Getting around in an emergency: which method when?
Last reviewed on 04.07.2026
It depends on the scenario. In an evacuation with congested roads or power outage, bicycle and walking are often better than the car – on foot you can realistically cover around 15 to 25 kilometres per day with a rucksack. Most important: follow official instructions and do not set off independently.
There is no «best» transport method in an emergency – it depends on the scenario. In a mass evacuation in the city, the car is often the worst choice: roads become congested, and without power, petrol stations cannot pump fuel. Bicycle and on foot are then often more realistic because they are traffic-free and do not depend on any infrastructure. But the most important rule stands above vehicle choice: in an emergency, the official line of FOCP/Alertswiss applies – listen to the radio, follow the instructions of the authorities and emergency services, and use transport only for important, urgent needs. Do not drive off in a panic.
First: the scenario determines the method
There is no transport method that is fundamentally «the best». What matters is distance, terrain, weather, who is coming (children, elderly or limited mobility people) and above all the situation: is the road free or congested? Is there power and fuel? Do you have to leave at all, or is staying at home safer?
In Switzerland, in an emergency, the line of the Federal Office of Civil Protection (FOCP) and Alertswiss applies: after an alarm, information always runs via radio and the Alertswiss app. The official advice is to follow the instructions of the authorities and emergency services. Equally explicit: use cars and other vehicles only for important and urgent needs, and behave particularly carefully in road traffic. This is exactly why uncoordinated, panicked driving by everyone at the same time is the worst scenario.
An evacuation is ordered and coordinated. Emergency meeting points are used as assembly points; every municipality has designated these and from there people needing assistance are taken to a safe location. You can find your nearest emergency meeting point in advance on the FOCP map.
Car (petrol/diesel)
Strengths: large range, plenty of space for people and material, weather and some impact protection, high speed on clear roads. A full tank holds on average 55 to 70 litres in a passenger car and is good for around 600 to 1,000 kilometres.
Weaknesses: in a mass evacuation, the strength itself – everyone takes the car – is the problem. Congested motorways mean virtually zero kilometres per hour. Plus the fuel trap: petrol stations need power. In a power outage, no pump works – if you haven't filled up beforehand, you won't get fuel again. The car also depends on passable roads and bridges; a flooded or blocked route stops it immediately.
Important about fuel supply in Switzerland: there is no general emergency power requirement for petrol stations, and most have no emergency generator. Individual cantons voluntarily equip a few «emergency petrol stations» with generators – but in an emergency, these are reserved for emergency services (fire brigade, ambulance, civil protection), not for the general public. So do not rely on being able to refuel in a crisis.
Most suitable: early, coordinated departure over confirmed free routes; transport of large quantities of material or several, including less mobile people; large distances outside built-up areas.
Electric car
Strengths: quiet, no petrol station needed – as long as the battery is charged. In a situation with fuel shortage but available power, this can be an advantage.
Weaknesses: in a blackout the battery cannot be charged, and public charging infrastructure is quickly overloaded or out of service during a major incident. Range drops noticeably in cold. An electric car in an emergency is only as capable as it was charged beforehand.
Most suitable: only with a pre-fully charged battery and manageable distance. If you have an emergency power/solar system at home, you should know its capacity (charging an electric car consumes many times what a typical emergency power solution provides).
Motorcycle and scooter
Strengths: can weave between stationary vehicles and get around traffic jams, is economical and nimble, needs little fuel for long distance.
Weaknesses: limited carrying capacity, no weather protection and little impact protection, and like a car dependent on fuel (same petrol station problem in a power outage). In wet, snow or debris on the road, the risk of falling increases significantly.
Most suitable: single person with little luggage on congested but basically passable routes.
Bicycle and e-bike
Strengths: traffic-free, no fuel needed (e-bike battery), cheap, usable almost anywhere and with good daily range. In a congested city it is often the fastest method of all.
Weaknesses: limited carrying space, weather exposure, exertion on hills and terrain, battery charge on e-bike. The bottleneck is the load: a bicycle carries significantly less than a car.
Realistic load: a normal rack is usually approved up to around 25 kilograms (some models up to 40 kg – the manufacturer's specification is binding). A pair of panniers holds roughly 40 litres (around 20 litres each). With rack and two panniers you can practically carry about 20 to 25 kilograms. A bicycle trailer increases this significantly – common trailers are designed for around 40 kilograms of additional load, cargo trailers more. The permissible total weight (bike plus rider plus luggage) is roughly 120 to 150 kilograms for normal bikes; follow the manufacturer's specification.
Most suitable: short to medium-distance evacuation, congested cities, situations with fuel shortage. For e-bikes: only with a charged battery and knowing that range without recharging is limited.
On foot
Strengths: possible anywhere, no dependence whatsoever on fuel, power or infrastructure, traffic-free, in any terrain. The last option that always remains.
