Swiss use of transport outpaces population growth  

Public transport was used for 21% of trips taken by Swiss residents. Keystone

Transportation use is growing at a faster rate than the population in Switzerland, according to the Federal Statistical Office.

Switzerland’s population grew by 18% between 2000 and 2017, while road and rail traffic grew by around 30% in the same period. Air traffic exploded with the number of passengers increasing by 60%. Switzerland has more than one car for every two residents: 4.6 million vehicles.

All this travelling causes carbon dioxide emissions. In 2016, transportation  (excluding international flights) accounted for 38% of Swiss emissions. Transport alone accounted for 36% of energy used in the country and the infrastructure cost CHF16.8 billion ($17 billion) in 2015.

On an individual level, a Swiss resident spent an average of 90 minutes a day travelling, of which half was spent on leisure-related activities. The average work commute was 17 minutes long and a distance of 15km, according to the same source.