Basel Parking Meter Hack; Food Truck Rules Revised; Eglisee Undergoes Makeover; New Bike Parking Under SBB

News For 21 February 2017

If you've ever had to reach into your change purse to feed a parking meter, some good news! Next time, use Euros - if you happen to have them - instead of francs.  It seems the exchange rate between the two currencies is still pegged at 1.2 Francs to the Euro according to the price schedule posted on all 400 Basel parking meters.  Now that the Franc has become more valuable you save approximately 10% on parking fees when you use your overvalued Euros instead.  The discount, however, might not last - the city has been aware of the discrepancy ever since the cap on the Franc was lifted more than two years ago by the Swiss National Bank.  You might ask just how much all this lost change adds up to in lost revenue for the city - and the answer is approximately 17,000 Francs per year, which has not been enough to offset the cost of updating the parking meters - until now.  According to Nicole Stocker, spokesman for the Construction and Transport Department responsible for the meters, the plan is to eventually upgrade all the meters to cashless, digitally controlled and updated ones.

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Good news for Food Truck fans! Last week, the Basel government lifted the ban on commercial grilling and frying in public areas, and specifically, the rules will now allow food truck vendors into the same spaces.  Previously, the trucks were only allowed to operate at official markets (like the MarktPlatz) and holiday events.  According to  Daniel Hofer, spokesman for the Basel Baudepartment, those that wish to operate a mobile food stand will still need to submit an application and get city approval.  The relaxation of the rules and the simplified application process was welcome by those already operating food trucks as it broadens their opportunity to make and serve their food throughout the city.

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The open air swimming pool at Eglisee will be partially closed this upcoming summer for renovations.  According to a statement by the Department of Education of Basel which is responsible for the facility, the Women's bathing area, the Kid's pool and the outdoor sunbathing area will remain open.  In addition, operations at the restaurant will continue.  During the construction work, use of the facilities will be free of charge.  Construction and installation of a dome to cover the pool area and the rehabilitation of the ice-making equipment for the ice-rink have already begun.  The finished facility will feature a year-round swimming pool and a state of the art ice rink.

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If you're a Baseler that uses a bicycle to get around town for all of your transportation needs, you are surely aware of the challenge of trying to securely park a bike at the SBB.  As part of the upgrades to facilities happening at the train station, SBB plans to install 500 new bicycle parking spaces.  Construction will commence at the end of this month and will connect the existing bicycle parking structures underground between the Centralbahnplatz, creating the additional space.  The project is expected to cost 1.5 million Francs, and the new spaces - as you might have guessed - will be metered for a fee.