Media

The success of an unconventional bus

Published:15.05.26 — In Baden, an artistic bus project with no fixed route or timetable has been highly successful by offering journeys shaped by unpredictability and human encounters. Asked about the phenomenon, Maxime Felder, researcher at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, believes that the initiative responds to a desire for unique experiences that can leave a lasting impression in people’s memories.

Are the days of first class numbered?

Published:15.05.26 — As the youth section of ATE Association Transport and Environment calls for the abolition of class divisions on trains — questioning the profitability and usage rates of first class — people often forget that railways once had a third class as well. Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, explains that first class plays a more significant role than many realize, as it encourages more commuters to choose low-carbon transportation.

Housing is taking on increasingly diverse functions

Published:15.05.26 — Conducted by the Urban Sociology Laboratory under the direction of Luca Pattaroni, the “Domotopie” survey focuses on housing in the canton of Geneva. Carried out among 2,400 residents, it provides a detailed analysis of current uses of the home and the lifestyles developing within it. The study shows, among other things, that housing is no longer simply a place for rest and family privacy. It is now increasingly used for activities related to work, leisure, and consumption, which contributes to significant day-to-day pressure on how living spaces are used.

Cross-Border workers and demographic pressure

Published:15.05.26 — The initiative “No Switzerland of 10 Million!” aims to limit Switzerland’s resident population. To compensate for the reduction in the domestic workforce, reliance on cross-border workers could increase. Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, believes that limiting population growth in Switzerland would only intensify commuting flows toward neighboring France. Housing pressure on the Swiss side is already pushing some residents to move across the border and become cross-border commuters.

Urban cable cars: Switzerland is lagging behind

Published:30.04.26 — In La Paz, Bolivia, the success of urban cable cars illustrates the potential of this sustainable mode of transport, supported by Swiss expertise but still little used in Switzerland. Kenan Zhang, a professor at the HOMES Laboratory, and Vincent Kaufmann, a professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, highlight both the advantages of this infrastructure for urban mobility and the legal barriers that limit its development in Switzerland.

Noise, a public health issue

Published:10.04.26 — Luca Pattaroni, sociologist and co-director of the Urban Sociology Laboratory, explains that repeated exposure to noise can harm health, particularly sleep. He also points out that noise is a social phenomenon reflecting inequalities, with lower-income populations being more exposed.

Increase in fuel prices: what consequences?

Published:10.04.26 — For Vincent Kaufmann, co-director of the Urban Sociology Laboratory, a rise in fuel prices primarily affects low-income households, leading to changes in behavior such as increased carpooling. He adds that “if fuel prices rise above 2 francs and remain at that level for six months, a shift toward public transport is possible.”

The generic masculine is not neutral.

Published:19.03.26 — Lucien Delley, a sociologist at LaSUR, defends inclusive writing by drawing on research in psycholinguistics.

Rethinking the “Grand Genève”

Published:12.02.26 — Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, calls within the Cercle du Léman to rethink the Grand Genève project with its residents in order to strengthen cross-border cooperation and build a more balanced and sustainable territory.

Work time, time for oneself

Published:12.02.26 — In a column published in Le Courrier, Sofia Gonzalez Jimenez, doctoral student at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology, questions time management in the era of remote work.