DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
Cycling activists planning to block Zurich motorway during World Car Free Day
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Cycling activists planning to block Zurich motorway during World Car Free Day

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Car-free HB: Area around Zurich Main Station to be turned into a parkCar-free HB: Area around Zurich Main Station to be turned into a park
Zurich compost inspections named Switzerland's silliest law for 2024Zurich compost inspections named Switzerland's silliest law for 2024
Zurich braces for 3 days of disruption as Velodemo celebrates 50th anniversaryZurich braces for 3 days of disruption as Velodemo celebrates 50th anniversary
7 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in February 20237 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in February 2023
Part of Langstrasse in Zurich to be made car-free from November 2023Part of Langstrasse in Zurich to be made car-free from November 2023
Police camera on Langstrasse "earns" Zurich 1,73 million francs in a monthPolice camera on Langstrasse "earns" Zurich 1,73 million francs in a month
Infamous Zurich camera "earns" city 4,5 million francs in fines in 4 monthsInfamous Zurich camera "earns" city 4,5 million francs in fines in 4 months
Zurich scraps Langstrasse speed camera after issuing millions in finesZurich scraps Langstrasse speed camera after issuing millions in fines
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Aug 5, 2022
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

Several pro-cycling activist groups have submitted an application to blockade a motorway in Canton Zurich on World Car Free Day. The event, which has the approval of the president of the Zurich Municipal Council, Matthias Probst, will block the Sihlhochstrasse motorway in central Zurich on September 22.

Cycling protests continue in Zurich

Every year on World Car Free Day, the Green Party of Zurich, Velo Mänsche Züri, and Pro Velo organise a “bicycle demonstration,” blocking drivers from using roads in and around the Swiss city. This year, the protesters plan to cycle and block the Sihlhochstrasse motorway between central Zurich and Brunau between 7 and 8pm on September 22.

This is not the first time cyclists have brought disruption to Zurich’s streets, with the activist group "Critical Mass" continuing to block major roads in the city on the last Friday of every month. According to Stefan Bruderere from Velo Mänsche Zürich, the blockades are designed to protest the "car-centric planning of the 1960s or 1970s" and push for more public transport and cycling projects in the city.

An application to allow the protest was submitted to the Municipal Council by president and councillor Matthias Probst. In a statement given to the Tages-Anzeiger, he argued that Sihhochstrasse - a motorway built over a large part of the city's suburbs - is a “scandal,” noting that “today it would be unthinkable to build such an absurdity."

Activists hope to reignite debate over demolishing Zurich highway

The Sihlhochstrasse motorway is an elevated bridge that was completed in the 1970s as part of the Y project - a plan to connect three major highways just outside Zurich Main Station. However, after resistance from locals and city officials, the rest of the route was finally shelved at the start of 2022. 

Probst declared that with the rest of the Y project now scrapped, “Sihlhochstrasse has finally become superfluous." He argued that the road brings an unnecessary number of cars into the city and spoils the recreational areas around the River Sihl. According to the Tages-Anzeiger, the protest hopes to ignite the debate over whether to demolish the motorway entirely.

Swiss roads agency concerned about safety of cycling protests

When asked by the newspaper whether the president of the Municipal Council - typically seen as an apolitical role - should file demonstration requests, Probst claimed that "such a bike tour is definitely in the interest of the general public, who have repeatedly voted against too many cars." 

In response, the Federal Roads Agency (ASTRA) was lukewarm to the idea, noting in a statement that it was concerned about the safety of road users and demonstrators during the protest. The application is now being reviewed by security department head Karin Rykart, who is yet to announce her decision.

By Jan de Boer