I find that people here like to keep to themselves, and often they will only share personal information with their closest friends. It seems that the Swiss enjoy the quiet thoughtfulness of their daily commutes, as opposed to New Yorkers who are constantly surrounded by hustle and bustle. The Swiss care equally about efficiency and being on time. A stereotype in Europe is that the Swiss are always on time, no matter what the circumstances. This explains the efficiency of the Swiss transportation system! A case in point is this: if there is a long delay in train service, the city will issue a public apology and explanation as to why there was a problem.
On the environmental side, I find that Swiss people are much more concerned about their individual effect on the environment than in other places I have lived. For example, in Pittsburgh it is really important to have a car to get around. Things are a bit more spread out and difficult to get to with public transportation or just by walking. Here in Geneva, many people live their whole lives without a car, not just because it is easy to get around but also because of environmental considerations. My Swiss friends will often choose to walk or take their bike instead of driving a car or going by bus: with the specific goal of helping the environment.
Even the buses in the city run on clean energy. As much as possible, the city strives to power its buses with wind or solar energy, in order to reduce the effect of pollutants on the planet. At a few bus stops, you can see buses getting 'recharged' instead of being filled up with gas. This is a reminder that the Swiss care about their planet as well as their commute!
