going to switzerland via Basel? - READ THIS

[swissrob]

over the last 4 days the french and swiss cops have been having a blitz on all manner of traffic violations at the french/swiss basel border.

As soon as you go past mulhouse on the way to basel stick to the posted speed limits especially when you see the signs for the euro airport and on the approach to the border as the speed limits drop very quickly.

plod is hiding behind the girders with a laser gun and pulling people at the border and fining for all sorts... bloke at work had a fine for speeding, no hi viz vest and a warning for insufficient amount of spare bulbs.

he was 5km over the limit.

they were pulling lots of brits and dutch, inc a group of brit bikes and looking at all the paperwork inc exhausts etc.


be warned!

 

[Den]

Thanks Rob. I will forget it though. In Basel 29th.

Do me a favour Rob. Erect a big sign at the side of the road, saying DEN ... REMEMBER MY POST.

 

[wessie]

Is this just on the A35 autoroute or the minor road crossing as well?

A friend lives just west of Basel near Waldighofen and I've never found the border crossings on the roads from his place, on D roads, to have anyone in the booths. This one on the D419, amusingly just a short distance from the A35, is the usual one used.

 

[Tonibe63]

Me and her indoors have just got back from The Alps. We inadvertantly strayed onto the Swiss motorways without a Viniette and crossed the border into France just North of Lausanne without any problems.
Unfortunately I can confirm that the speed cameras do work within the Mont Blanc Tunnel which cost me 45 Euros but got nothing for no Hi Viz, spare bulbs or just having the photocopy of my driving licence instead of the original.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Another reason why i now avoid Switzerland

 

[Rasher]

Thanks for heads up we are crossing through on way from Black Forest to Alps a week Friday.

I did no trealise Hi Viz was compulsory, we spent about a week in Switzerland last year and had no problems.

 

[Deano800]

Just had a week in Swissland with my cousin who lives in Zurich. Never even saw an officer of the law all the time we were there!
Bizarrely he told me not to get a Viniette 'cos they never check 'em anyway!
Just shows ya! Great riding through the passes though...until the cloud descended and we could see bugger all!
Always next year!

 

[wessie]

Thanks for heads up we are crossing through on way from Black Forest to Alps a week Friday.

I did no trealise Hi Viz was compulsory, we spent about a week in Switzerland last year and had no problems.

I'm pretty sure the hi viz & bulb is a car thing - I've not heard of anyone being busted on a bike for anything other than vignette, documents, noisy exhaust or traffic violation such as speeding, overtaking using a filter lane or crossing a solid white line ...

 

[cookie]

Currently in Zurich. Heading home tomorrow. No hi viz, forgot me spare bulbs, but stick religiously to the speed limits ( when I think I need to).

Great place, but fuck me, it can be a tad dear these days. Been in Austria last few days. Nice enough, much cheaper, but Seems a shithole after Switzerland.

 

[Tonibe63]

Currently in Zurich. Heading home tomorrow. No hi viz, forgot me spare bulbs, but stick religiously to the speed limits ( when I think I need to).

Great place, but fuck me, it can be a tad dear these days. Been in Austria last few days. Nice enough, much cheaper, but Seems a shithole after Switzerland.

After 3 days in France our second impression was how expensive everything is in Switzerland especially if you only have Euro's in your wallet as they just say it's a one for one exchange rate. Our first impression was of course how beautiful the place is.

 

[rin_sun]

It must be remembered salaries are very high here in Switzerland. Working and living in the country gives a quality of life similar or better than the rest of Europe. It only seems expensive when visitors come here from other poorer third world countires like the UK

 

[swissrob]

to confirm, the hi viz thing and bulbs refers to cars not bikes.

wessie: yep on the A35 / E26 road - its the fancy tent border crossing.

 

[wessie]

It must be remembered salaries are very high here in Switzerland. Working and living in the country gives a quality of life similar or better than the rest of Europe. It only seems expensive when visitors come here from other poorer third world countires like the UK

Indeed, the mate mentioned above works in Basel for Roche, is paid in CHF and lives in Alsace. He's quite happy with an effective 25% increase in disposable income thanks to currency movements. Of course, it might backfire on him as few countries can afford to buy Swiss exports: his wife was made redundant from Roche 2 years ago. It took her over a year to find a part-time contracting job.

 

[swissrob]

to confirm, the hi viz thing and bulbs refers to cars not bikes.

wessie: yep just on the A35 / E26 road - its the fancy tent border crossing.

 

[Rasher]

It seems everyone goes on about the costs of going to Switzerland, but I found Swiss prices much better than feared last year

Hotels were maybe £15 per night more than the ones in France & Italy on average, and food and drink was maybe 10%-20% dearer as well, however when you consider the stunning roads and scenery it is worth every penny.

It seems to cost us over £2k for a fortnight in the Alps when you add up all the costs and an extra £100 for a few nights in Switzerland with the Furka, Grimsel, Susten etc. right outside your Hotel is a bloody bargain.

And fuel is cheaper that most European countries by about 10p-15p per litre.

 

[swissrob]

Another reason why i now avoid Switzerland

better start avoiding france as well then as i am talking about france, what countries do you go to that do not have police checks? maybe pitcarn island i guess?

 

[swissrob]

Indeed, the mate mentioned above works in Basel for Roche, is paid in CHF and lives in Alsace. He's quite happy with an effective 25% increase in disposable income thanks to currency movements. Of course, it might backfire on him as few countries can afford to buy Swiss exports: his wife was made redundant from Roche 2 years ago. It took her over a year to find a part-time contracting job.

a few local companies have been wanting to pay the staff in euros - you can guess what the response was!

 

[SPL]

Thanks for the warning Rob - me and a couple of mates are heading down that way next week, so will be on our best behaviour

 

[swissrob]

Thanks for the warning Rob - me and a couple of mates are heading down that way next week, so will be on our best behaviour

haha, just watch it around the border area, the french plod was tucked right in behind the girder when i went past yesterday and only saw him when i was about 20m away - cheeky!

 

[Eunuch]

Thanks for the warning Rob - me and a couple of mates are heading down that way next week, so will be on our best behaviour

I take it you're leading that day?

Thanks for the heads-up Rob.