Basel Transportation

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There are a series of four ferries that make up the Faehri-Verein system of Basel. The ferry names are "Wilde Maa" @ St. Alban, "Leu" @ Münster, "Ueli" @ St. Johann and "Vogel Gryff" @ Klingental. These ferries have basically been plying the Rhein for over 150 years, and the technology is a bit unique. The boats require no motor, as they are drawn across the river by a hydraulic pully on a cable + the use of a keel to maintain the direction and orientation of the boat. It all had a pleasant "Huckleberry Finn" feel to it, for me anyway.

The cost for crossing is between 0.80 and 1.60 Swiss Francs, depending on which ferry crossing you're using. The crossing itself takes maybe five minutes and offers a wonderful view of the Rhein's path through the heart of Basel.

For more information from the ferry authority, check the numbers and website below. The mailing address for the authority is:

Address:
Fähri Verein Basel
Postfach 1353
CH-4001 Basel

MYNDO tells me that you can actually rent one of the ferries for weddings and such. There is mention of such an option on the company website.

Sunday, March 27, 2011Heaven on Earth: Bike Transport in Switzerland and Austria
http://www.planbike.com/2011/03/heaven-on-earth-bike-transport-in.html

By Jody Brooks
On a recent ski trip to Switzerland and Austria, I decided to devote a little time to sampling the bike transport experiences there. I managed to get out for a look in Basel, Switzerland and Innsbruck, Austria.

High Expectations
Having been to Europe before, my expectations were high. Denmark and the Netherlands are not the only European countries that take bicycle transport very seriously. On previous visits, I had seen the dedicated bike lanes in places like Munich, Germany.

However, this time I wasn't going to any large metropolis with miles of dense population. Those typically have major traffic congestion problems. Increasingly, even in the U.S., large city governments support bicycle transport as one of their traffic congestion solutions and there's already a decent amount of adoption.

Are Small Cities Any Less Committed?
Outside of cities can be a different story. With less population density, small cities can be less desperate for alternative transport solutions. Back home at least, this can mean support for bike transport is very limited, merely tolerated, or even hostile. The town of Black Hawk, Colorado is now infamous/famous (depending on your perspective) for banning bikes in that small town.

Since Basel and Innsbruck are relatively small, I was not expecting much more than the limited bike support I've experienced in U.S. small cities. I didn't expect the local governments to be as focused on bike transport. I also thought the time of year might limit the cycling activity I would see.

Exceeded Expections

Nevertheless, what I found far exceeded my high expectations for bike transport in any sized town at any time of year. Basel and Innsbruck transport infrastructures not only tolerate but promote cycling as a serious transport alternative by providing comprehensive bike lanes that are not always but frequently separated from BOTH cars and pedestrians.

They also provide facilities that address common challenges with bike transport. The goal is clearly to make bike transport very practical and often more convenient than driving or even riding the train. What's more, all these facilities and services are put to good use year-round at all hours of the day and night by surprisingly active cyclists.

Serious Bike Parking
The first thing that blew my mind was Basel's bike garages. Under their central train station (Hauptbahnhof SBB), is a veritable wonderland for bike commuting enthusiasts. My local friend took me down there and what I saw was a spotless, well-lighted, well-attended, and massive space for intracity and intercity travelers to safely park their bikes at any hour of the day (not just commuter hours).

These garages are found at most train stations including the airport in Zurich. They also rent bicycles there. I was able to rent a bike there for less than 20 CHF/day. In Zurich, I found a sporting goods store willing to rent for much less: 60 CHF/week.

Especially deluxe were the dedicated entry and exit ramps for bikes. I can't describe how riding in and out of the dedicated ramps to the bike garage instills this bike commuter with a sense of legitimacy. It was truly a profound experience as it contrasts with the overwhelming feeling back home of being a second-class or even illegitimate member of the transport community.

In the U.S., bike parking is sometimes not available at all. It is an ad hoc affair where you bring your own security in the form of pounds of bike locks. Then you might have to walk great distances looking for somewhere to use it. When bike parking is available it is likely to be sparse, outdoor, and unattended.

How often would people drive if they had to carry a lock with them and drape that lock around a filthy rack at every location they visited? That is precisely the question that many European cities have answered for bikes. The result is a comprehensive set of facilities that make cycling very practical, clean, and therefore easy and attractive.

Bike parking in Innsbruck wasn't quite as deluxe as Basel but it was still great. Lots of racks all over. Some were outside and unattended but they were still covered and engineered to ensure one bicycle did not damage another. So refreshing. All this and I wasn't even riding the bike yet.

