Mass Transit App gets Update; Art Basel - CHA-CHING!; New Buvette Opens in Heuwaage; Construction Continues on River Crossing

News on 23 June 2015

The Baselland Transport System (BLT) will be updating their downloadable smartphone APP soon.  Ten months after the initial launch, the program, in response to customer requests and feedback will be enhanced to allow customers to purchase multi-ride tickets.  The App, which is available for both iPhone and Android devices has been installed and activated by more than 26,000 users.  In addition, more than 280,000 tickets have been sold since the program's inception.  The new feature will allow multi-trip tickets to be purchased on one's smartphone, instead of the one-time tickets exclusively available in the current program.  The tickets will be available via the app in multi-zone format, and will have quick activate and quick cancel features.   *************************   The exhibitors, organizers and gallerists of Art Basel, are rejoicing after a banner year of art sales at the 46th edition of the global art expo.  Marking the finale of the art buying season, Art Basel was host to 98,000 visitors over the six days the fair was open.  The attendance figures represent a new record (approximately 6000 more than last year), in addition to new records being set as measured by sales.  Driven by both passion for art and reports of record sales prices for single art pieces, it seems collectors had the "rubber bands off their wallets" and ready to spend.  Across the board, gallerists reported that this was their best year for sales and that Art Basel now represents close to 50% of their annual turnover.  It seems the frenzy for art was not only focused on the fair.  The Kunsthalle, Campari Bar, and Trois Rois report their bars hosted at least 2000 visitors per night and typically did not close until the break of dawn.     ***************************   Far from the banks of the Rhein which are host to most of basel's "buvettes", the new Buvette at the Bollwerk opened for business last Friday evening complete with DJ's and 400 liters of local beer varieties.  Situated on the Bollwerk Promenade in the Heuwaage district, most people know the area for such pub mainstays as Paddy Reilly's and Pickwicks.  The venue has space to host around 70 people and represents one of the unique cultural icons of Baseler Life- the casual outdoor beer or beverage spot.  Five local brews are currently on offer and the buvette has a small kitchen which can prepare light snacks to go with one's drink.  The city is hoping that by having granted the concession to the operators, the district will further gentrify, having a reputation for previously hosting drug dealing and other nefarious activities.   *********************

As many pedestrians and leisure seekers have noticed the Old Rhein Bridge has been cacooned in scaffolding for over a year now preventing their crossing on its footpath.  The popular bridge crossing the Rhine river near its confluence with the Birs, and connecting with Klein Basel at the Tinguely Museum is primarily a freight train conduit that has been undergoing major renovations.  The SBB undertook the renovations seeking to meet city noise abatement requirements by replacing aging tracks on the bridge.  The new tracks will feature noise-damping mats, and a complex system of rails, sleepers and ballast which in tandem should bring noise levels down to acceptable levels when trains cross the bridge at night.  Originally built in 1874 as a crossing for passenger trains from SBB headed in the direction of Germany, the bridge has been primarily used for freight traffic since 2012.  The total cost of renovations is expected to be 11 million swiss francs.