¿Necesitas un coche, Hazel?

Hazel Brugger

This video has been trending in Switzerland

The video 'Do you need a car, Hazel?' follows Hazel Brugger, a comedian and columnist, in her quest to determine whether owning a car is truly essential. She begins with the classic argument of freedom: a personal vehicle seems to offer flexibility, speed, and comfort. However, as soon as she calculates the costs of purchase, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and depreciation, the monthly expenses add up to several hundred euros. This initial financial comparison raises doubts: is the feeling of freedom really worth such an investment?

Hazel then tests concrete alternatives. Armed with a public transport pass, she uses buses, trams, and trains for her daily commutes. She also tries a car-sharing service, highlighting the ease of booking via an app, the availability of stations in the city center, and billing by the minute. For longer journeys, she occasionally rents a vehicle; again, the cost remains lower than that of a personally owned car used sporadically. Her intermediate conclusion: with a bit of organization, these solutions cover 90% of urban mobility needs.

The ecological aspect then takes center stage in the discussion. Hazel points out that road traffic is one of the main sources of CO₂ emissions in Germany and Switzerland. Owning fewer cars means less vehicle production, thus consuming fewer raw materials. She also notes the public space taken up by parking: freeing up these areas could create bike lanes, parks, or playgrounds, improving the quality of life in the city.

To test 'extreme' situations, Hazel goes grocery shopping for a family and transports a piece of furniture using a utility car-sharing service. Thanks to hourly options, the operation remains simple and affordable. However, she notes that outside of large urban areas, the availability of shared mobility options remains scarce; in rural areas, individual cars still hold an advantage (for now).

In conclusion, Hazel acknowledges that the need for a vehicle depends on the frequency and type of trips one makes. In her predominantly urban case, combining public transport, biking, and car-sharing makes traditional cars unnecessary, while also easing her budget and carbon footprint. She then invites the audience to do their own calculations: adopting a mix of mobility options could suffice for traveling freely without sacrificing their wallet or the planet

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