On hot summer afternoons in the Swiss capital of Bern, an unusual scene unfolds along the turquoise waters of the Aare River. Office workers, students and locals gather by the riverbanks carrying waterproof dry bags instead of briefcases before slipping into the fast-moving current and floating downstream past bridges, historic buildings and riverside parks. Viral social media posts often describe it as a “river commute”. While some residents do occasionally use the river to travel home during summer, the practice is better understood as a popular recreational tradition rather than an everyday mode of transportation. For most people in Bern, floating along the Aare is simply a cherished way to cool off during warm weather.
