Winterthur’s bold plan to slash car use and ease traffic chaos

A radical shift is coming to Winterthur’s streets—if activists succeed. The city could soon swap gridlock for bike lanes and safer, greener mobility.

, and Administrator

2025 November 29 . 5:48 PM

1 min read

There are some people cycling on the roads. On the right corner and left corner we can see cars. In... — There are some people cycling on the roads. On the right corner and left corner we can see cars. In the background we can see some stores,tent,trees,buildings.

Winterthur’s bold plan to slash car use and ease traffic chaos

Winterthur’s roads are struggling under heavy traffic, with congestion becoming a daily issue. In response, the Young Greens of Winterthur have launched the Verkehrswende Winti initiative to cut unnecessary car journeys and rethink how people move around the city. The group wants to create more space for cycling and sustainable transport while keeping essential vehicles on the road.

The initiative calls for a major redesign of Winterthur’s transport network. Its goal is to push the city council to plan for a future with fewer cars, prioritising walking, cycling, and public transport instead. The campaigners argue that reducing car dependency will help safeguard mobility and improve safety for all road users.

If successful, the initiative would give Winterthur’s city council a clear mandate to overhaul the transport system. The changes would aim to ease congestion while making streets safer and more accessible. The next step depends on whether organisers can collect enough signatures before the 2026 deadline.