Media

Voices for and against the new lanes

Published:21.11.24 — For Vincent Kaufmann, Director of the Laboratory of Urban Sociology at EPFL, the increase in road infrastructure encourages car use. Laetitia Morandi, an EPFL mobility engineer and urban planner, is also sceptical: ‘What's the point of widening motorways to accommodate more vehicles if we can't park those same vehicles at their destination?‘ However, a study for the TCS conducted by Micaël Tille, a lecturer at EPFL, tempers the pessimistic projections by indicating that the traffic effect induced by new lanes does not hold true in Switzerland. 

The consequences of the boom in online shopping

Published:18.11.24 — Our online shopping has exploded in the space of a decade. Why is online shopping so popular? What are the consequences for the way we live, and for our cities? Luca Pattaroni, full professor at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology, discusses this in ‘Tribu’. 

24,000 cycling accidents reported in Switzerland every year

Published:12.11.24 — It's not always easy to reconcile different modes of transport, and sometimes you have to put yourself in someone else's shoes. It's important to work on behaviour and get away from the virile mindset, which consists of driving like a maniac as soon as you get behind the wheel,’ explains Vincent Kaufmann, Professor of Urban Sociology and Mobility Analysis at EPFL.

Highways: a lane for nothing

Published:08.11.24 — In a tribune, a number of mobility experts, professors and academics from EPFL explain why widening the motorways, which will be put to the vote on 24 November, will not solve the problem of traffic jams.

New bridge in Fribourg

Published:08.11.24 — The Poya Bridge, inaugurated in 2014, has changed the image of Fribourg. According to Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology, ‘Fribourg can be justly proud of this achievement. The Poya Bridge adds a contemporary touch to the image of the city and its conurbation.’

For fraternal mobility

Published:30.10.24 — In an article published in the French newspaper Le Monde, Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology, looks back at the drama that unfolded in Paris during an altercation between a cyclist and a motorist, leading to the cyclist's death. For the sociologist, aggression on the road is more widespread than we think, because the various road users are forced to rub shoulders and share a saturated space.

An unattractive neighbour

Published:30.10.24 — Only a handful of Geneva-based companies choose to locate some of their activities in neighbouring France. This is not the case in the Basel, Neuchâtel or Jura economic areas. Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology, sees this as a worrying situation.

The price of silence

Published:24.10.24 — Too much noise! ‘Le Temps spoke to Luca Pattaroni, ajdunct professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory. For him, the issue of noise is not sufficiently taken into account by the public authorities. ‘Silence has become a precious commodity that is unequally distributed,’ he regrets.

Regional disparities

Published:14.10.24 — The Groupement transfrontalier européen organized a round-table discussion on public services on both sides of the Swiss border. Alexis Gumy, associate researcher at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, took part. 

The strengths of small towns

Published:14.10.24 — Bellinzona and Chiasso are among the 12 medium-sized towns selected in the book “La Suisse de Arbon à Zoug”, co-written by Vincent Kaufmann, professor at EPFL and head of the urban sociology laboratory. The sociologist explains the importance of looking at these very Swiss towns, models of Swiss federalism.