New access permits and adjusted public transport timetable due to World Cycling Championships
Published: Wednesday, Sep 18th 2024, 11:50
Retour au fil d'actualité
The World Cycling Championships in Zurich will be a challenge in terms of traffic: the canton and city of Zurich are closing roads and introducing an online access permit, and there will also be a two-tier streetcar network in the city of Zurich. An overview.
What kind of event is taking place?
The Cycling and Para-Cycling Road World Championships will take place in the canton and city of Zurich from September 21 to 29. Over nine days, 53 races will be held, with 1300 riders from more than 75 countries taking part. After the Olympic Games and the Paralympics in Paris, there will be many rematches.
What does the World Championship route look like?
All races finish at the same place - on the Utoquai at Sechseläutenplatz in the city of Zurich. Before the participants cross the finish line, they have to complete various routes in the canton of Zurich, depending on the category. The start is in Zurich, Zurich-Oerlikon, Gossau ZH, Uster and Winterthur.
How long will the roads remain closed?
The impact on traffic varies depending on the day of the World Championships. In principle, driving on and crossing the race tracks is prohibited for private motorized traffic. The routes will remain closed until the end of the race, with normal traffic on the roads from 7 p.m. until at least 5 a.m. at the latest. Pedestrians and cyclists pushing their bikes can cross the track in fenced-off sections at special points; on unfenced sections, this is possible with the necessary caution.
Why do the organizers call it a "two-part event"?
During the first few days of the World Cycling Championships, the athletes will ride from point A to B at Sechseläutenplatz. Although the actual route is closed, all points around the canton of Zurich remain accessible. However, from Wednesday, September 25 to Sunday, September 29, the athletes will cover circular routes; on the one hand the small "Lakeside Circuit" around Zurich Seefeld on the right bank of Lake Zurich, and on the other hand the large "City Circuit" from Zurich via Witikon, Binz (Maur), Zumikon and Küsnacht along the lake back to Zurich. The areas within these circuits are difficult to reach during the day - the Zollikerberg and Hirslanden hospital areas are among those affected by this on the "City Circuit". "Access to healthcare facilities remains guaranteed. Emergencies have priority at all times," says the World Championship website.
How is access to the inside of the "City Circuit" regulated?
While the cycle track will remain crossable for pedestrians, as mentioned above, cars and delivery vans will not be able to enter or leave the "City Circuit" from anywhere during the race day. The eastern area of the city of Zurich will only be accessible via the Forchautostrasse A52. The police will set up a traffic checkpoint at the Zumikon/Itschnach junction; an online access permit will be required for simplified access, all others will be checked. The affected municipalities are expecting a considerable backlog of traffic on the A52 and in Küsnacht and Zumikon. "Avoid the area on a large scale. If possible, use alternative means of transport," advises the Küsnacht municipal council.
Do trains, buses and streetcars run?
Public transport will continue to run during the World Cycling Championships. However, there will be restrictions and detour. The Zurich public transport company (VBZ) will have to split its service in two during the day, especially in the second half of the World Championships during the "City Circuit"; on the one hand, it will operate in the city area and, on the other, within the eastern part of the city, which will be cut off from traffic. In Winterthur, all but one bus line will be canceled on Sunday, September 29. The Zurich Transport Association (ZVV) will also operate a special timetable in the rest of the canton; there will be restrictions at various locations depending on the day of the race. However, the S-Bahn in the canton of Zurich will run according to the timetable throughout the event, including the cycling races, according to the ZVV. "In order to cope with the increased volume of passengers, the space available on S-Bahn and long-distance trains will be increased at certain points."
What are the consequences of the World Cycling Championships?
In the run-up to the World Cycling Championships, various businesses criticized the restrictions and feared a loss of revenue. Individual municipalities were also dissatisfied with the consequences of the major event: the municipal council of Maur, for example, announced last week that it had assumed that the canton would cover the costs incurred. Now it has had to approve an unexpected loan of 90,000 francs. After the World Cycling Championships, the municipal council announced that it intends to reclaim these expenses for pay and catering for the municipal fire department and civil defence as well as communication and signaling material from the canton and city of Zurich or the Swiss Cycling Federation as far as possible.
How much interest is there in the World Cycling Championships?
The organizers call it a "nine-day major sporting event" and a "cycling festival for everyone". They are expecting 850,000 spectators along the routes and in the fan zones over the entire duration of the event. The races will also be broadcast worldwide. Over 300 million people watch the competitions on television.
©Keystone/SDA
French 
English 
German 
Spanish 
Arabic