Social and Political Segregation of Urban Transportation: The Merits and Limitations of the Swiss Cities Model

Abstract

The vigorous public transport policies pursued in Swiss cities have become a matter of some controversy. They have revitalized central urban areas and, at the same time, pushed up property prices. Underprivileged categories have therefore found themselves expelled to the outskirts, thus widening the social divide with respect to access to the centre. Yet some argue that access has improved, including for the poor, both from the spatial point of view and in terms of time: more frequent night services, etc. This paper reports on both sides of the debate. (A)