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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about Geneva
Why Geneva has higher rents than Zurich
Friday, 3 February, 2012
For many people living in Switzerland, the idea of a housing crisis is nothing new. But how do rents in Zurich compare to those in Geneva, Bern or in smaller towns in less populated cantons? According to comparis.ch, the winner of the most expensive average rent is Geneva. A Geneva flat advertised with 4.5 rooms comes with an average monthly rent of 3,900 francs. That even beats Zurich by almost 1,000 francs. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to a specialist in real estate economics, professor Philippe Thalmann from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL):
Friday, 3 February, 2012
For many people living in Switzerland, the idea of a housing crisis is nothing new. But how do rents in Zurich compare to those in Geneva, Bern or in smaller towns in less populated cantons? According to comparis.ch, the winner of the most expensive average rent is Geneva. A Geneva flat advertised with 4.5 rooms comes with an average monthly rent of 3,900 francs. That even beats Zurich by almost 1,000 francs. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to a specialist in real estate economics, professor Philippe Thalmann from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL):
Angry petitioners: Latest Geneva transport changes not enough
Monday, 16 January, 2012
Anger over changes to Geneva’s public transport system is showing no sign of abating. Last week, even the local government raised objections and ordered the transport company, the TPG, to make some adjustments. Campaigners gathering signatures in protest at the new network layout say those adjustments don’t go far enough. So what are the main things the petitioners are taking issue with? WRS’s Catherine Allen reports:
Monday, 16 January, 2012
Anger over changes to Geneva’s public transport system is showing no sign of abating. Last week, even the local government raised objections and ordered the transport company, the TPG, to make some adjustments. Campaigners gathering signatures in protest at the new network layout say those adjustments don’t go far enough. So what are the main things the petitioners are taking issue with? WRS’s Catherine Allen reports:
Geneva editor explains cops' dispute with canton
Friday, 13 January, 2012
Police in Geneva have gone to war with cantonal minister Isabel Rochat over working conditions. Earlier this week 200 officers protested against working hours and an overload of administrative tasks. The force announced it would stop issuing fines and working overtime. For her part, Rochat says senior officers should discipline those rocking the boat. She’s backed by the rest of the canton’s government. To find out exactly what’s behind the unrest, WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Pierre Ruetschi, the editor-in-chief of one of Geneva’s daily papers, the Tribune de Genève:
Friday, 13 January, 2012
Police in Geneva have gone to war with cantonal minister Isabel Rochat over working conditions. Earlier this week 200 officers protested against working hours and an overload of administrative tasks. The force announced it would stop issuing fines and working overtime. For her part, Rochat says senior officers should discipline those rocking the boat. She’s backed by the rest of the canton’s government. To find out exactly what’s behind the unrest, WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Pierre Ruetschi, the editor-in-chief of one of Geneva’s daily papers, the Tribune de Genève:
Fixes to Geneva's public transport system explained
Wednesday, 11 January, 2012
Fewer trams, fewer buses, more changes—those were some of the complaints coming from users of Geneva’s public transport system after its overhaul last month. Those complaints sparked a meeting yesterday between the cantonal transport minister, Michèle Künzler and Geneva’s transport company, the TPG, to figure out how to fix the fiasco. WRS’s Lucas Chambers asked her what main changes were decided:
Wednesday, 11 January, 2012
Fewer trams, fewer buses, more changes—those were some of the complaints coming from users of Geneva’s public transport system after its overhaul last month. Those complaints sparked a meeting yesterday between the cantonal transport minister, Michèle Künzler and Geneva’s transport company, the TPG, to figure out how to fix the fiasco. WRS’s Lucas Chambers asked her what main changes were decided:
TPG to fix Geneva transport fiasco
Tuesday, 10 January, 2012
Geneva’s public transportation system got a serious facelift a month ago, and many say it has been a disaster. The Cantonal Transport Ministry met with TPG officials yesterday to decide how to fix it. WRS’s Lucas Chambers was there and explains the changes, including the return of the original bus number three route, that are going to be implemented:
Tuesday, 10 January, 2012
Geneva’s public transportation system got a serious facelift a month ago, and many say it has been a disaster. The Cantonal Transport Ministry met with TPG officials yesterday to decide how to fix it. WRS’s Lucas Chambers was there and explains the changes, including the return of the original bus number three route, that are going to be implemented:
Christian Dems call for TPG to compensate customers
