Graubünden Flashes Pedestrians in Zurich - An Action for More 'Patgific'
16.04.2026 | from Graubünden Ferien (GRF)
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Image rights: Graubünden Ferien
16.04.2026, Anyone walking too quickly in Zurich on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, risked getting flashed. Behind the unusual initiative is the tourism organisation Graubünden Ferien, which humorously advocated for more deceleration in urban life using a pedestrian speed camera. The Romansh word 'patgific' represents this concept.
The temporarily installed speed camera on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse detected pedestrians who were exhibiting an above-average walking speed. Instead of a fine, the 'speed offenders' received a ticket with a friendly reminder to slow down more often in everyday life. The best way to do this is to spend time or holidays in Graubünden. The speed-walkers could also directly participate in a raffle.
Relaxed like in Graubünden
The aim of the campaign was to give people in the hustle and bustle of the city something to think about. "We wanted to charmingly hold up a mirror to the people," explains Martin Vincenz, CEO of Graubünden Ferien. "The hustle of everyday life often makes us forget the importance of breaks. With the pedestrian speed camera, we bring a piece of our Grisons lifestyle ‘patgific’ — which stands for comfort and calmness — directly to the metropolis."
The action is based on studies showing persistently high stress levels in the Swiss population, which manifest particularly in urban areas. The demonstrably faster walking pace in cities like Zurich contrasts with the more relaxed lifestyle maintained in Graubünden.
'Genuinely patgific' also at Sechseläuten
The motto 'genuinely patgific' is also at the heart of Graubünden's appearance as the guest canton at this year's Zurich Sechseläuten. It is part of the long-term strategy to sustainably popularise the region's authentic lifestyle with 'patgific'. The pedestrian speed camera has since been dismantled, but a repetition of the action in other stressed Swiss cities is not ruled out by those responsible.
Graubünden Ferien
Luzi Bürkli, Head of Corporate Communications
Tel. +41 81 254 24 35
luzi.buerkli@graubuenden.ch
Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Graubünden Ferien
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Graubünden Ferien (GRF)
Graubünden Ferien (GRF) is the tourism marketing organisation of the canton of Graubünden. Together with our partners, we aim to attract more guests to Graubünden. The Graubünden emblem, the ibex, is our trademark and we embody its characteristics — proud, sure-footed, and cooperative.
Graubünden Ferien develops and markets cross-destination and/or scalable products and services focused on the current and future needs of guests and partners.
They align with our core competence and aim to attract more guests to Graubünden. We are Graubünden's content competence centre and disseminate relevant stories about Graubünden on our own and additional channels. In doing so, we make an important contribution to the sustainable future of Graubünden's tourism economy and promote tourism networking.
Graubünden Ferien is the tourism marketing organisation of the canton. On behalf of our members and the government, we are committed to a sustainable tourism economy.
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Source: Graubünden Ferien (GRF), Press release
Original article published on: Graubünden blitzt Fussgänger*innen in Zürich - Eine Aktion für mehr «patgific»