Articles 19 and 62 of the Federal Constitution guarantee free and sufficient access to school. The municipalities are responsible for ensuring the safety of the route to school.
The Federal Act on Footpaths and Hiking Trails(FWG) states that pedestrian connections to schools are part of the footpath network and must be safe to walk on.
Reasonableness depends on the characteristics of the pupil and the nature and danger of the route.
If you are of the opinion that your child’s journey to school is unreasonable, please contact us in this order:
If the commune refers to the responsibility of the canton, get in touch with the contact person who is responsible for road safety issues at cantonal level.
Contact the media to speed up the process if necessary.
Mention factually and precisely the danger points on your child’s way to school (where, why) and demand that the right to a reasonable (i.e. safe) way to school be guaranteed.
If other children are affected, get in touch with their parents to take joint action.
As a parent, you can draw the attention of the authorities to a problem with road safety on your child’s way to school. The authorities must assess the situation and take appropriate measures.
According to various studies, pedestrians should not have to wait longer than 30 seconds and a maximum of 40 seconds at a traffic signal. If the system has a push button, the waiting time should not be longer than 7 seconds.
If the waiting time is too long, contact the municipality’s mobility department by e-mail or post using this template.
According to the standard for obstacle-free traffic areas (SN 640 075), the green time for crossing the road must be calculated at a speed of 0.8 m/s to ensure access for people with reduced mobility. Older people in particular often need more time.
The standard for traffic lights (SN 640 837) stipulates at least 4 seconds green time for crossing, plus at least 2 seconds orange phase, i.e. a total of at least 6 seconds.
If the green time at the traffic light is too short, contact the municipality’s mobility department by e-mail or post using this template.
There are intersections where vehicles are allowed to turn while the traffic light for pedestrians is green. This is often dangerous and it is worth reporting such situations to the municipality, especially if a school route passes by.
Contact the municipality’s mobility department by e-mail or post using this template.
According to Art. 7 of the Federal Act on Footpaths and Hiking Trails(FWG), pedestrian crossings are part of the pedestrian network and must be replaced if they are removed. If a pedestrian crossing in your area has been removed, you can first contact the traffic department of your municipality and ask:
Then submit a written request, preferably signed by other neighbors or representatives of the school, to the mobility department to request a safe crossing point. Ensuring the safety of the school route and access to a public transport stop justify the need for a safe crossing point.
The argument of frequency, with reference to the VSS standard SN 640 241, is often cited by the authorities. This standard is only a recommendation; there are no studies that prove that a pedestrian crossing is unsafe if it is infrequently used.
In the letter, suggest a site visit with technical and/or political representatives of the municipality, school representatives and the local police.
After Art. 43 para. 1 SVG it is forbidden to cycle on footpaths if they are obviously not intended for traffic. According to Art. 43 para. 2 SVG the sidewalks are reserved for pedestrians.
Cycling on the sidewalk is permitted in accordance with Art. 65 para. 8 SSV may be permitted as an exception in order to make the route to school safe.
You can politely point out to the offending cyclist that riding on the sidewalk is prohibited. This can lead to negative reactions. You can point out problematic situations to the municipal authorities in writing and ask for increased police checks and improvements to the infrastructure in order to make the road safer and more attractive for cyclists.
According to Art. 43 para. 2 SVG sidewalks are reserved for pedestrians. Bicycles may only be parked on the sidewalk if a space of at least 1.5 m remains free for pedestrians (Art. 41 para. 1 VRV ).
You can report problematic situations to the municipal authorities by post and ask for increased police checks and improvements to bicycle parking infrastructure.
In accordance with Art. 41 VRV, it is forbidden to park cars or motorcycles on the sidewalk. On side roads, however, it is permitted to stop and park on the carriageway if other vehicles can still pass. Speak to the driver first to remind them of the parking ban. If the driver is absent, you can stick a note under the windshield to draw attention to the inconvenience. If the dialog is not sufficient, contact the traffic police by telephone or in writing using this template.
A zone de rencontre is a régime de circulation axé sur la cohabitation des différents modes. Dans les zones de rencontre:
Les zones de rencontre sont définies dans l’OSR.
Plus d’infos : www.zonederencontre.ch
It is possible to designate a street as a meeting zone in the following cases:
A zone de rencontre will work all the better when the residents of a street express the wish to do so.
Please note: a zone de rencontre sign will not necessarily solve all traffic problems, and development measures are often necessary.
Some municipalities are planning streets that they are considering for traffic calming (zone 30, meeting zone or pedestrian zone). An active and written demonstration of the population’s desire to convert a street into a pedestrian zone often carries weight in decisions.
How to apply for a pedestrian zone in your street:
According toart. 22c OSR, pedestrian zones are reserved for pedestrians and users of vehicles. Cyclists and delivery personnel may be admitted if authorized by a supplementary plate, but must travel at walking pace. In all cases, pedestrians have priority. In very busy pedestrian zones, it is possible and even recommended to limit the number of cyclists allowed.
Delivery services may be allowed in pedestrian zones if an additional sign authorizes them at certain times. In all cases, pedestrians have priority and vehicles must travel at walking pace.
Parking is only permitted in areas designated by signs or markings(art. 22c).
According toArt. 7 LCPR, in the event of interruption to the footpath network, a suitable alternative route must be created. This applies in particular to the (temporary) use of the roadway and pedestrian areas for a construction site.
If you feel that the alternative pedestrian route is unsuitable and/or that obstacles are interrupting the path, you can report problem situations to the relevant authorities by post.
Yes, a narrower carriageway is recommended for roads with little (lorry) traffic, as the carriageway width must not be dimensioned solely on the basis of the required number of encounters. For example, residential areas usually have a low proportion of trucks. In these areas, it makes sense not to design the roads to accommodate passenger car-truck encounters throughout. In return, the sidewalks can be made wider and, if necessary, serve as an alternative space for a vehicle. If the sidewalk is also intended to be used as an alternative route for two cars when traffic volumes are very low, bollards must be installed to prevent vehicles from driving on a longer stretch of sidewalk.
No, in roads with low to medium traffic volumes, bottlenecks can be created in places where not all types of encounter are possible. Examples include access roads and collector roads (20 or 30 km/h): At pedestrian crossings, for traffic calming, for design enhancement, to create extended front areas for public uses, to create additional recreational areas and to increase road safety.
