration, plate, RC insurance
- Practical everywhere: climbing passes, long commutes
- Purchase price: CHF 1,500–6,000+ for a quality e-bike
SwitzerlandMobility network (national)
- 9 national + regional routes
- Route 1 "Rhône Route": from glacier to Geneva
- Route 2 "Rhine Route": from glacier to Basel
- Route 7 "Jura Route": Basel to Geneva via ridges
- Free SwitzerlandMobility app (offline maps)
Walking and hiking
Exceptional network
- 65,000 km of signposted trails
- 3 difficulty levels:
- Yellow: easy, for all
- White-red-white: mountain, demanding
- Blue-white-blue: alpinism, experienced
- Thousand recommended Swiss hikes: SwissTopo, SwitzerlandMobility app
Urban walking
- Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Zurich, Basel: signposted urban trails
- Lake shore, vineyards, parks
Walking and health
- Nordic Walking trend, therapeutic walking
- 10,000 steps/day = official Swiss recommendation
Car-sharing: Mobility
Mobility service
- Swiss cooperative founded in 1997
- 3,000 vehicles in 1,500 stations throughout Switzerland
- Booking via app, vehicle opening via card or phone
- Includes: cars, vans, electric cargo bikes
Tariffs (2026)
- Annual subscription: CHF 290/yr (Family CHF 360)
- Rental: CHF 2–5/hour + CHF 0.30–0.70/km by vehicle
- Day Pass: CHF 70–150 for 24h by vehicle
Ideal for
- Occasional trips (deliveries, big-object transport)
- Mountain weekends without paying for a car all week
- When you have 2–3 cars/family and want to downsize
Publibike: public bikes
Service
- Swiss cooperative, growing fast
- 8,500 bikes in 30+ cities
- Classic bikes + e-bikes
- Stations in each covered city
Tariffs
- Annual pass: CHF 95–120 by city
- Pay-as-you-go: CHF 2–3 for 30-min bike, CHF 4–5 for 30-min e-bike
- Day card: CHF 8–12 for 1 day
Public transport + soft mobility
Switzerland promotes the train + bike + walk combination:
- Train + bike: bike ticket CHF 10/24h, AG and half-fare include bike option
- Bike-sharing at station: most stations have Publibike or equivalent
- Secure bike lockers at major stations
Soft mobility and urban planning
Pilot cities
- Basel: 18% of trips by bike, one of Europe's most bike-friendly cities
- Zurich: massive cycle-path investment
- Bern: dense network
- Geneva, Lausanne: accelerating since 2020
Key measures
- Extended 30 km/h zones in cities
- Dedicated bike lanes on main axes
- Secure bike parking near stations
- Communal climate plans integrating soft mobility
Road safety for cyclists
Legal obligations
- Helmet: not mandatory except for S-pedelec (45 km/h) and certain cyclists
- Front and rear lights: mandatory at night
- Bell: recommended
- Private RC insurance: covers damage to others
Accidents and stats
- Switzerland has low cycling accident rates compared to Europe
- But with the rise of e-bikes: moderate increase
- Tip: maximum visibility, helmet strongly recommended for all types
Soft mobility in mountains
Cable cars for bikes
- Many alpine resorts have bike-equipped cable cars in summer
- Descend by bike after going up by cable
- Verbier, Crans-Montana, Davos, Engadin
MTB trails
- SwissMTB.ch: 12,000 km signposted
- Levels: easy to expert
- Ski-in-winter + MTB-in-summer: popular for resorts
Tips
- Invest in a good bike: long-term savings + enjoyment
- E-bike for commuters: 20–40 km home-office becomes comfortable
- Mobility + train + bike combo: can replace a private car
- Be visible: light clothing, lights, helmet
- Learn cyclist road rules (priority, bike lanes)
- Use SwitzerlandMobility network: exceptional Swiss bike holidays
- Family with kids: bike trailer + specific seats, cargo bike popular
