Transport
Public Transport
Trains
The Swiss railway network is very dense and trains are convenient and punctual. The Federal Railways (SBB) crisscross the country and connect to mountain railways, lake ferries and postal buses. All trains between Lucerne and Zurich stop in Zug, which makes travel to any Swiss location very fast and easy.
You can buy tickets online, at the ticket office or at the Ticket machines (which give instructions in English). It is better to buy a ticket prior to boarding the train, as some trains (with a yellow eye sticker in the window) do not have a conductor and those travelling without a ticket will be fined. As traveling by train can become quite expensive if you buy regular, full-price tickets, it is worth looking into the various opportunities to obtain reduced rates.
The Half Fare Card, General Abonnement and Zuger Pass are all forms of discount travel card - valid on trains, buses, boats and some ski lifts: mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/abonnemente.htm
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB(= Swiss Federal Railways)
(0)900 300 300 (CHF 1.19/Min.)
www.sbb.ch or www.rail.ch
Railway station Zug www.bahnhofzug.ch
Bus and boat transportation
The Canton of Zug has an extensive public transport service that also serves the surrounding areas. The Zug Public Transport Organization (ZVB) is responsible for the bus and boat transportation system in the canton. The urban transportation system operates between 6 am and 12 midnight on a frequent schedule. A cogwheel train ("Zuger Bergbahn") brings you to the top of the mountain of Zug ("Zugerberg").
A night train (the Nightbird) runs between Lucerne and Zurich, and a night bus ("Zuger Nachtexpress") connects all eleven communities during the small hours. See www.sbb.ch/nightbird for the schedule.
Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe ZVB (= Zug Public Transport Organization Office)
Tel. +41 (0)41 728 58 00
Fax +41 (0)41 728 59 20
info@zvb.ch
www.zvb.ch
Online Timetable in English: http://www.zvb.ch/content-n9-sE.html
City Train
Lately, some bus lines have been replaced by the "City Train", which runs on the existing rails of the SBB. Line number 1 runs at 15-minute intervals between Baar, Zug and Cham, and at 30 minute intervals further to Ebikon and Lucerne. Line 2 runs at hourly intervals from Zug through Oberwil and Walchwil to Arth-Goldau and Erstfeld. Further information is available on www.stadtbahnzug.ch.
Taxis
Traveling by taxi might be the most convenient, but it is also the most expensive form of transportation in Switzerland. You can phone for a taxi, hail one in the street or find one at posted taxi stands throughout the city. All taxis have meters to determine the cost of your journey. It is customary but not compulsory to add a small tip to your fare. Occasionally (e.g. in the late evening) the fare may be higher than that indicated on the meter. Ask the driver to justify the fare if you are uncertain.
1A-Bahnhof Taxi +41 (0)800 83 63 63
ABC Taxi Zugerrötel +41 (0)41 740 50 50
Ägerital-Taxi +41 (0)41 755 15 15
Airport-Reuss-Taxi +41 (0)41 712 18 16
City-Taxi +41 (0)41 740 14 14
Funk Taxi +41 (0)800 80 40 80
Keiser Taxi +41 (0)41 740 11 11
Sangalli Taxi +41 (0)79 321 86 86
Stern Taxi +41 (0)41 781 30 00
Zuger Taxi +41 (0)41 711 11 66
Private Transport
Cars & Driving
Speed limits
The speed limit on motorways is generally 120 km/h, 100 km/h on motor roads, 80 km/h on normal roads outside towns and 50 km/h within towns.
Motorways - Vignette / fees
Switzerland charges a fee for the use of motorways (green road signs). The vignette, which is a sticker applied to inside of the windscreen, costs a flat-rate price and is mandatory for motor vehicles and trailers up to a total weight of 3.5 t each. Vignettes can be purchased at customs offices, post offices, petrol stations, automobile associations and railway stations. They are valid from 1 December until 31 January of the year after the following year.
Legal blood alcohol limit
Since 1 January 2005, the legal blood alcohol limit in Switzerland is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
Other important rules
All drivers and passengers must fasten their seat belts (front and back).
Children under 7 must be secured in a child car seat or a similar special seat.
Helmets are mandatory for all motorised two-wheelers, and for trikes and quads.
It is against the law to use a mobile phone while driving, except when using a hands-free system.
Registration, Modifications, Testing and Changes to Ownership:
See following pages formore information:
www.zug.ch/behoerden/sicherheitsdirektion/strassenverkehrsamt
www.ch.ch/private/00081/00083/00228/00230/index.html
Foreign driving licences
Drivers from abroad are permitted to drive a motor vehicle for a year in Switzerland, provided they have reached the minimum required age to drive (18 for motorcycles, light motor vehicles and trucks; 21 for commercial vehicles) and they have a valid national or international driving licence. Drivers who have an international driving licence may drive in Switzerland as long as they also have a driving licence from their country.
When is it necessary to obtain a Swiss driving licence?
In principle, only foreign national drivers who have been living in Switzerland for more than twelve months are required to obtain a Swiss driving licence. To do this, they need to pass a driving test (people from certain countries are exempt from this test). Foreign nationals who are professional drivers need to obtain a Swiss driving licence in the appropriate category before pursuing their professional activities in Switzerland. Applications for obtaining a Swiss driving licence need to be submitted at the Strassenvehrkehrsamt:
http://www.zug.ch/behoerden/sicherheitsdirektion/strassenverkehrsamt
Learning to Drive in Zug
Driving lessons
A learner’s permit is required for driving lessons. With the exception of motorcycles and vehicles in categories F and B1, the learner driver must be accompanied by a person who is aged 23 or older and has held a valid driving licence for the relevant category of vehicle for at least three years.
A list of registered instuctors is available at: www.fahrlehrervergleich.ch/fahrschule.php
Driving test
For all categories, applicants must pass the theory test before they are given a learner’s permit. A first-aid certificate is to be submitted with the application for the theoretical test. Anyone having attended a course on the Highway Code can apply to take the practical test. A certificate for having completed the practical courses is also required for motorcycle categories (A and A1).
Since 1 December 2005, new drivers having passed the mandatory driving test receive a temporary driving licence valid for three years. They will only be entitled to obtain a full unlimited driving licence once they have completed the additional driving courses now required and have passed the trial period expires without committing any major traffic violations.
