Zurich First-HandMore green, more space for bikes, walking and public transport – the first annual report
By 2035 the city must convert more than 600,000 square metres of road space. After one year it has reached a third of the greening target, but only 8.3 per cent of the target for walking, cycling and public transport.
On 22 September 2024, voters approved the counter-proposals to the “Future Initiative” (62 per cent yes) and the “Clean Air Initiative” (66 per cent yes). Since then, the city must, within ten years:
- convert 462,000 m² of road space to the “Umweltverbund” – walking, cycling and public transport – and
- green another 145,000 m² or plant it with trees.
The ten years started on 1 May 2025.
Status after one year (May 2025 to April 2026)
| Added | Share of target | |
|---|---|---|
| Green space | 48,311 m² | 33.3 % |
| Space for walking, cycling, public transport | 38,304 m² | 8.3 % |
The main contributions were the Schwamendingen motorway cover with the Ueberlandpark, completed in 2025, and a new section of the Altstetten–main station cycle priority route in early 2026.
What’s next
A project at Winzerhalde in Höngg (45 extra trees, unsealed ground, a shared-space zone) is almost finished. Scheuchzerstrasse follows at the end of 2027 (cycle priority route, green space, 60 extra trees). Plans include a shared-space zone in Grünauring and a redesign of Neue Hard and Geroldstrasse.
City councillor Simone Brander names possible legal appeals, which can delay projects for years, and pending cantonal approvals as the biggest uncertainties.