Hi EF,
Me and my girl are moving from Zurich to Basel next week. We've moved apartments before but have never had to block off parking in front of the new place for the moving van. Does anyone know how we should go about this? Contact the police in Basel would be my first guess. But is there a specific body to whom we should apply?
Cheers and thanks in advance,
DKH

The police in Basel are responsible and they usually need several days notice, so do it today if possible!

http://tel.local.ch/en/q/Basel-City%....html?rid=zrpQ

Where I live you have to ask the Gemeinde

Your first guess is correct, though you need to contact your district/area police station.

Best to book them in early though, as they (the bollards) can go quite quickly and then you are stuck.

You then pick them up 48 hrs (I think) ahead of schedule and are allowed to put them out 24 hrs ahead of the time you need them - my memory of the times is TBH a bit fuzzy.

The other option is to ask the removals company to do it for you. They'll do it, although might get huffy.

Awesome, thanks everyone (Sbrinz and Carlos in particular).
All the best,
DKH

update - huh! it worked like a charm, just called them up and they said come around and pick up what I need two days in advance ... think they said it would cost something like CHF30.

Carlos, your memory is just fine. :-)

Just an update.

It was really easy, just walked into the local police station this morning. They wanted to see an ausweis and CHF30 (20 of which is the depot). I was given two heavy-duty witches hats, each with the round no-parking sign on them (dark blue background, red circle and slash) and "Mittwoch Ab 07:00" (or something like that) and an arrow. These were light enough for me to carry to the tram and take to the new place.

I was told to place them 48 hours before moving day.

I was told (I think) to make sure that the movers' vehicle rego numbers are recorded somewhere (my ladyfriend will help me interpret that bit tonight), and to call the cops on anyone who parks in the blocked off area immediately(!).

I will have to return the stuff within 48 hours and they will refund me the deposit. Whole thing costs CHF10 on balance. Cheapest bit of Swiss officialdom I have come across so far. Bargain!

I have to do this soon as well!! Did someone in the police station speak english?

We are having our belongings collected from the UK in Feb and don't have the exact delivery date yet - how much notice do you think I'll need to give?

The eye test for your driving license is also refreshingly cheap. Not many bargains in Switzerland, but glad to have another one to add to the list!

Doesn't apply in this case, but what happens if the person moving in (or their removal company) can't realistically get to the police station before the move?

Is there a possiblity for the police to set up the parking signs for you (for a reasonable fee, of course)?


P.S. Welcome to Basel!

Should I be looking for a flat mate?

Depends. Are you normally into 2-dimensional relationships?

1) The policeman I spoke to did not have much english (or at least this might have been the impression he intended to give) - but he had enough to fill in the gaps (my german is not so hot). If you dont speak any german, take someone with you who does!

2) I went to the police station 48 h before the movers were due to arrive. He said that this was fine, but I should put out the witches hats immediately.

Also, he will give you a bit of paper which should be with the moving van itself, on which it will be noted the moving vans rego. Apparantly, this will satisfy any cops brought around by nosey neighbours who see someone (the movers) parked in the no-parking zone you have to set up and dont realize that its ok.

DKH

Thanks again - we don't know any German but with your detailed description of what to expect and what to do I think we should be OK.