Critical Mass – Velo campaign in Zurich will need a permit in the future – News


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The reason is the traffic problems caused. Velo activists and the police are now considering what this means for them.

The worldwide movement Critical Mass takes to the streets on the last Friday of every month. Thousands of cyclists then cycle through the cities to demonstrate for a bicycle-friendly policy – as in Zurich.

Because the actions have repeatedly led to traffic problems, the Zurich city government will in future require the demo organizers to obtain a permit. The government has decided not to appeal against a corresponding decision by the governor.

This is critical mass


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Legend:

Keystone/Walter Bieri

The participants in the Critical Mass see themselves as “one long vehicle”. The front of the parade stops at a red light and starts again when it turns green – and all participants follow it, even if the traffic light changes color again. With several thousand people, as they gather in Zurich on the last Friday of each month, this can take a while – which is why there have always been traffic obstructions in the past. The Critical Mass sees itself as a “spontaneous movement”who organizes the events is not publicly known. (sda)

Green City Councilor and Security Director Karin Rykart says she supports Critical Mass’s political concerns. However, the movement had simply become too large to drive through Zurich without a permit.

Set route with police

The Zurich city government now wants to prevent traffic jams due to critical mass in the future. So far, the bike demo decided spontaneously where to go. Now the Critical Mass must obtain a permit from the city and work with the city police to determine a route to travel along.

Councilwoman Rykart hopes the people behind Critical Mass will heed her call and someone will seek approval. “It’s up to the organizers to take a step towards us and clarify that.”

You’ve finally gotten to the point where you respect the rule of law.

The city government’s decision pleases the President of the City of Zurich’s FDP, Pärparim Avdili. He had protested to the governor that the city government had not intervened at the critical mass. “Finally you’ve gotten so far that you respect the rule of law.”

What does Critical Mass do?

The Pro Velo Züri association is less pleased. Spokeswoman Andrea Freiermuth hopes that the critical mass in Zurich will survive despite the new permit requirement. The new starting position will now be discussed in the movement’s chats. “And maybe obtaining a permit is actually a solution,” says Freiermuth. But there are also other, creative ideas on how to proceed.

It’s not easy to stop such a mass of bikes.

It is far from certain whether someone from the Critical Mass will actually stand up in person and obtain approval. The movement does not see itself explicitly as a demonstration, but as a spontaneous assembly, without a central organization and without a set route.

And what are the police doing?

If no one obtains a permit, the Zurich city police would have to prevent the critical mass. That would be a delicate task, as the politician Rykart knows. “It’s not easy to stop such a mass of bikes.” Nevertheless, the police are now considering how to proceed if they had to stop an unauthorized critical mass.

After years of toleration, the city of Zurich is now demanding a permit for the Critical Mass bicycle campaign. How this deals with the new requirements will be shown on July 28th. Then the next such bike demo will take place.

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