The Accessibility of Public Transportation Stops: Istanbul Case

Abstract

The study emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable public transportation system that people can use comfortably. This sustainable transportation approach aims to deliver transportation plans focused on people, society and space. Developing public transportation systems that contribute to social equality by appealing to all segments of society and reducing traffic density has become one of the main objectives of transportation plans. Ensuring the accessibility of public transportation stops is a crucial aspect of achieving this objective. In this context, the study examines the accessibility of public transportation stops in Istanbul. For the accessibility measurements of public transportation stops, the study uses the Service Areas Analysis tool in the ArcGIS program's Network Analyst extension, a geographical information system-based software program. The analysis results indicate that approximately 90% of the population can reach the stops of rubber-tyred public transportation types (one of the public transportation types in Istanbul) within a five-minute walking distance. However, the ratio of the population that can reach rail system stations and maritime transportation piers within a five-minute walking distance is only approximately 3%. Accordingly, it can be seen that the Istanbul transportation system depends heavily on the rubber-tyred public transportation system.