Geneva Federal Court Validates COVID Tracks
Geneva Cycling: Court Upholds Legality of ‘COVID Tracks’
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GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland’s Federal Court has rejected an appeal by the Touring Club Suisse (TCS) against the legality of bicycle lanes created in Geneva during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling ends a protracted legal battle over the lanes,often referred to as “COVID tracks.”
The court decree specifically validates the cycle path established in 2020 on Boulevard georges-Favon,as well as those on Pont de la Coulouvrenière and rue des Terreaux-du-Temple. The TCS had challenged the lanes as their inception.
The “COVID tracks” were introduced by then-State Councilor Serge dal Busco to promote cycling and other forms of “soft mobility” during the pandemic. The creation of these lanes resulted in the removal of a traffic lane for automobiles heading toward the train station.
Court Affirms Proportionality
The TCS argued that the cycle paths excessively restricted traffic, violating the principle of proportionality. However, the federal Court found that the lanes serve “the public interest of improving the safety of cyclists and pedestrians,” the latter of whom previously had to share the sidewalk on the Coulouvrenière bridge.
The court also noted that traffic delays on the affected routes have increased by only about 50 seconds since the installation of the bicycle lanes, according to traffic counts.
Active-trafic, an advocacy group that supported the cycle paths, praised the court’s decision. Thibault Schneeberger, coordinator for the association, called the TCS appeal excessive, saying, “The appellants imposed five years of procedure for a few hundred meters of cycle paths.” he added that the appeals were likely intended to discourage pro-cycling initiatives by local authorities.
Schneeberger urged officials to accelerate the expansion and improvement of existing bicycle lanes, stating, “Now, you have to speed up the deployment of this kind of tracks and secure those that already exist. We have justice on our side.” He also indicated that the case might be brought before the European Court of Human Rights.
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Emilien Ghidoni is a journalist with the “Tribune de Genève,” covering mobility issues and the town of Vernier as August 2022. He holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in international relations.
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Geneva Cycling: your Questions Answered About the “COVID Tracks”
Q: What’s the big news about cycling in Geneva?
A: The Swiss Federal Court has ruled in favor of the bicycle lanes,often called “COVID tracks,” that were created in Geneva during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision, as reported by the Associated Press, ends a legal challenge by the Touring Club Suisse (TCS) against the lanes.
Q: What exactly are these “COVID tracks”?
A: These are dedicated bicycle lanes that were established in Geneva in 2020. They were introduced by then-State Councilor Serge dal Busco to promote cycling and othre forms of “soft mobility” during the pandemic. Their creation involved reallocating space, including removing a traffic lane for cars.
Q: Which specific cycle paths were validated by the court?
A: The court decree specifically validated the cycle paths on Boulevard georges-Favon, Pont de la Coulouvrenière, and rue des Terreaux-du-Temple.
Q: Who challenged the bicycle lanes, and why?
A: The Touring Club Suisse (TCS) initiated the legal challenge. Their primary argument was that the cycle paths excessively restricted traffic, violating the principle of proportionality.
Q: What did the court say about the TCS’s argument?
A: the Federal Court dismissed the TCS’s appeal, asserting that the lanes serve “the public interest of improving the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.” The court highlighted that pedestrians had previously shared sidewalks on the Coulouvrenière bridge.
Q: what impact have the bicycle lanes had on traffic delays?
A: According to the court, traffic delays on the affected routes have increased by only about 50 seconds since the installation of the bicycle lanes, based on traffic counts.
Q: What’s the reaction from cycling advocacy groups?
A: Active-trafic, a group that supports the bike paths, praised the court’s decision. Thibault Schneeberger, coordinator for the association, called the TCS appeal excessive.He said, “The appellants imposed five years of procedure for a few hundred meters of cycle paths.” He believes this was intended to discourage pro-cycling initiatives.
Q: What’s next for the bicycle lanes in Geneva?
A: Schneeberger urged officials to accelerate the expansion and improvement of existing bicycle lanes. He stated, “Now, you have to speed up the deployment of this kind of tracks and secure those that already exist. We have justice on our side.” He also indicated that the case might be brought before the European Court of Human Rights.
Q: Where can I find out more about this story?
A: You can sign up for the “Tribune de Genève” newsletter for twice-daily updates. The original article was by journalist Emilien Ghidoni.
Q: Who is the author of the original article, and what are their credentials?
A: The author of the original article is Emilien Ghidoni, a journalist with the “Tribune de Genève.” He covers mobility issues and the town of Vernier as of august 2022.Ghidoni holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in international relations. You can find him on Twitter: @Emilien_ghidoni.