The vives under the wave – a popular success under pressure

The success of the Eaux-Vives beach is resounding. Similarly, These are thousands of people. Therefore, coming from the four corners of the canton and far beyond who find themselves daily in the Vives, in a particularly explosive way in summer, to enjoy access to water. Therefore, This is an example to be valued. Moreover, as is the Lake Express, of the need to provide our population with new infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the inhabitants. For example, During a heat wave, access to water is vital and the beach of the vives victim of its success. However, The population density per square meter now poses problems of use and maintenance. However, The Eaux-Vives beach is a magnificent success, yes. Additionally, However, this success highlights new challenges, particularly in terms of flow management, cleanliness and security.

The tens of thousands of people vives under wave – popular arriving in the neighborhood cause increasingly strong nuisances. In addition, generates increasing pressures in the neighborhood. In addition, The authorities had provided access to the beach mainly by public transport. Similarly, In fact, the latter are largely undersized and struggle to follow, leaving users as inhabiting them in a dead end. It is clear that the buses are saturated, in particular due to road clips and anarchic parking. The incessant back and forth of motorized two-wheelers exasperates the inhabitants and seriously compromises the safety of pedestrian.

Nothing was done to limit motorized access to the beach. As a result. the mountain brawls suffocate under transit and leisure traffic and pedestrians peeled to cross the road or risk their skin on the road. The sidewalks have become too narrow. Furthermore, The crowds moving on foot overflow dangerously over the road. An accumulation of events in the same perimeter without overall vision vives under wave – popular – a triathlon. a fan zone of Eurofoot on the beach and a small train which zigzues in the middle – adds to the already critical saturation of the district, as if we were trying to test the limits of the bearable. Add to that a concert on the Ella Fitzgerald. a Genève Beach Pool that unlocked and is probably more than 10,000 people are concentrated in the same place. Madness.

In summer, the vives take on the appearance of a overcrowded seaside resort, but the facilities have not followed. The contrast between crowds and obsolete infrastructure becomes difficult. It is urgent to rethink the plans of this district to appease it. with more greenery, more generous pedestrian routes and an absolute priority to public transport. The only identified measuring was to limit the entrance to rue des Eaux-Vives to motorized traffic. Provisional, this decision which somewhat alleviates the burden vives under wave – popular of vehicles in the neighborhood was revoked. Conversely, it should absolutely be perpetuated. Without rapid measures to develop. adapt, support, but also regulate, it is to be feared that tranquility, sanitation and a fragile balance will be broken, amplifying rejection of rejection, as we have seen in cities like Barcelona or Venice. It is no longer the time to pretend that everything was fine by stacking people in the same place without respect for the inhabitants. the biotope.

Geneva must do better. For inhabitants, for visitors, and for the urban environment as a whole. There is still time to act. But you have to get out of denial and face reality with lucidity.

Sylvain Thévoz,
MP for the Grand Council, Geneva