Weaknesses: slow, limited carrying capacity, heavily dependent on weather and fitness. A group is only as fast as its slowest member.
Realistic daily distance: on good ground an average fit person goes at about 4 to 5 kilometres per hour; with baggage and in terrain rather 3.5 to 5 km/h. Over a day with a rucksack, roughly 15 to 25 kilometres is realistic – untrained people, difficult terrain or a slow group quickly reduce this to 10 to 15 kilometres. These values are planning order-of-magnitude figures, not official federal specifications. With children, elderly or limited mobility people, in winter/snow or at night, daily performance drops significantly – reliable percentages for this do not exist, plan generously.
Rule of thumb: time rather than distance. For mountain terrain in Switzerland, use the SAC hiking time calculation – time is based on distance plus elevation, not straight-line distance. Rough standard (DIN 33466): approximately 4 km horizontally per hour plus about one hour per 300 metres of ascent. Each climb therefore costs noticeable time.
Most suitable: short distances, when everything else is blocked, or as a supplement (park vehicle and walk the last stretch). Requirement is a portable emergency bag and sturdy footwear.
Horse (situational, rural)
Classification first: the horse is not a realistic emergency transport method for the vast majority of people. It is only an option for the few who keep horses anyway and have the experience and training. For laypeople, it is not a spontaneous alternative.
Strengths: no fuel and no electricity needed, can get through terrain and over paths where vehicles fail, traffic-free, can carry load (saddlebags, cart) and people, and «refuels» along the way via pasture and water.
Weaknesses: needs daily food, water and care, is easily spooked by noise and chaos, can injure itself, and pace and range depend on fatigue. Rough order-of-magnitude figures (no official values): a riding horse eats roughly 6 to 15 kilograms of hay per day and drinks about 20 to 40 litres of water – significantly more in heat and work. At a walk it reaches about 5 to 8 km/h; over a full day of riding, roughly 20 to 30 kilometres is a common order-of-magnitude figure in trekking/distance riding (athletic peak performances are far higher but do not count as everyday planning values).
Most suitable: rural regions and terrain away from roads during prolonged fuel or power shortage – exclusively for experienced owners. For the general population, it plays no role in crisis planning.
Public transport and boat
Public transport (rail/bus): large transport capacity, but you do not control route or timing. In a power or major incident, public transport fails early and widely (rail is power-dependent). Unsuitable as sole evacuation plan – possible as coordinated means in an ordered evacuation.
Boat/water: only situationally relevant, such as in flooding or near water. Not a standard option for most; in flooding, the principle is also to avoid entering flooded areas but choose higher routes.
Scenario matrix: which method when?
The following overview is a decision aid, not an automatism. It does not replace the specific instruction of the authorities in an emergency – that always takes precedence.
| Scenario | Rather suitable | Rather avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Urban mass evacuation (traffic jam) | bicycle, on foot | car (queues) |
| Blackout / fuel shortage | bicycle, on foot, e-car only if charged | car/motorcycle without fuel reserve |
| Winter / alpine | car with winter equipment (carefully) | on foot without equipment |
| Flooding | higher-level routes, situationally boat | driving through flooded roads |
| Short distance, congested | on foot, bicycle | car |
| Large distance, free route | car | on foot |
| Group with children/elderly | car (if route free) or public transport | pure walking over long distance |
Basic rule in flooding: never drive or walk through flooded areas. In special situations, official instructions take precedence over any table.
What problems should I expect when travelling in a crisis?
Traffic jams and blockades: if everyone drives off at once, traffic stops. This is exactly why the federal government advises to use vehicles only for essentials and to follow instructions.
Fuel and charging trap: petrol stations and charging stations need power. In a blackout there is neither petrol nor charging. Reserves are created only beforehand, in everyday life.
Load versus range: the more independent the method (on foot, bicycle), the less you can carry. Your emergency bag must therefore remain portable – weight before completeness.
Weather, terrain, injury: wet, cold, snow and rubble slow everything down and increase injury risk – especially on foot, bicycle and motorcycle.
Different pace in the group: children, elderly or limited mobility people set the pace. Plan accordingly, not according to the fastest person.
Navigation without power: in a power outage, traffic lights, navigation and mobile phones can fail. A printed map and offline available route are worth their weight in gold.
How do I prepare for getting around in an emergency?
