Newsletter No. 2 of 08/06/2026

Two-month construction works on Hadlaubstrasse

Due to the roadworks in the upper section of Hadlaubstrasse, which effectively act as a barrier, local residents are currently getting a taste of our shared goal: a Hadlaubstrasse free of through traffic! And as we are sure you’ve all noticed: the difference is huge, and it spurs us on to fight for a permanent solution.

The City of Zurich already has plans for Hadlaubstrasse

A lot has happened since our last newsletter, No. 1, dated 30 March: the Fluntern Neighbourhood Association mentioned the IG Hadlaubstrasse during a meeting with representatives of the City of Zurich. Following this, a representative from the Authority of Public Works contacted the IG Hadlaubstrasse. 

Background

Essentially, the city has conveyed the following message to us: in the referendum held on 27 September 2020, voters overwhelmingly approved the citizens’ initiative ‘Safe Cycle Routes for Zurich’ with 70.5% of the vote. This initiative obliges the city to build a safe cycle route network of at least 50 km, largely separated from motor traffic, by 2031.

 A year later, on 28 November 2021, voters approved the municipal master plan with 57.4% in favour: this extended the priority cycle routes (VVR) to totally 130 kilometres.

Please note:

The 50 kilometres approved by the initiative are binding: they must be implemented within ten years in accordance with the initiative. The legal basis can be found here: Municipal Code of the City of Zurich, specifically Art. 12, para. 1, 2 and 3, and Art. 154, para. 3 

The 80 additional kilometres newly added to the municipal master plan do not fall into the category described above, but form an ‘extended network’ which, as we understand it, could also allow room for compromise (or afford greater discretion in implementation).

 We assume that Hadlaubstrasse is included in the 80 kilometres of the master plan. These are issues we would like to clarify with the city as soon as possible.

In summary:

• Hadlaubstrasse will become part of the priority cycle route network VVR (part of the Schwamendingen–Irchel–Hottingen–Stadelhofen–Bellevue route).
  It is marked in light blue (= in planning) on the city map alongside existing and planned routes.
• The city will carry out surveys either shortly before or after the 2026 summer holidays.
• Please forward your suggestions regarding locations for measuring to IG Hadlaubstrasse not later than June 20 to 
  email@hadlaubstrasse.ch 
• The city will keep residents regularly informed about the next steps and involve them where possible. However, the city has also made it clear that a VVR will be implemented ─ even in the face of opposition and objections.
• The fundamental objective of creating a cycle lane physically separated from the remaining motor traffic has led to a massive reduction in public parking spaces in all VVRs implemented to date. The extent to which a reduction in parking spaces is planned on Hadlaubstrasse has not yet been published.

Next steps for IG Hadlaubstrasse

We will be sending you another email shortly with a link to a survey: our aim is to gather your views so that we have a basis for discussions with the City Administration. We therefore ask as many of you as possible to take part in this survey; this will be a great help to us. We cannot and do not wish to act without your input, and we thank you for your participation. We also ask you not to hold back with your comments: we need to hear from you!

See you soon and best regards
On behalf of the IG Hadlaubstrasse
Andrea König, Christian Nötzli and Hildegard Widmer

translated with the help of deepl.com