Pedestrian zoneSwitzerland
12. Pedestrian zone
A pedestrian zone is an area consisting of one or more streets that are reserved primarily for pedestrians. Motor-vehicle access is normally prohibited or restricted to authorised users, particular purposes or specified times.
Pedestrians may usually use the full width of the available road space. Rules concerning cyclists, deliveries, public transport, vehicle speed, stopping and parking depend on local traffic signs and regulations.
Wikimedia.org • Yann Forget • CC BY-SA
How should I recognise pedestrian-only access in Switzerland?
Official terms include German Fussgängerzone, French zone piétonne and Italian zona pedonale. The zone is reserved for pedestrians and the users covered by its rules; other traffic needs the signed exception.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • OSR Arts 22b–22c: pedestrian zones and signed exceptions
Start of a zone for pedestrians.
English • Traffic sign 2.59.3 • Pedestrian zone.
Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 2.59.3 • Fussgängerzone.
Français • Signal 2.59.3 • Zone piétonne.
Italiano • Segnale 2.59.3 • Zona pedonale.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • SSV, Anhang 2 (DE)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSR, annexe 2 (FR)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSStr, allegato 2 (IT)
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Source revision 2017-07-08. Wikimedia original unmodified.
End of the zone for pedestrians.
English • Traffic sign 2.59.4 • End of pedestrian zone.
Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 2.59.4 • Ende der Fussgängerzone.
Français • Signal 2.59.4 • Fin de la zone piétonne.
Italiano • Segnale 2.59.4 • Fine della zona pedonale.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • SSV, Anhang 2 (DE)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSR, annexe 2 (FR)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSStr, allegato 2 (IT)
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-08. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Artwork reviewed against the Swiss signalling ordinance, version 1 October 2026, annex 2: Fedlex.admin.ch • Signal 2.59.4, PDF page 112. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.
May cyclists ride in pedestrian areas in Switzerland?
Ridden cycles need permission from the applicable additional sign. Admitted traffic must use walking pace, and pedestrians have priority. This differs from Switzerland’s separately signed 20 km/h residential area.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • OSR Arts 22b–22c: pedestrian zones and signed exceptions
Which rules apply to vehicles admitted to pedestrian areas in Switzerland?
All admitted traffic must travel at walking pace and pedestrians have priority. Loading and vehicle access must comply with the signed exceptions. Switzerland’s separately signed 20 km/h residential area has a different regime; its limit does not apply automatically in a pedestrian zone.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • OSR Arts 22b–22c: pedestrian zones and signed exceptions

Traffic rules
Switzerland