- Keep tank or battery as full as possible in everyday life, never let it fall below half
- Keep bicycle ready to ride (tyres, brakes, lights) and keep bags or trailer ready
- Keep sturdy footwear and portable emergency bag easily accessible
- Have a printed regional map and route to agreed destination ready
- Agree with family on meeting point and route; know your municipality's nearest emergency meeting point
- Ensure radio reception (battery-powered FM/DAB+ radio) for official information
- Keep multiple options open: do not rely on a single transport method
Common mistakes
- Panic-drive off with a full tank and strand in a traffic jam instead of waiting for the situation and official information
- Rely on the car alone and not plan for power outages or fuel shortages
- Attempt on foot or by bicycle without realistic distance and load planning (too far, too heavy)
- Regularly let tank or battery drop almost empty instead of keeping a reserve
- No printed map or offline route – and in a power outage without navigation
- Ignore official instructions and take your own route «around» the blocked area
- Consider the horse (or other specialist method) crisis-ready although neither animal nor experience are present
| Method | Range/speed (guideline) | Capacity/load | Main dependency | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car (petrol/diesel) | ~600–1,000 km per tank | high (people + material) | fuel, clear road | early departure, free route, large load |
| E-car | battery-dependent, less in cold | high | power/charging (blackout = stop) | battery full, short distance |
| Motorcycle/scooter | large, gets around traffic | limited | fuel | single person, congested roads |
| Bicycle/e-bike | traffic-free, good daily range | ~20–25 kg (with trailer more) | muscle power / e-bike battery | short/medium distance, traffic, blackout |
| On foot | ~15–25 km/day with baggage | rucksack capacity | fitness, weather | short distance, everything else blocked |
| Horse | walk 5–8 km/h, ~20–30 km/day | load + person (saddlebags) | food/water, experience | rural, experienced owners only |
| Public transport (rail/bus) | high capacity | very high | power, operation (fails early) | coordinated evacuation |
| Boat | situational | moderate | water/weather | flooding, near water |
Values are guideline/planning figures (vehicle, hiking and equestrian sources), not official federal standards. The official Swiss line (FOCP/Alertswiss): follow official instructions, use vehicles only for essentials. As of July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the car useful in an evacuation?
It depends on the situation. With an early, coordinated departure over confirmed free routes, the car is strong – lots of load, long range. In a mass evacuation with congested roads, it is often the worst choice because in traffic jams the range is useless. This is why the federal government advises to use vehicles only for important, urgent needs.
How far can I walk in a day?
With baggage on good ground roughly 15 to 25 kilometres per day; walking speed is about 4 to 5 km/h. Untrained people, difficult terrain, winter or a slow group quickly reduce this to 10 to 15 kilometres. These are planning order-of-magnitude figures, not guaranteed values – plan generously.
What if petrol stations have no power?
Then you cannot refuel: pumps need power, without power no petrol pump works. Most Swiss petrol stations have no emergency generator, and there is no legal requirement for one. Individual «emergency petrol stations» with a generator are reserved for emergency services. Conclusion: fuel reserve is created only beforehand – keep the tank as full as possible.
Bicycle or car in the city?
In a congested city, the bicycle is often faster and more reliable because it is traffic-free and needs no fuel. The disadvantage is limited load capacity. For short to medium distances in urban areas, the bicycle is usually superior to the car.
How much material can I carry by bicycle?
With a rack (usually approved up to around 25 kg, follow manufacturer's specification) and a pair of panniers (roughly 40 litres) you can practically carry about 20 to 25 kilograms. With a trailer – common trailers for about 40 kilograms load – much more. Pay attention to the permissible total weight of your bike (roughly 120–150 kg including rider and luggage).
Is an electric car worth it in an emergency?
Only if the battery is fully charged beforehand and the distance is manageable. In a blackout the battery does not charge, and public charging stations are quickly overloaded or out of service. In cold, range drops further. An electric car in an emergency is only as capable as it was charged beforehand.
Is a horse a sensible emergency option?
For the vast majority, no. A horse needs daily food (roughly 6–15 kg hay), water (about 20–40 litres, more in heat), as well as experience and training, and is easily spooked by noise. Only for people who keep horses anyway and live in rural areas can it play a role during prolonged fuel or power shortage. As a spontaneous alternative for laypeople, it is not suitable.
What does the federal government say about behaviour during an evacuation?
After an alarm, information comes via radio and the Alertswiss app. The official line: follow the instructions of the authorities and emergency services, use vehicles and communication networks only for important, urgent needs, and behave particularly carefully in road traffic. Emergency meeting points serve as assembly points. Do not drive off independently or in a panic.
Official sources
- Guide: Pack an emergency bag (go-bag) Portable bag for leaving quickly
- Guide: 72-hour family plan Meeting point, route, contacts
- Guide: Build emergency supplies Staying at home often safer than leaving
- Guide: Behaviour during siren alarm Recognise the message, listen to radio
- Guide: Protection in flooding Do not drive through flooded roads
- Guide: Emergency power and solar E-car/battery charging – know the capacity
- Guide: Map and compass Navigate on foot: calculate march time, determine location
- Current hazard status: Situation map Check current hazards and incidents before leaving
- Alertswiss Respond correctly in an emergency
- Alertswiss Emergency plan (PDF)
- FOCP Alertswiss
- Emergency meeting points (FOCP map) Find your municipality's assembly points
- FONES Electricity / fuel supply in a power outage
- SRF Petrol station in Emmental prepares for blackout
- SAC Walking time calculation