Jammed, Jostle, Jab; Traffic Rules Crackdown; No Free Rides For Schoolkids

News For 26 January 2021

No gaps, jostling, too many people: the Basel vaccination centre experienced its first day at almost maximum capacity, that relentlessly revealed the shortcomings in the organisation. There were unbelievable scenes that took place last week in front of the vaccination centre at Basel's Messeplatz, with large queues and ironically no social distancing, with people shoulder to shoulder. With the human chain stretching from the vaccination centre to Clarastrasse, people at the back of the line, despite having an allocated time slot, could not hear who was being called out by the employees of the vaccine centre. Inevitably anger grew amongst those waiting for the vaccine, especially as those in line were mainly elderly and vulnerable. With the centre designed to deliver 2000 vaccinations per day, the Basel Health Department did confirm that “ not everything went as planned on day one, and things need to be improved”. ********** Apparently, Basel traffic police have increased their enforcement of regulations meant to ensure the smooth flow of automobile traffic.  Drivers have been cited in recent weeks when attempting to switch lanes on roads where the directional arrows indicate a divergence in direction.  Specifically, drivers on Monday morning on Neuenstrasse, a main thoroughfare approaching the city center from the highways, were given a CHF 100 ticket when they tried to overtake cars in the left lane, and then switch to the right lane again.  Police claim this activity impedes the smooth flow of traffic, increases the possibility of traffic-snarling accidents, and their intervention is meant to deter would-be scofflaws.  Over in Baselland, police carried out traffic stops of over 25,000 drivers targeting people that use their handys while driving.  Citations were issued in 350 cases. ********** Basel will vote this Thursday to eliminate free rides on public transport for school children on excursions.  The practice had been in place and was a benefit that Basel region children in the primary and secondary schools enjoyed when going on class organized outings.  Having determined that the program was costly and difficult to enforce, the "free-ride" is about to come to an end.  Organizers had difficulty allocating the costs to the various school systems in Baselland and Basel-Stadt, and in addition, kids appear to have been taking advantage of their status, using the trains and trams when travelling in groups, but outside of school activities.