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Lausanne gare, Switzerland © Henry Becker 2019 Unsplash

Conflicting modes of transport

— Competition between rail and road is becoming increasingly strong while debates take place in Bern around decisive investments. “Le Temps” addresses the subject and notably interviews Vincent Kaufmann, professor at EPFL and mobility specialist.

Public transport © Mitchell Johnson 2018 Unsplash

More and more people are taking public transport

— In 2023, more than 126 million passengers used the transport system of the city of Lausanne. Analysis by Vincent Kaufmann, Head of the Urban Sociology Laboratory.

Border © Christin Hume 2018 Unsplash

Life on the borders of Greater Geneva

— The book "Sociétés frontalières", published by EPFL Press, is the result of a wide-ranging sociological study into the lives of people living near three European borders: Lille and its Belgian neighbors, the French-Spanish Basque country, and above all Greater Geneva. According to Alexis Gumy, one of the book's authors and a post-doctoral fellow at EPFL's Urban Sociology Laboratory, "the construction of transport infrastructures or one-off cultural initiatives, while supported by a majority of the population, do not give rise to a strong sense of cross-border belonging."

Auto salon © Marvin Meyer 2019 Unsplash

The Geneva auto show: should we still promote cars?

— Tiphaine Robert, historian in the sociology of urban mobility at EPFL, takes part in the debate on the relevance today of having an event that glorifies the car. For the scientist, the car show, created 100 years ago, remains emblematic and a place of ritual where contacts are made, even if it has become a place of contestation since the 70s.

A group of cars © Musa Haef 2021 Unsplash

Carbon mobility

— Widen highways to accommodate increased traffic or to generate more automobile traffic? For mobility scientists, like Vincent Kaufmann, director of the Urban Sociology Laboratory, the scenario of the second option is not in doubt.

Yellow mat on pathway © Akshay Chauhan 2018 Unsplash

Frontier society

— The Urban Sociology Laboratory is interested in border regions and the extent to which these areas manage to create a society across the border. It has contributed to "Sociétés frontalières", a book published by EPFL PRESS. LaSUR director Vincent Kaufmann explains this contribution.

Person at the train station © Ross Sneddon 2021 Unsplash

Nearly 400,000 cross-border commuters in Switzerland

— A major change has taken place over the years, with cross-border commuters no longer coming from nearby regions, but from increasingly distant parts of Switzerland. Alexis Gumy, a post-doctoral fellow at EPFL's Urban Sociology Laboratory, has contributed to a book entitled "Sociétés frontalières" published by EPFL PRESS. His work focuses on European border areas, in particular the French-Swiss Greater Geneva area.

Swiss trains © Kajetan Sumila 2021 Unsplash

How do the Swiss get around?

— How do the Swiss get around? Is the rail offer adapted to current needs? How has business travel evolved over the last thirty years? Vincent Kauffman, professor of urban sociology at EPFL, takes stock of mobility in "Le Regard Libre".

Motorway © Victor Sánchez Berruezo 2017 Unsplash

More roads = more traffic

— The Federal Parliament has agreed to spend 5.3 billion francs on 6 motorway projects. Organizations have filed a referendum, and the Swiss people will vote. Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, explains what's at stake, and makes no secret of the fact that the more roads are built, the more traffic there is.

A person sitting alone on a bench © Studio Pizza 2023 Unsplash

The secrets of benches

— Renate Albrecher of EPFL's Laboratory of Urban Sociology (LaSUR), who is also Director of the "Bankkultur" Association, talks about her research into public benches in a podcast for the NZZ. (from 43:19)

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