Saw some second hand cycles for CHF 150 in Kanzlei this saturday..but would like to know if any licence is required for that...

Any help would be appreciated.

David

You'll need a 'Velo Vignette' (Bike sticker) which provides a basic insurance. It costs CHF 7. These can be found at Post Offices. Most people don't have one, but the Police will fine you if you're stopped and don't have it stuck somewhere on the frame. Other than this, there's nothing else needed - other than lights, there's no rule concerning helmets, what colour lycra you wear (although some ought to be outlawed...)

- but there certainly should be; a helmet is far more useful than a Vignette. You can find a cheap helmet at the Migros Sport XX, Athleticum, or somewhere similar for 30 CHF and up.

The original poster refers to "cycle" but his avatar is a picture of a motorcycle. David - could you please let us know whether you are refering to a bicycle or a motorcycle, so that I can update the title of this thread to be a little more clearer?

150 Fr. for a motorcycle? would be cheap as hell though...

If you mean bicycles: You need to have a light on it (even during the day i think...) or you'll be fined

If you mean motorcycles: yes, you need a permit, but I do not know much about that...

No, no, no, no, stop that....

Having come from a country that made bicycle helmets mandatory in 1990, the freedom to choose in Switzerland has been a great pleasure. Mandate helmets and all the light city users will put their bikes away in the cellar and start driving or taking public transport. Cycling becomes a fringe thing for recreation or children. I've seen it happen and know plenty of people who last rode a bike in 1990

I wear a helmet when I choose, and I don't when running errands and commuting around the city. I do wear one when I go offroad or tour out in the country, mixing it with faster traffic.

Do note that you can lose your licence for riding a bicycle when drunk

So while the answer's no, there are caveats

Although completely off the orig. topic..........

I must disagree on the bicycle helmet/lights law I believe the idea of laws is to stop people hurting/killing themselves, others, etc, as said "people" are too concerned about messing up their hair or being uncomfortable, than about themselves or others.

While you are at it...........why not revoke laws on seat belts, drug use and random acts of violence. I am sure some people would love to partake in all the above if only they were "given the freedom".

I agree laws can be taken too far, but in this case, I think safety can be "good for people".

__________________
"Boy, those Germans have a word for everything!" - Homer Simpson

This might be one of the many things that varies cantonally. Here in Vaud, a policeman told me that you don't even need reflectors if you're riding during the day.

I think it would be fair enough to exempt people from wearing helmets, seat belts etc, but *ONLY* on the condition that in the event of an accident involving head injuries or related injuries that the injured party gets no medical benefits paid for by their insurance, no ambulance, no disability pension, etc.

Unfortunately the financial costs must be paid for by everyone, the personal costs are borne only by the victims (who probably wish they'd worn a helmet). Anyone who has worked in a hospital can sing a song about helmets...

Anyway, to get back on topic, since most believe this thread is about bicycles I guess I'll change the topic to make that clearer.

My basic feeling on these kind of things is "will my action endanger another?" and "what level of risk am I exposing myself to?". Riding without lights at night fails the first, so I wouldn't do it, law or not. Riding my bike down quiet streets at 10kmh obeying traffic rules, without a helmet, passes both in my own judgement.

Not wanting to bang on too much, cycle helmets (or a headband type device) have been shown to reduce head injuries in car accidents. Now try and bring in helmets for car drivers, no, much easier to target a smaller group like cyclists.

As for user pays/waivers on medical costs, I think we have been through this before with smokers. It's a little difficult to list all the risks and injuries that could be classed as "self inflicted". I mean, I hope no one suffers a knee injury in the upcoming EF soccer game or Monday night skate

I have front and rear lights installed on my bicycle, but they don't seem to be functioning (bought at flea market on Saturday). Do I need to get this fixed before taking it out during the day? I probably won't ride at night. I am in Zurich.

fduvall

[quote=KraBaT;63978]If you mean bicycles: You need to have a light on it (even during the day i think...) or you'll be fined

quote]

Well, I'm pretty sure you have to... Well, nvm, if they stop you, just tell them that your battery's down and you didn't have time to charge it cos ur in a hurry or sth... It usually works.

And by the way: I think the police have better things to do than stopping a cyclist because of an missing / broken light =)

I've been stopped by the Fuzz in Zurich and they did check for a vignette. They did not check for lights nor helmet. They checked my bell worked.

And then they fined me 30 francs for riding through Stauffacher on the tram tracks

My avatar is a motorcycle..but I am new to zurich and would be staying here for a short time...so not going to motorcycles....

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So all I need is get the cycle- check the light and buy the basic insurance..I prefer to wear a helmet..

-David

where do I ride my cycle in case there is no separate lane for it? on the sidewalk?

in a safe position on the road!

If this is the case, pretty much every road cyclist and mountain biker in the country would be getting fined. I know many city commuters have lights on their bikes during the day, but those of us who cycle for fun are not going to carry our lights unless we know we are going to be out after dark.

I rekon its safe enough without lights during the day!

Riding on the pavement is illegal in most of the countries I've lived in. Signposts are placed in some areas of Zurich (like Niederdorf) reminding cyclists that they aren't to ride in pedestrian areas. Most ignore it and ride between the pedestrians. A few months ago I saw a lot of police there writing a lot of tickets to cyclists.

So in short - roads are for bicycles, pedestrian areas are for, um, pedestrians. Special areas specifically marked for bicycles are of course an exception to this.

Patmi, you're supposed to bicycle on the right side of the road if there's no bicycle lane.

The obligatory license costs 5-7 Fr., depending on where you buy it. It covers 2 m Fr. damages done to others (not to yourself). If you scratch a car or hurt a pedestrian without having a "Velovignette" you'll have to cough up for all the damages starting at the first centime because most other insurances don't cover it for you.

According to the Swiss Bicycle Advocacy Association, every bicycle must have by law:

• The mentioned license
• Two functional brakes
• White front reflector patch, red back reflector (the latter is often part of the backlight)
• Reflectors on the pedals
• Bicycle bell (no horns, sirens etc.)
• Bike lock
• At night: headlamp and backlight

There you have it. Police controls are very rare but it's your safety, isn't it? One night, I've noticed a bicycle driver who managed to break virtually every other rule I've listed only because of the pedal reflectors!

The license is common and accepted, in my oppinion. I'd have estimated that four out of five bicycles have one, according to this NZZ article (PDF/German) 83% of Switzerland's approximately 4 million bicycles have one.