Challenges at Street Level

As our survey revealed, Istanbul has a large population of pedestrians, who bring life to the streets of the city. But there are endless obstacles that limit their opportunities to enjoy the unique streetscapes on offer. The connections between attractions are poor and badly marked, the overcrowded footpaths are suffering from wear and tear, and there’s an acute lack of pedestrian crossings. There is also an absence of street lighting in large parts of the city centre, making the streets feel unsafe at night. All of which makes negotiating the heavily congested city on foot difficult.

Istanbul also has a Mediterranean climate ideal for outdoor life, but as our report documented,
this vast potential is underused and further compromised by the noise and fumes generated by unplanned, invasive traffic.

As a result, the city’s wealth of architectural masterpieces – churches and palaces with mosaics and frescos, monumental cisterns, tombs and mosques – are difficult to get to and get between. And in many places their surroundings and the potential they hold as places to meet and relax are not celebrated – or respected. Like many of the city’s squares, they are often used as car parks.

A Walkability Toolbox

As well as history, Istanbul is rich in monuments and natural blue and green assets. It is surrounded by the waters of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, but the sea walls form barriers with limited gateways and crossings, creating a no-man’s land separating the city from the water. Istanbul also has a Mediterranean climate ideal for outdoor life, but as our report documented, this vast potential is underused and further compromised by the noise and fumes generated by unplanned, invasive traffic.

Given these challenges, the strategy we developed in collaboration with EMBARQ and the municipality is aimed at creating an accessible, walkable city for people. Included in our toolbox of suggested solutions are concrete recommendations for traffic calming, improved walking conditions and public transport, developing a vision that also celebrates the unique potential of the city by promoting its great waterfront, the potential of its public spaces, and its outstanding history.

A Spring Clean of the Streets

Key to the spring clean of the streets in our toolbox of recommendations is the development of a strong pedestrian network – a network of comfortable and continuous walking routes that are easy to navigate. This would improve connections to the waterfront and upgrade pedestrian crossings, as well as removing footpath clutter and adding attractive street lighting. Well-designed street signs and other markers of place like characteristic benches, paving and greenery would also help people find their way to key destinations and local places and treasures.

The strategies we developed to redress the balance between people and cars have already been taken on board, with the pedestrianisation of over 200 streets. Initiatives are also underway to clean up and celebrate the spaces around landmark buildings to make them into places for people. Combined with a greater awareness of how to plan and direct traffic with people in mind, initiatives like these can help Istanbul protect and preserve its unique past in a more liveable, walkable city for the people of today and tomorrow.