wellness
Family Cycling Routes in Zurich: Safe, Flat Paths
Discover easy bike paths along Zurich's lakeside and rivers. 42km of new flat cycling routes perfect for families and beginners avoiding hills and traffic.
How we reported this
City records show that 42 kilometres of dedicated family cycling paths opened or received upgrades along Zurich's lakeshore and river corridors this spring.
Summer demand for low-stress outdoor activity has risen sharply since the opening of new sections near the lakefront in April. Parents and older residents cite the need for routes that avoid hills and busy roads while still counting toward weekly fitness goals. Zurich's public health office reported a 12 percent increase in family bike registrations between January and May compared with the same period last year.
Two stretches stand out for beginners. The first runs from Bürkliplatz along Mythenquai to Wollishofen, a 7-kilometre flat loop with separate lanes marked for cyclists and wide sightlines at every crossing. The second follows the Limmat from Platzspitz park north through Kreis 5 to the Oerlikon velodrome entrance, adding another 5 kilometres of car-free pavement maintained by the municipal roads department. Both routes connect directly to public drinking fountains and shaded benches installed last year.
Local programs support new riders
Pro Velo Zürich runs a free monthly Saturday session at the Arboretum starting at 10 a.m., where volunteers lend balance bikes and helmets to children aged four to eight. The same organisation partners with the Stadt Zürich mobility office to loan child seats and tag-along trailers from the main Velostation at Zurich Hauptbahnhof for a 10-franc deposit. Families can also book a 90-minute guided orientation ride that covers basic hand signals and right-of-way rules on the Mythenquai path.
Numbers and next steps
City traffic data from June counted 1,850 family groups using the lakeside path on an average weekend day, up from 1,200 the previous summer. Standard city bike rental at any PubliBike station costs 6 francs for the first hour and 4 francs for each additional hour. Riders who want to avoid the busiest midday hours can start before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m., when the lakeside lanes see roughly half the volume recorded at noon. Maps and current surface conditions are posted daily on the Stadt Zürich website under the heading “Familienvelorouten.”
Anyone planning a first ride should stop at the information kiosk beside Quaibrücke for a printed route card and a quick check of tyre pressure before heading out.