Switzerland plans higher fines for cyclists using phones

A 40 franc penalty could soon become more expensive for cyclists using phones in Switzerland. The Federal Roads Office, known as ASTRA, is considering an increase for riders who hold a phone to their ear or use it while moving. Officials have not set the new amount. The proposal must first pass through a consultation process.

The initiative responds to what the government describes as a growing problem of distraction on bicycles. ASTRA recorded 184 serious accidents in 2025 that it links to reckless or distracted cycling, according to the source article. The agency is seeking “targeted action against the use of smartphones and other sources of distraction.”

The proposal would apply nationally, adding pressure to a debate already familiar in Swiss cities. Bicycles and e bikes share increasingly crowded streets with cars, trams and pedestrians, while mobile phones compete for riders’ attention. The government has not announced a timetable for the consultation or indicated how high the revised fine could rise. Until a new rule takes effect, the current phone related penalty remains 40 francs.

The proposed increase would sit within a wider system of fines governing everyday cycling in Switzerland. Riders can currently face 60 francs for ignoring a red light, matching the listed penalty for cycling without lights on an unlit road. Riding on a sidewalk can cost 40 francs, while entering a pedestrian zone or ignoring a designated cycle lane can bring a 30 franc fine.

The rules also require cyclists to stop at stop signs. Failing to do so carries a 30 franc penalty. At pedestrian crossings, riders must yield not only to people already crossing, but also to pedestrians standing at the pavement and clearly intending to cross. The listed fine is 40 francs.

Swiss law allows a right turn at some red lights when a yellow arrow with a bicycle symbol authorises it. Cyclists must still give way and avoid endangering or obstructing cars and pedestrians. That exception does not permit riders to treat other red lights as optional. The rules also restrict headphones and other audio devices that can impair awareness of surrounding traffic.

Pro Velo is preparing to challenge the government’s tougher approach. The national cycling organisation has opposed the planned increase and other harsher measures aimed at cyclists. It has promised to fight the proposal, although it has not yet said whether that will involve a formal response during the consultation, public campaigning or another form of opposition.

That resistance gives the measure a political obstacle before officials decide on a final figure. The government will need to explain how a higher fine would improve safety and how police would enforce the rule consistently. The source material provides no regional breakdown of the 184 serious accidents, so it does not show whether the problem is concentrated in large cities, on commuter routes or across several cantons.

The debate also touches on enforcement. A rider with a phone glued to an ear can be difficult to distinguish from someone using a hands free system or checking a permitted bicycle device. A clear legal definition and proportionate penalties will matter if the consultation moves forward. ASTRA has not disclosed either the proposed amount or the detailed enforcement model.

Distraction rules extend beyond smartphones. Swiss cycling guidance warns against headphones and earphones because audio playback can reduce awareness of traffic. The restriction reflects the same safety concern behind ASTRA’s proposal: riders need to hear and respond to vehicles, bells, pedestrians and changing road conditions.

Cyclists must also use designated cycle lanes where traffic signs require them and follow the prescribed direction. Riding side by side is generally limited to cycle paths under the rules described in the source material. Sidewalk riding remains prohibited, with an exception for children up to age 12 where no cycle path or lane is available.

Pedestrian zones create another point of friction. Some Swiss shopping streets and historic centres permit limited vehicle access, while cyclists may have to travel at walking pace or dismount where signs require it. The listed fine for riding in a pedestrian zone is 30 francs.

These rules apply alongside equipment requirements. Bicycle lights are compulsory at night and in the evening, including on well lit roads. For e bikes, the source notes that lights are also required during the day. Fines range from 40 francs on an illuminated road to 60 francs on an unlit road.

The next step is consultation, not an immediate rise in the fine. ASTRA has identified the policy direction, but the government has not published a final amount or confirmed when the new penalty could enter force. The consultation will give cantons, cycling organisations and other interested groups an opportunity to respond.

For riders, the existing rules remain unchanged while that process runs. Using a phone while cycling currently carries a 40 franc fine. Red light violations can cost 60 francs, and failing to stop at a stop sign costs 30 francs. Police can also enforce rules on sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes, lights and audio devices.

The proposal places distracted cycling within a broader Swiss road safety discussion. Its eventual impact will depend on the final fine, the wording of the rule and enforcement in daily traffic. Pro Velo’s opposition signals a dispute over how Switzerland should balance cyclist responsibility with penalties and practical enforcement. ASTRA’s accident figure gives the government a measurable basis for action, while the consultation will determine whether that basis produces a higher fine.