Bus rapid transit: An environmental friendly transport solution for Istanbul

Abstract

According to the United Nations, in 2014, 54% of the world's population was living in cities, and it is estimated to be 66% by 2050. The pressure of urbanization on the urban environment cannot be ignored. Istanbul is one of the most important and biggest cities in the world. It is the biggest city in Turkey in terms of both economy and population. A total of 15 million people are living in Istanbul, that is, 18% of the total population of Turkey, which creates high-mobility needs. Istanbul has marine, rail and road transportation. In 2005, to improve road transportation, the city officials decided to implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on one of the city's most important corridors. In 2007, the system started operation with 18.2 km route length. The aim was to reduce both heavy traffic and negative environmental impacts of road transportation on the corridor. At present, the system carries more than 800,000 passengers/day with 52 km route length. BRT system in Istanbul is a shining star in the world of BRT because of its high passenger numbers and high commercial speed. This article aims to discuss the positive impacts of BRT system on Istanbul's environment in terms of vehicles eliminated from the general traffic and reduced amount of CO2 due to BRT. As BRT provides rapid transit possibilities, private vehicle users shifted to the new system.