Breakfast Show 6:30am - 10:00am

Listen Live

Search

Pedestrian zones good for business

Tuesday, 18 March 2025 06:30

file image

A large independent study has shown local businesses do better with the surrounding streets are closed to traffic.

The findings seem to go against the accepted wisdom of business owners who believe fewer cars will mean fewer customers.

The study was commissioned by the City of Geneva as planners consider more pedestrian zones.

The research, by the company 6t, shows around half of purchases made in the city are by those on foot and only 2% use their car to go shopping. In addition, quiet streets encourage more spontaneous spending. 

Share

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Follow WRS

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play