People In Switzerland Have An Interesting Way Of Commuting—And We’re Jealous

Switzerland does commuting the right way! While many Americans dread the long drives to work or the crowded subways, people in Switzerland have found a much more relaxing way to commute. Some Swiss locals get to work by floating down the Aare River. This helps them to beat the heat and the rush hour traffic.

Switzerland has some of the cleanest rivers in the world. So it is no surprise residents swim in the river recreationally to cool off. However, some people have found another use for this river—transportation. According to Business Insider, people in Bern, the city’s capital, often ride the waves of the Aare with their belongings packed in waterproof bags.

This Tiktok shows just how locals use the Aare River to get to and from work each day.

Many locals go to the store and purchase an ‘Aare Bag’. This bag acts as an airtight sealer where locals can stash their phones, clothing, and other valuables that they want to keep dry on their river voyage. Then, they jump into the river in their bathing suits and ride the current to work.

The Aare River is not the only river in Switzerland that gets used as public transportation. An hour north of Bern is the Rhine. People will also use this river to float to work as well. Furthermore, Business Insider shared that there are bathing houses set up along the river so commuters can shower and change.

American DJ and music producer Diplo decided to act like a local when visiting Switzerland. He wanted to try this unique mode of transportation. He shared his experience on Instagram.

I think I can speak for all of us when I say I am so jealous of this summer mode of transportation in Switzerland. I would much rather be floating down the river on a beautiful day than sitting in rush-hour traffic.

However, while it may seem relaxing, local officials warn people to always be vigilant. The rivers do have strong currents and there have been tricky situations and accidents that have occurred for some of the swimmers. While swimming and riding the current to work is not advised against, it is important to always remain aware of your surroundings and the weather.

The source of the featured image can be found here.