After living in Switzerland for 7 years (2016-2023, outside of Zürich), I can attest you concisely captured the essentials. Residents have other options than the full pass you mentioned. I had the half-fare card, which was fantastic.
The maintenance of roads, sidewalks, and paths made you feel like your taxes were being used effectively. Trails in the forest would be regarded and repacked with gravel (or similar) when they became too rutted, for example.
Since you didn't have a car, you probably aren't aware that the parking app has a nifty feature: you only pay for the time you parked. Say you park and you pay for 2hrs, but you leave after 90min. If you tap cancel on your parking app, you only pay for the 90min. What an amazing idea, right?
There are faster inter-regional trains, but the need for high-speed in a small country like Switzerland isn't the same as others, particularly when Switzerland doesn't have the same very long straight lengths. But, as you note, you can get most anywhere. Now, it's not exactly anywhere easily. We had friends visit from London in eastern (French) Switzerland and the travel time for us to get to them, whether by public transport or our car, was more than if we just flew to London. But that isolation is also part of the beauty. Glad you enjoyed the country. I miss it very much.
After living in Switzerland for 7 years (2016-2023, outside of Zürich), I can attest you concisely captured the essentials. Residents have other options than the full pass you mentioned. I had the half-fare card, which was fantastic.
The maintenance of roads, sidewalks, and paths made you feel like your taxes were being used effectively. Trails in the forest would be regarded and repacked with gravel (or similar) when they became too rutted, for example.
Since you didn't have a car, you probably aren't aware that the parking app has a nifty feature: you only pay for the time you parked. Say you park and you pay for 2hrs, but you leave after 90min. If you tap cancel on your parking app, you only pay for the 90min. What an amazing idea, right?
There are faster inter-regional trains, but the need for high-speed in a small country like Switzerland isn't the same as others, particularly when Switzerland doesn't have the same very long straight lengths. But, as you note, you can get most anywhere. Now, it's not exactly anywhere easily. We had friends visit from London in eastern (French) Switzerland and the travel time for us to get to them, whether by public transport or our car, was more than if we just flew to London. But that isolation is also part of the beauty. Glad you enjoyed the country. I miss it very much.