Several major roads in and around Zurich are set to close from Saturday, as the Swiss city hosts the Cycling World Championships. Here’s what drivers, commuters and residents of the canton need to know about the event and the disruption it will cause.

Zurich hosts UCI and Para-Cycling Road World Championships

From September 21 to 29, the best cycling and para-cyclists in the world will converge on Canton Zurich to compete in the UCI and Para-Cycling Road World Championships. Over nine days, 1.300 athletes will compete in 53 different races, taking place both in the city itself and the wider region.

The festivities will kick off at Sechseläutenplatz at 4.30pm on September 21, after which a whole section of the city will be converted into a cycling haven and race track. While most of the cycle races will finish at the square, the time trials and road races will take place across the region, from Gossau and Oerlikon to Winterthur and Greifensee. 

The event will also include several fan zones at Münsterhof, Bürkliplatz, General-Guisan-Quai and Sechseläutenplatz. In all, 850.000 people are expected to attend the event.

Roads and districts to be closed in Zurich for cycling WM

With almost all the cycling events taking place on public roads, major traffic restrictions will be in place in Zurich from September 21 to 29, 2024. The organisers advise all residents of the city to avoid using the car during the event. If you do have to drive, here's what travellers in the city should expect:

Major roads in Zurich, Glattal and Oberland to close

From September 22 to 24, many of the major roads in Zurich will be closed to traffic between 5am and 7pm each day. This will affect Bellerivestrasse, Dufourstrasse, Utoquai and the north-south axis of Quaibrücke.

In addition, between September 21 to 23, various roads in the districts of Oerlikon and Schwamendingen, the Glattal and Oberland towns of Oetwil am See, Mönchaltorf and Gossau, and the west side of Lake Greifensee will be closed temporarily.

Large chunk of eastern Zurich to be close to most traffic

As part of the most major measures, between 5am and 7pm from September 25 to 29, road access to almost the entire east side of Zurich will be restricted. Those who are admitted will be limited to a one-way circular road system, with many streets set to be closed.

The closure will affect the districts of Hottingen, Hirslanden, Weinegg, Mühlebach and Seefeld.

How do I get into eastern Zurich during the Cycling World Championships

Residents of these districts are only able to enter or exit the area by car via a checkpoint on Forchstrasse at the Itschnacher intersection. One lane of the Forschstrasse checkpoint will be devoted to those with a pre-secured permit, while the other will be for everyone else.

A spokesperson for the city of Zurich said that while the permit “is primarily intended for people who live or work here and are absolutely dependent on their car," anyone is able to apply for one. Anyone without a permit will be asked by police and security staff why they need to enter the district and may be told to avoid the area. 

Residents living on the eastern side of Lake Zurich who need to travel into the city are advised to take the car ferry from Meilen to Horgen, before continuing their journeys on the west side of the lake.

What other roads in Canton Zurich will be affected by the closures?

Other towns and areas in Zurich affected by temporary road closures are as follows:

• September 26 to 28: Greifensee, Ebmatingen 
• September 29: Flaach, Henggart, Winterthur, Kyburg, Volketswil

To see which streets will be affected, visit the official website and search Rad-WM 2024 in the filter bar on the left. Authorities assured that all road closures and restrictions will be clearly communicated and included in navigation apps like Google Maps.

Public transport in Zurich during the Cycling World Championships

The Cycling World Championships is also expected to impact public transport. The Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV) confirmed that S-Bahn services will run as normal, but train sizes will be expanded to cope with the number of fans expected to attend.

However, Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VVZ) announced that tram and bus services will be restricted. First, between September 21 and 23, some restrictions will apply to bus and tram lines by Lake Zurich and in Oerlikon. 

From September 24 to 29, tram and lines serving the southeastern part of the city will be heavily restricted. The Limmatquai will be completely closed to public transport, with replacement bus services running to Seefeld and Witikon. By contrast, the Forchbahn will continue to run for the entirety of the event, and at 15-minute intervals rather than every half an hour.

Both ZVV and VBZ have advised travellers to check their mobile apps or websites for the latest information. A phone helpline (044 411 51 49) has also been set up for any questions regarding public transport.

Rules for cyclists and pedestrians during 2024 Cycling WM

Visiting Zurich on foot or by bike? Authorities confirmed that all the closed roads during the event can be crossed in “suitable places.” On parts of the street where barriers cut off the route, special marshals will be set up to guide people across the race tracks.

Though set to cause a fair bit of disruption, the Cycling World Championships are expected to attract thousands to Zurich and propel the Swiss metropolis, at least temporarily, onto the world stage. For more information about the measures, check out the official website.

Thumb image credit: Chedko / Shutterstock.com