Hi guys

I've been reading up on the Mobility scheme, as we're planning to try only having one car between us. We've got two kids, though, aged 4 and 8 - I understand that the 4 yr old needs to use a car seat by law (and it's obviously advisable but not compulsory for the 8 yr old).

Is there an option within the Mobility scheme to specify child car seats, would I have to lug my own along, or should I just forget it altogether?

In the UK, the recent child car law mandates using a seat until the child is 135cm, but does allow NOT using one for the occasional, unexpected journey (like picking up a friend's kid from school at the last minute), or when travelling in taxis. Perhaps something like this also applies in Switzerland that would cover the occasional use of a Mobility car? (But I'm guessing the answer will be 'no'!)

Many thanks

kodokan

This is from their FAQ. Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to your other question.

as you pick up the car & the keys at the same time, at a public stand, I doubt if you would be able to specify a car seat, so you would have to take one along.

Thank you for the helpful answers, guys, seems pretty much as I expected. Looks like I'll have to take a car seat if we want to use this, at least for the next few years.

By the way, do you happen to know what it means by 'special child headrests' and 'seat shell', referred to in the quote above. I opened the PDF, then hurridly closed it again in terror - good job I'm moving to the French-speaking side!

Is it acceptable in Switzerland to just use a lightweight booster cushion, like in the UK, or does it have to be a large child seat with a back too. We've got the full size ones in our car, but I could pick up a not too heavy booster cushion for Mobility use, perhaps..?

Thanks very much, I'm learning so much from this whole forum and it's really helping with my planning.

kodokan

I hope you don't have to use a full sized car seat with a back and arms etc. We have a booster seat for our girl, I think it weighs about 3kg so it is very portable.

All you need are booster-seats as this raises the height of the child with respect to the seat belt, otherwise it's (seat-belt) going to cut it's (child's) head off. Apart from anything else the kids hate it when they can't see out the windows

What we also use is a restrainer cushion, the seat belt goes around the cushion at waist level, the cushion is hard shell and has a soft table-like top which the kiddies can draw on.

Schlepping to kiddies seats to the mobility parking spot is a pain.

Thanks guys - looks like it's tiresome but not impossible. I'll make sure I go shopping before we move and get the lightest, most polystyrene-ie car seat I can find; this would only be for popping to do a bit of shopping or visiting any local friends not easily accessible by bus, so any crash would be at low impact speed!

And - paranoid double checking - I AM right in thinking that my son, who will be 8, doesn't legally need a car seat..? He'll still use one in our car anyway, but can I get away with only carrying one about for Mobility use?

Cheers

kodokan

Only children under the age of 7 need a car seat
http://www.ch.ch/private/00081/00083...x.html?lang=en

A tip related to Mobility. If you plan to use it often and more than two years, and have some money to spare in advance, sign up to be a Cooperative member, it costs 250CHF one off and 1000 for a certificate, this 1000 you get back when you leave. Normal membership is 190 with the halbtax train card, so you will save within two years of membership. You also get 10% off the total if you have >600 CHF per year and 20% if >2000CHF. (600 CHF per year if you use it regularly is soon reached.)

Second, again if you can spare the money, the Mobility bonus scheme offers between 3% and 20% discount. Check the FAQ. You can buy into this scheme using Reka checks, which you can buy at Coop supermarket, and you get another 3% off. So you get say 3+3%=6% off for the minimal Mobility Bonus.

So at a minimum, you can save 16% a year.

Thanks Muze, that's very helpful to know. I had read somewhere about that 1000chf thing, but didn't realise you'd save so much.

And I thiiiiink I've read somewhere that you can offset the half-price travel card against your tax bill..? Or did I just imagine that - I've read so much in the last couple of weeks it's all starting to blur!

kodokan

Hoping this post is OK to tag onto this thread

We have some visitors arriving at the end of Feb with an 18 month old - do you know if there is anywhere where we can rent child car seats or does anyone have one we could borrow? it would need to be a car seat that can take 20kilos upwards

Any help much appreciated

Thanks
Nicky

Nicky, did you ever find somewhere to rent a car seat? We are going to have a child visiting over the Christmas holidays who is 3 and a 1/2 and I'm assuming he will need to be in a booster seat. He is big enough to fly without one and his parents would like to avoid schlepping one over here from the US if we can find one here for rent for a week or so.

As both your children are 4 years and over they can use a booster seat. They are reasonably price and do not take up too much space.

Trying to use one car seat is a great idea!

I would never just go without a carseat to pick up someone elses child or a short trip. Statics show that you are more likely to have an accident when on a short trip or within five miles of your home after a long trip! I had the most horrific car accident four years ago (not in CH) when my children were 13 months old and 6 years respectively and I was only collecting them from school, wasn't rushing around and I am convinced they survived the crash due to being in the correct car seats! My daughter is now 10 years old and still using a car seat. Accidents happen when you least expect them.

I hope this helps - good luck!

Baby strollers and child car seats can be rented at the Zurich Airport Service Center.