A new scheme aims to encourage residents of the Swiss canton of Geneva to give up their cars for a month and use alternative modes of transport instead.
Launched by Geneva’s Modus foundation, the ‘Mobility Switch’ project offers 500 francs to residents of the canton who commit not to use their vehicle for 30 days.
However, this amount is not given out as cash.
Rather, it is handed out in a form of a ‘cheque’ which allows participants to buy a monthly public transport subscription, and to rent bicycles (classic or electric), cargo bikes, and other ecological modes of transport, which they will use during the car-less month.
Since the project, which aims to promote sustainable mobility, was launched in February, 130 residents have signed up for it.
Two further waves of participants will begin on April 13th and May 18th.
Candidates are selected based on age, gender, and place of residence to ensure a representative sample.
And while it is easy to give up the car in the city, the project’s challenge is to include rural areas, which are not as well-connected to the bus and tram network.
A success
Previous such attempts have proven successful.
The results of the 2024 trial run showed a “very strong” impact on behaviour, according to Guillaume Drevon, director of the Modus Foundation.
At that time, approximately 20 percent of participants purchased a bicycle after the trial, nearly 30 percent bought a Geneva Public Transport. pass, and about 15 percent. sold one of their vehicles.
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Yes, we know what question is on your mind right now: How to organisers know whether participants don’t drive their vehicles during one month?
Obviously, nobody is actually monitoring the participants’ comings and goings.
But as many things in Switzerland, this project too is based on the honour system that is prevalent in the Swiss society.
READ MORE: What are the most important values for the Swiss?
