The fight around the motor car
A horse-drawn lorry in Maienfeld. Graubünden was the last Swiss canton to allow motor traffic on its roads. Up to 1925 cars were banned. In order to cross the canton horses had to be used to pull the cars.Photo: State archive, Graubünden, StAGR FR-A Sp III/9f – 010
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Horses harnessed to a car in front of the restaurant Krone in Chur-Masans, before 1925. Fears about competition also played a role in the ban of cars as coach-men and mail employees feared for their jobs.Photo: Carl Anton Lang. City archive, Chur, StadtAC F 13.001.018.006
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Voting propaganda in 1923. The Swiss government forced the canton to open a north-south route for cars in 1923. The Julier pass and the Oberhalbstein valley were chosen, much against the will of the population. This voting advert from people in the Surselva opposed to cars portrays the open Julier road as a warning and a deterrent.Photo: Raetian Museum
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Voting propaganda flyer from activists opposed to cars, 1925. No less than ten times were people called to the vote until motor cars were allowed on Grisons’ roads. The car ban was lifted on 21 June 1925 (in German).Photo: Raetian Museum
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