Serious Bike Infrastructure
Once you are out of the garage or off the rack, the support continues in the form of dedicated bike lanes, bike traffic lights, and even bike service stations. All work together to reinforce the idea that bikes aren't just toys that sometimes sneak onto the road to inconvenience cars. They are serious vehicles.

Serious Bike Services
Along those lines, service stations like this one in Basel were a welcome sign. The more ubiquitous bikes become, the more they need ubiquitous services and resources like the ones that autos enjoy.

Serious Bike Usage
The infrastructure certainly did its part to ensure cycling is serious transport. However, that wouldn't matter if people didn't use it. My expectations were exceeded here as well. Day or night, warm or cold, rain or shine, male or female, young or old, folks were using bikes to go on dates, get groceries, and of course go to work and school.

I was pleasantly surprised to see all ages and genders well represented on bikes late at night in freezing temperatures. Back home, just one of these factors is frequently cited as an excuse for not cycling. Here none are. Couples think nothing of going out to dinner on bikes at night.

The fashionable folks I spied on bikes knocked down two more excuses for not cycling: that it trashes hairdos and clothes. This gal was having none of that. I found her chatting with these two gentleman at about 10 p.m. at night in about 30 degree weather with a handsome ensemble and a sweet looking bike.

Even during a day trip to Colmar, France, I found these two in the train station running errands on their bikes. I didn't see enough of France this trip to comment on their bike transport experience but some of the same commitment to bike transport obviously bleeds over the border from Basel.

Back home, bike transport is increasingly more mainstream but it still is most popular among young people in major metropolitan areas. Here, the range of ages and backgrounds is very wide, as is the penetration beyond big cities.

All this demonstrates that, with the right attitude and right clothing, bike commuters can experience physical and social warmth no matter when they ride.

Serious Challenge
This trip reinvigorated my resolve to see this level of bike transport infrastructure and adoption in the U.S. It can be done. It will be done, in the U.S. as it is in bike transport heaven: Europe.
Posted by Jody Brooks at 6:37 PM

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An excellent idea and value for the Basel visitor is the Mobility Ticket that comes automatically with the stay in a hotel or B&B in the city. It is valid for unlimited travel on any public transportation in the zones 10, 11, 13 of the public tranportation network TNW. This means you can use any train, tram or bus within Basel, to/from the airport, north to Riehen or south to Ettingen during your stay in Basel.

I was amazed you can even ride free upon arrival to your hotel - all you need is the confirmed reservation from the hotel.

Basel's old town is built on hills. Steep hills, that is. You'll definitely notice when dragging your luggage from the tram stop to the hotel. I was more than glad to find the elevator at Petersgasse (thanks to my resident friend) which saved me some sweat. It is located in the courtyard of the police headquarter at Spiegelgasse and takes you up to Petersgasse - an elevation difference of maybe 15 m. Best thing is that it is free and open 24/7 :-)

You're probably better off taking the train or S-Bahn 1 or 3, vs. Tram or bus as it is faster (no stops everywhere) but if you want to take Tram and/or bus:

Tram 14 takes you "downtown" from stop "Bahnhofstrasse" in about 15 to 20 mins
Bus 80 or 83 from stop "Gruessen" in Pratteln about same timeframe

I'm sure they can tell you more at the hotel. Hope that helps a bit

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There are four ferries each situated approximately between two bridges that connect to either shore.

Each ferry is attached by a cable to a block ( see picture 2) that rides along another cable spanning the river (Rhine) at approx 20 - 30 m. high. To cross the river, the ferryman orients the boat around 45deg from the current, so that the current pushes the boat across the river.

It is a form of transportation that requies no other outside energy, being hydraulically driven.

Basel airport, also known as Euroairport, lies 9km north-west of the city, within French territory; it is connected to Switzerland by a land corridor. There are exits from the airport baggage hall to both Switzerland and France; make sure you take the Swiss one.

Bus 50 runs between the airport and Basel's main station - Bahnhof SBB - every eight minutes during the day, less frequently in the evening, for a fare of Sfr 3.80; this also covers connecting bus or tram services elsewhere in the city for two hours after you buy the ticket. Duration of ride 20 minutes.

In the city, the flat fare is Sfr3, but many visitors do not need to pay; most journeys (including the one back to the airport) is covered by the Mobility Card, a free public transport pass given to guests in every hotel for the duration of their stay.

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Unambiguous long-distance traffic device the railroad on all of Switzerland's area, onto so much daily in the Basel peoples' life the traveling by tram.
If somebody would ask me, what I liked the best in Basel, I would emphasize certainly firstly the pleasant airy downtown and the many romantic pedestrian precincts being free of the traffic jams, parking cars.
Totally usual, that the big part of the city dwellers walks rather or travels by tram, just in that manner the tourists, since a free Basel ticket goes with all hotel rooms automatically.