Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) is the largest mobility club in Switzerland and a non-profit association. It has roughly 1,6 million members and 1900 employees.

History

TCS was established in Geneva on September 1, 1896, by a group of 205 cyclists, primarily to promote bicycle tourism.

Organisation and Structure

The TCS is a non-profit organisation. According to its statutes, its purpose is to protect the rights and interests of its members in road traffic and in the area of mobility in general. It promotes their touristic interests. In doing so, it takes due account of the overall interests. TCS provides services for its members in Switzerland and abroad in the areas of assistance, protection, counselling, safety, environment and information, as well as in the field of tourism and leisure. The TCS takes and supports measures within the framework of its objectives, in particular to improve road safety. Structurally, the TCS comprises 23 regional sections along with a central Club. Each section contributes a representative to the

Board of Directors A board of directors is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulatio ...

, which oversees the organization's broader activities. The management of the Central Club's day-to-day operations is the responsibility of an appointed director. The Delegate Assembly, representing the entire membership of the TCS, functions as its highest decision-making body.

Activities

TCS provides various services to its members, including

insurance Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to protect ...

, road assistance, and driving courses. Additionally, the organization operates a number of

campgrounds Campsite, campground, and camping pitch are all related terms regarding a place used for camping (an overnight stay in an outdoor area). The usage differs between British English and American English. In British English, a ''campsite'' is an ...

across Switzerland. TCS is also involved in conducting

crash test A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation (see automobile safety) or related systems and compon ...

s for mobility-related objects and participates in

political lobbying Lobbying is a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agencies or judiciary. Lobbying involves direct, face-to-face contact and is carried out by various entities, inc ...

on issues pertaining to mobility. The TCS is primarily known in Switzerland for its breakdown service (Patrouille). It tests various products and provides advice on all aspects of mobility, such as child seats, car tyres, bicycle helmets, navigation devices and electromobility. TCS runs various portals for public use: tyre comparison portal, child seat comparison portal and the mountain pass portal. The TCS petrol price radar, which was created at the end of 2022, became very well known. The tool offers users a high level of transparency regarding fuel prices in Switzerland. The online comparison service Comparis also adopted the radar. National politics subsequently decided to dispense with an originally planned official solution. The TCS is therefore the only provider in this area. The club is committed to road safety by developing teaching materials, awareness-raising and prevention campaigns, testing mobility infrastructures and advising authorities. It participates in national campaigns financed by the federal road safety fund. The TCS distributes around 110,000 fluorescent belts and 84,000 fluorescent waistcoats to children every year. ETI is a year-round travel insurance policy. The ETI centre organises around 57,000 assistance services per year, including 3,200 medical examinations and over 1,200 repatriations. Individual sections of the TCS also offer officially recognised motor vehicle inspections, which correspond to those of the cantonal road traffic offices. TCS is invited by federal and cantonal authorities to participate in consultations in the area of mobility and road safety. Other key products include legal protection, credit cards, vehicle insurance, bicycle insurance and emergency insurance. The club has 22 technical centres, 33 campsites, 10 driving training centres and 10 logistics bases for rescue services and ambulance transport operated by TCS Swiss Ambulance Rescue. TCS members also benefit from advantages with other Swiss providers of services and products (TCS Benefits). 10 times a year, members receive the club magazine "touring" free of charge, which is published in German, French and Italian. TCS has been a member of the

International Automobile Federation International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

(FIA) since 1998 and is a co-signatory of the Electric Mobility Roadmap 2025.

Literature

* François Antoniazzi, Der Touring Club Schweiz im Spiegel von 100 Ereignissen 1896–1996, TCS Publishing, Geneva, 1996. * Joseph Britschgi, Manuel d'enseignement de la circulation, TCS Publishing, Geneva, 1946.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Clubs and societies in Switzerland 1896 establishments in Switzerland Automobile associations Organizations established in 1896