Wednesday, 21 December, 2011
Public transport in Geneva is in chaos after major changes made to tram and bus lines by the TPG over the past two weeks. TPG authorities insist the chaos is due to accidents and bad weather over the past few days. Philippe Morel, head of the Christian Democrat faction at Geneva’s cantonal Parliament talks to WRS’s Dave Goodman. Morel is calling for the TPG to compensate clients for the new transport system’s rocky start:
Wednesday, 21 December, 2011
Public transport in Geneva is in chaos after major changes made to tram and bus lines by the TPG over the past two weeks. TPG authorities insist the chaos is due to accidents and bad weather over the past few days. Philippe Morel, head of the Christian Democrat faction at Geneva’s cantonal Parliament talks to WRS’s Dave Goodman. Morel is calling for the TPG to compensate clients for the new transport system’s rocky start:
Anger after Geneva Public Transport tweaks
Wednesday, 21 December, 2011
It’s been 10 days since Geneva woke up to a whole new public transport system. But instead of getting a pat on the back from passengers, transport authorities of the TPG have been getting it in the neck. Local newspaper headlines speak of “chaos” and “popular revolt.” The Christian Democrats are even demanding free travel to compensate passengers. WRS’s Adam Beaumont talks to Philippe Anhorn from Geneva Public Transport:
Wednesday, 21 December, 2011
It’s been 10 days since Geneva woke up to a whole new public transport system. But instead of getting a pat on the back from passengers, transport authorities of the TPG have been getting it in the neck. Local newspaper headlines speak of “chaos” and “popular revolt.” The Christian Democrats are even demanding free travel to compensate passengers. WRS’s Adam Beaumont talks to Philippe Anhorn from Geneva Public Transport:
Should Geneva change its anti-begging law?
Friday, 9 December, 2011
Begging has become a big problem in Geneva in recent years—so much so that a law was introduced in 2008 to make begging an offence punishable with a fine or even prison. But now coalition of campaigners, faith groups and political parties has launched a petition to have the law overturned. They say the law disproportionately targets members of the Roma community and argue that it’s ineffective, costly and discriminatory. WRS talks to a spokesperson of that coalition as well as the Geneva cantonal police:
Friday, 9 December, 2011
Begging has become a big problem in Geneva in recent years—so much so that a law was introduced in 2008 to make begging an offence punishable with a fine or even prison. But now coalition of campaigners, faith groups and political parties has launched a petition to have the law overturned. They say the law disproportionately targets members of the Roma community and argue that it’s ineffective, costly and discriminatory. WRS talks to a spokesperson of that coalition as well as the Geneva cantonal police:
Geneva ranked sixth safest city despite rise in crime
Wednesday, 30 November, 2011
If you want to live in one of the safest cities in the world, you’re in the right place. Swiss cities dominate a list compiled by consultancy firm Mercer on personal safety. Bern and Zurich are jointly second to Luxembourg and Geneva comes in sixth. This year however the UN warned its staff to be careful on the city’s streets at night after the son of one of its staff was beaten up. That prompted waves of texts and emails from WRS’s audience about how unsafe you felt in Geneva—and reports of increased burglaries, muggings and drug dealing. So what exactly was taken into account when ranking the city as the sixth safest in the world? That’s the question WRS’s Dave Goodman put to Slagin Parakatil, a senior researcher with Mercer in Geneva:
Wednesday, 30 November, 2011
If you want to live in one of the safest cities in the world, you’re in the right place. Swiss cities dominate a list compiled by consultancy firm Mercer on personal safety. Bern and Zurich are jointly second to Luxembourg and Geneva comes in sixth. This year however the UN warned its staff to be careful on the city’s streets at night after the son of one of its staff was beaten up. That prompted waves of texts and emails from WRS’s audience about how unsafe you felt in Geneva—and reports of increased burglaries, muggings and drug dealing. So what exactly was taken into account when ranking the city as the sixth safest in the world? That’s the question WRS’s Dave Goodman put to Slagin Parakatil, a senior researcher with Mercer in Geneva:
Geneva last on Europe's best shopping list
Monday, 21 November, 2011
Geneva is at the bottom of a list of the best shopping destinations in Europe. The Globe Shopper City Index published by the Economist ranks the city 33 out of 33. Zurich didn’t even make the list. Manelik Sfez from Nyon-based Global Blue commissioned the report. He told WRS’s Dave Goodman what the cities were judged on:
Monday, 21 November, 2011
Geneva is at the bottom of a list of the best shopping destinations in Europe. The Globe Shopper City Index published by the Economist ranks the city 33 out of 33. Zurich didn’t even make the list. Manelik Sfez from Nyon-based Global Blue commissioned the report. He told WRS’s Dave Goodman what the cities were judged on:
Police on the lookout for more youth carrying knives
Monday, 7 November, 2011
