In Switzerland, commuters have discovered a new way to get to work, taking full advantage of the remarkably clean rivers. In places like Bern and Basel, commuters head to the office by taking a refreshing swim in what’s become a summer staple.

Basel

In Switzerland, some residents are embracing a unique summer commute by swimming or floating down rivers such as the Rhine in Basel and the Aare in Bern. This practice is made possible by the country's clean, glacier-fed rivers and is supported by city infrastructure, including marked entry and exit points and online safety guidelines.

The tradition has grown in popularity as cities invested in water quality improvements since the 1960s and 70s. While not suitable for everyone, the swim commute is facilitated by waterproof bags for belongings and is seen as both a refreshing way to start the day and a symbol of Swiss quality of life. Most locals use the rivers to relax after work, reflecting a culture that values simple, healthy pleasures.

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Not many people would call the morning commute the best part of their day, unless they live in Switzerland. In the summer, some locals swap cars for swimsuits and float to work-down rivers like the Aare in Bern or the Rhine in Basel. I think what always catches people's attention is swimming in the rivers in the cities. It's a thing that people really do. Fed by glacial meltwater from the Alps, Swiss rivers have become a summer staple for swimmers, if you can handle the chilly temperatures. It heats like 22, but it was only for a few days, but mostly it's like 18 to 20. It's refreshing. For me, it's something that clears my mind. The clean water clears my mind and allows me to relax. Switzerland is maybe one of the few places in the world where every river and every lake is clean enough to swim. Our rivers were not always clean. If you go back to maybe the 50s or 60s or around that time, swimming in the river was not really recommended. But in the 60s, 70s, the cities really invested a lot in the infrastructure to make sure that the water is clean. The rivers are clean and they will stay clean for the foreseeable future. The city has marked entry and exit points, plus online safety guidelines to keep swimmers safe. There are a lot of safety precautions. It's not for everyone. You are also a good swimmer, number one, and know all the exit points. I think in every five metres, you can just go to the sides. Need to carry a laptop? Local shops sell waterproof bags to keep electronics dry. These bags with funny names like Wickelfisch in Basel, they've almost become fashion elements. And so some people also who never swim in the river walk around with them. Alongside these intrepid commuters, most locals come to the river to relax and unwind. Everyone was so free. You know, it's like the river is freedom. For me, the river is where actually everyone meets after work. And I say it in the sense of why Swiss are rich, because they float home. It's actually the sense of what a simple happiness Swiss are. OK, so not every city has a glacier-fed river highway, but greener, healthier commutes are still worth exploring. All it takes is a swimsuit and a little courage.

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