regarding pedestrian crossings, I think they have a heck of a long way to go yet. They acknowledged last year that they have bad statistics for people killed and injured on crossings and they want to improve this. part of the problem is the location of some crossings, putting them just a few metres away from a junction encourages cars to jump them or risk getting rear ended. One of my pet hates in Zürich, the traffic light changes, the car in fron tmoves off to turn right and then has to stop for pedestrians and nobody can cross the light as the car in front is block ing the road. Bloody genius that planned that stupid idea. They have really crap traffic/pedestrian seperation ideas in Switzerland, there are many places where the pedestrians are woefully protected if at all. And don't get me started on car parks....
I just couldn't agree any more. The places in which they've placed crossing often leave very little ability for a car to react to pedestrians crossing when suddenly decide they want to cross. I think the best they they can do is to remove the legal requirement for cars to stop at each of the yellow crossing. In cities where it's difficult to cross the road otherwise, either have human traffic control which they already have most of the time or have pedestrian crossing signals instead of mandatory stop at yellow crossings.
While the suggestions may not be the best thought out, the current situation of mandatory stop for crossings is completely inefficient in busy town centers. Something else needs to be done there.
From what I have seen here, it always takes longer for something to get to Switzerland then to the rest of the Europe. Fast internet, new technological releases (computers, TVs etc.) and so on.
It's very noticeable if you keep up with the cutting edge.
Wow, so I am not the only one noticing that...One other thing, some of these 60kph drivers are tailgating, making gestures and suffering brain strokes if someone (like me) "only" drives 55kph through the village. But then outside the village they disappear behind and are probably very confused indeed probably wondering why my speed correlates with announced speed limits.
Yeah I agree with the original post.. all those pages ago.. they are impatient drivers.. just like they're ridiculously impatient in any queue.
But..
But..
It's your chance to play 'bate the Swiss'... anyone toots me for no good reason.. I slow down.. anyone gesticulates at me.. I slow down...anyone gets too close behind.. I speed up a little and then at a junction I.. slam on the brakes.. anyone breathes down my neck at the supermarket check-out.. i take my wallet out ever so slowly...i take time to ponder the best payment method.. i put down a card and.. oops.. change my mind...
Haven't actually induced a heart attack yet.. but I'm hopeful.
Hehe, this made me laugh. It is quite passive aggressive and probably very efficient!
I bet you do all this with the sweetest smile on your face and the very best Swiss manners . You could also try to smalltalk while you do this, like so many customers and even cashiers do in local Migros, Manor and Coop.
One thing I have not figured out yet, what to do when people do not want to wait in line here (quick shops in Geneva, Cornavin trainstation is the worst..) and I get constantly cut off by somebody. It's a hustle when I am actually in a rush to run for a train. But don't mean to hijack..
Talking about driving habits in Switzerland, I still find it more forgiving here than elsewhere in the world except for the fact that everyone drives very slowly (for my liking save a few plonkers only who have a need for speed...)
In Switzerland the drivers are rather very polite always (almost always) stopping and letting the pedestrians pass on zebra (except a few buses that I saw they didnt have enough clearance to slow down due to their gabarit ). Fast life pace, impatience and pushy drivers are very peculiar to large metropolitan cities and this is a common phenomenon worldwide.
I used to drive regulalry two hours per day in South Africa between two large cities Pretoria and Johannesburg for many years while witnessing frequent backups. It was a sheer nightmare to take an on-ramp in order to merge into the traffic on motorway or get-out of the traffic to find an off-ramp. You had too duck, dodge and force your way onto the lanes. Entire exercise was not pleasant at all during the peak hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It is always more irritating to drive downtown in the city then in outskirts and suburbs. Those who know what I am talking about will agree. The min-bus taxi drivers use the hooting method in the city to find their way, communicate between other taxi drivers or when they stop. There is entire code of using hooting signals. Something which has been invented for emergency only and as the traffic rule shouldnt be used randomly and abused, some folks find it as "an audible mean of communicating".
As everywhere else in the world, to be able to drive confidently and comfortable, one has to get used to the city, get to know alternative routes and always change lanes on time in the spirit of following the flock as to avoid the unnecessary hassle. Once you have learnt it it will be more embracing and less stressful.
This would actually qualify for another rant but might be off topic here though. Last weekend we had a friend staying over with a short visit from London. I used my SBB's checks to buy the tickets at the main train station in Zürich. As you know there are usually queues at the tills. So we were standing there and chatter with my friends not seeing the dude standing next to me who only came later and tried to cut me off. As I wanted to quickly get over a buying tickets stuff, I just relentlessly stood there but in the meantime I saw irritation mounting in the guy as we were step-by-step approaching closer to the cash register. Eventually we both realized that we cannot form our own queues and being served at the same time. As I stood there longer I pretended that I dont speak German and I politley waited until he utters the magic question "where you standing here first?"
Yes they certainly do. I didn't say I thought it was a good system, the statistics have changed in as far as there seem to be more people being killed on crossings as opposed to just being killed crossing the road - the fact that it hasn't dawned on them that the crossings are placed in totally idiotic places and that it might be an idea to move them in particular away from the corners of roads or almost on roundabouts still amazes me.
I wonder what the criteria is for being a road planner, surely lack of common sense must be a vital skill. I share your views on the bloody genius' talents.
I drive through the center of Zurich every day on my way to work.
It is worst where all the autobahns meet, Nord Ring, Wintherthur/Chur, Flughhafen. Everyone is trying to cut in line - or preventing someone from cutting in line. I have seen many fender benders, because neither party wanted to give way.
Today I witnessed the honking of the horn and giving of the finger. It was a Benz (as always) that cut off a Toyota. The Toyota was not happy
I mentioned on another thread that a pedestrian crossing had been moved from a straight section of road and put on a sharp corner. Cars would not see it until they were almost on it.
The idea behind it was that although the car drivers would not have a clear view of the crossing, the pedestrians would have a clear view both ways and so it didn't matter whether the cars could see them or not as the pedestrians could use their own judgement and decide when to cross.
Now this is the best bit - the pedestrian crossing was located outside a Kindergarten and primary school and would mainly serve 4-8 year olds !
(Thankfully, although the crossing is still there, not so many children need to cross it now as a pavement has been extended so the children do not need to cross the road at all - rather than twice).