The stabbing, last week, of a young man in Geneva has prompted questions about whether knife crime is on the rise in Switzerland. WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Geneva Police spokesman Patrick Puhl, and asked him if he’d seen a rise in the number of people carrying knives on the streets:
Monday, 7 November, 2011
The stabbing, last week, of a young man in Geneva has prompted questions about whether knife crime is on the rise in Switzerland. WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Geneva Police spokesman Patrick Puhl, and asked him if he’d seen a rise in the number of people carrying knives on the streets:
Geneva crime report shows unwelcome new trend: rising 'incivilities'
Friday, 14 October, 2011
Crime on the rise in one of the world’s richest cities—the story was all the buzz not long ago. Geneva citizens were outraged and police vowed to make changes. Today, the Canton of Geneva’s police unit released the findings of a four-year study of statistics on crime and policing here. WRS’s Alex Helmick speaks to reporter Lucia Walton who was at the press conference:
Friday, 14 October, 2011
Crime on the rise in one of the world’s richest cities—the story was all the buzz not long ago. Geneva citizens were outraged and police vowed to make changes. Today, the Canton of Geneva’s police unit released the findings of a four-year study of statistics on crime and policing here. WRS’s Alex Helmick speaks to reporter Lucia Walton who was at the press conference:
Researcher blames unrestricted nightlife for boost in crime
Wednesday, 31 August, 2011
If you feel Switzerland isn’t as safe as it used to be, you’re probably not alone. A new study shows more Swiss people report being victims of crime than in a similar survey in 2004. Seven percent were victims of break-ins compared to 5 percent in the last survey. Reports of violence or threats were up 3 percent to 10 percent. And a total of 15 percent of people say they don’t feel safe at night. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Martin Killias, a criminologist at the University of Zurich. He conducted the study:
Wednesday, 31 August, 2011
If you feel Switzerland isn’t as safe as it used to be, you’re probably not alone. A new study shows more Swiss people report being victims of crime than in a similar survey in 2004. Seven percent were victims of break-ins compared to 5 percent in the last survey. Reports of violence or threats were up 3 percent to 10 percent. And a total of 15 percent of people say they don’t feel safe at night. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Martin Killias, a criminologist at the University of Zurich. He conducted the study:
Geneva's police chief says most crimes committed by non-residents
Thursday, 25 August, 2011
From muggings in the middle of the night to burglar alarm scams— the public’s perception is that crime in Geneva is out of control. Many people have related their stories to WRS and other Swiss media as well social networking sites like Glocals. Authorities say they will put more police officers on the streets beginning next month. Officials are speeding up reorganization plans to create a special unit of several hundred officers that can be deployed in high-crime areas—at times when they’re most needed, such as on Saturday nights. After a week of repeated requests by WRS, Isabel Rochat, the minister in charge of Geneva’s police granted an interview to WRS’s Jordan Davis:
Thursday, 25 August, 2011
From muggings in the middle of the night to burglar alarm scams— the public’s perception is that crime in Geneva is out of control. Many people have related their stories to WRS and other Swiss media as well social networking sites like Glocals. Authorities say they will put more police officers on the streets beginning next month. Officials are speeding up reorganization plans to create a special unit of several hundred officers that can be deployed in high-crime areas—at times when they’re most needed, such as on Saturday nights. After a week of repeated requests by WRS, Isabel Rochat, the minister in charge of Geneva’s police granted an interview to WRS’s Jordan Davis:
Geneva cabinet minister touts three-billion-franc bridge across lake
Tuesday, 12 April, 2011
A new Geneva cantonal report resurrects the option of building another crossing at the southern end of Lake Geneva to relieve transportation bottlenecks, something that has been proposed before. Mark Muller, cantonal cabinet minister and head of the canton’s executive, says a bridge with an estimated cost of three billion francs is more likely than an even more expensive tunnel. But Muller tells reporter Moyette Gibbons that the project, which faces political opposition, would not be completed until 2030 and is dependent on federal funding:
Tuesday, 12 April, 2011
A new Geneva cantonal report resurrects the option of building another crossing at the southern end of Lake Geneva to relieve transportation bottlenecks, something that has been proposed before. Mark Muller, cantonal cabinet minister and head of the canton’s executive, says a bridge with an estimated cost of three billion francs is more likely than an even more expensive tunnel. But Muller tells reporter Moyette Gibbons that the project, which faces political opposition, would not be completed until 2030 and is dependent on federal funding:
