The city of Zurich has just inaugurated a new cycling tunnel under its central station, offering cyclists more direct and safer access to the city center. This innovative project, called “Stadttunnel”, transforms an infrastructure initially designed for an urban highway into a passage dedicated to bikes.
440 meters long and 6 meters wide in places, the tunnel allows cyclists to quickly and safely cross the station area, thus avoiding the dangers of road traffic on the surface.
The speed is limited to 20 km/h. In addition, it gives access to free underground parking of more than 1,200 bicycle spaces, directly connected to the quays of the station.
![The "City tunnel" Give access to free underground parking of more than 1,200 spaces for bikes. [KEYSTONE - ENNIO LEANZA]](https://img.rts.ch/articles/2025/image/9fh39k-28917920.image?mw=1280 "The \"City tunnel\" Give access to free underground parking of more than 1,200 spaces for bikes. [KEYSTONE - ENNIO LEANZA]")
A former motorway project
The story of this tunnel is special. Built in the late 1980s as part of an urban motorway project, it remained unused for years.
He was originally to be part of an ambitious connection plan between the A1 and A3 motorways, forming an axis by crossing the city center of Zurich. However, this controversial project aroused strong opposition from the population, leading to its abandonment.
![The tunnel was initially to be part of an ambitious connection plan between the A1 and A3 motorways, forming an axis by crossing the city center of Zurich. [OFROU]](https://img.rts.ch/articles/2025/image/4sn385-28917924.image?mw=1280 "The tunnel was initially to be part of an ambitious connection plan between the A1 and A3 motorways, forming an axis by crossing the city center of Zurich. [OFROU]")
It was in 2011 that the Pro Velo association launched a petition for its cycle retraining. Ten years later, 74% of Zurich citizens approved the project, leading to its inauguration this year after development work at a cost of nearly 40 million francs.
Andrea Freiermuth, member of the Pro Velo Zurich Committee, does not hide his pride. “This is the greatest success in the history of Pro Velo Zurich,” she said on Wednesday in the morning of RTS. It is we who launched a petition. And now, it’s a reality. It makes us very proud. “
![Andrea Farmuthsh, yourere are committee the per bicycle of the quarters. [RTS - VALENTIN JORDIL]](https://img.rts.ch/articles/2025/image/vkn7z6-28917907.image?mw=1280 "Andrea Farmuthsh, yourere are committee the per bicycle of the quarters. [RTS - VALENTIN JORDIL]")
A symbol of mobility change
Municipal councilor Simone Brander, head of the dicastery of public works, underlines the symbolic importance of the project: “This is a sign of the change of transport in the city of Zurich. Instead of being a motorway tunnel, we use it today for the bicycle. It is really a symbol of the new transport policy in the city.”
The cyclists interviewed salute this initiative. “This is certainly a good start,” said one of them, while another appreciates “a safe and simple link” which avoids “going around the whole station with traffic lights”.
![Municipal councilor Simone Brander, chef of the Dicaster of Public Works. [KEYSTONE - ENNIO LEANZA]](https://img.rts.ch/articles/2025/image/tjc9m5-28917910.image?mw=1280 "Municipal councilor Simone Brander, chef of the Dicaster of Public Works. [KEYSTONE - ENNIO LEANZA]")
Persistent challenges
Despite this significant advance, Zurich faces challenges in the development of its cycle network. An ambitious plan aimed at building 135 km of priority cycle routes by 2031 is progressing slowly, with only 4.3 km made to date. The numerous legal proceedings linked to the abolition of parking spaces slow down the process.
An additional challenge is in the form of a legal obstacle: a constitutional article prohibits Zurich from reducing the capacity of its road network. Despite this constraint, the city remains determined in its cycle vision.
“Our objective is to offer sufficient and secure space for cycling traffic. Our projects benefit from large support, having been approved by popular voting and parliament. However, during concrete implementation, we often face oppositions that slow down their progress,” said Simone Brander.
Valentin Jordil
