Public Transport
In order to create a sustainable urban transport system, it is important to design the public transport network effectively. In the process of mitigation and adaptation to climate change in cities, targets such as reducing fuel consumption in public transport and using alternative fuel and vehicle technologies are set. In addition, it is a necessary step to build a safe, inclusive, accessible, economic and integrated public transport system in order to create a more liveable city.
Existing public transport system in Kocaeli is provided by;
– Tire wheeled systems: Metropolitan Municipality public buses, private public buses, Gebze (Kocaeli)-Harem (Istanbul) minibuses, staff/student shuttles and taxis
– Rail systems
– Sea transport.
Within the scope of the project, in addition to improving the public transport system in the city by taking into account user demands; it is expected that new public transport modes suitable for urban demand will be proposed based on the analyses.
Non-motorized Transport and Micromobility
The use of vehicles that do not require any engine power for their operation or the transport without any vehicle is called non-motorised transport. Walking and bicycle are the most commonly used types of non-motorised transport.
Micro mobility is a concept that includes the use of vehicles with a speed of mostly up to 25 km/h, but also up to 45 km/h. The use of electric scooters, which have been increasing in recent years, and bicycle transport are also included in the scope of micro mobility.
Within the scope of Kocaeli SUMP, the concepts of non-motorised transport and micromobility will be discussed as alternative and effective methods to ensure sustainability in urban transport.
Urban Logistics
Urban logistics is based on ensuring the sustainable continuity of these activities by addressing the transport traffic in urban areas and the energy consumed by this traffic without compromising the liveable and sustainable city target. While creating a sustainable urban transport system, logistics, which makes a significant contribution to the city economy, should also be handled in a sustainable, environmentally friendly and safe manner.
Kocaeli SUMP aims to improve the city-wide logistics system in line with the sustainability objectives of the plan by analysing the current situation and taking into account past studies such as Kocaeli Logistics Master Plan (KOLMAP).
Private Vehicle and Automobile Use
The increase in the use of private vehicles in cities is considered problematic in terms of urban sustainability. The increase in private vehicles leads to an increase in traffic in the city and the negative impacts of traffic on the environment. In addition, it affects pedestrian transport by reducing equality in urban transport.
Kocaeli SUMP aims to reduce the use of private vehicles throughout the city. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide safe, economical and environmentally friendly solutions as alternatives to the private car. In this direction, proposals will be developed to reduce the dependence on private vehicles and automobiles with the analysis of the current situation in the city and with the contribution of stakeholders.
Accessibility
While conventional transport plans focus on traffic, sustainable urban mobility planning focuses on the human factor. The SUMP aims to provide equal transport services to all people living in and using the city, i.e. to make these services accessible to all users.
Kocaeli SUMP is based on improving accessibility and quality of life, not only transport infrastructure and service quality. The transport model will not only be used for traffic forecasting, but also as an important tool to measure the improvement in accessibility provided by the measures and actions included in the scenarios. Thus, it is aimed to increase the accessibility of all user groups to all modes of transport throughout Kocaeli city, and to provide access to the areas in the city where citizens need access, especially access to the city centre, within the scope of the concept of sustainability.
Road Safety
One of the main objectives of Kocaeli Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is to increase liveability and sustainability in the city by building a safer transport system. In this context, all measures and developments from the safety of transport vehicles to the safety of streets and infrastructures are the subject of SUMP.
It is aimed to ensure the driving safety of both pedestrians and motorised and non-motorised vehicles and to eliminate infrastructure problems that may physically cause accidents or endanger pedestrian or vehicle safety in the city. In this process, it is important to take stakeholder opinions, suggestions or demands into consideration.
Social Dimension of the Movement and Equality
As the name suggests, Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans focus on the concept of sustainability. Within the scope of SUMP, it is aimed to promote forward-looking, long-term and knowledge-based urban planning and development of Kocaeli through sustainability dimensions.
Transport is an important issue in ensuring urban sustainability. In particular, the type of vehicle and fuel used has a direct impact on carbon emissions and negatively affects the environment by causing air, water and noise pollution.
With the Kocaeli Sustainable Urban Transport Plan, it is aimed to identify the risks, problems and demands in terms of the concept of sustainability and environmental protection beyond transport and to associate all these with sustainable transport; to reduce the negative environmental impacts by offering alternatives to transport modes and fuel types used.
Environment and Sustainability
A city is a structure that harbours many different social and economic groups. Any intervention to be made in the city should be considered comprehensively; not only physical features but also social structures that direct the uses in the city should be taken into consideration.
Considering the concept of sustainability in transportation, it is possible to ensure the continuity of the system in an efficient and effective manner by responding to the needs of each group. Within the scope of Kocaeli SUMP, in addition to the existing physical structure, the existing social structure will also be analysed and social suitability will be an important parameter in the interventions and recommendations.
It is aimed to determine the demands, problems and suggestions of the representatives of these groups in order to include all social groups, especially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, in the planning process and urban life with a common and equal approach.
Finance
The issue of financing is important both in the preparation and implementation phases of the plans. It is necessary for the continuity and feasibility of the project to determine all costs accurately in advance.
Kocaeli Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey. It is aimed to manage this financing in the most beneficial and appropriate way for Kocaeli and to identify economically and financially viable projects that will increase the mobility of Kocaeli.
Sustainable Energy Sources of Transportation
Efficient and proper management of energy resources is important in terms of ensuring their sustainability. In terms of transport, one of the largest shares in the consumption of energy resources is the use of private vehicles. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide alternatives that will encourage users towards more sustainable modes of transport.
Within the framework of Kocaeli SUMP, one of the primary objectives is to redirect the demand for private motorised vehicles towards different alternatives. In addition, it is aimed to encourage non-energy consuming modes of transport such as bicycles and pedestrians as much as possible and to attract users to public transport by making public transport with lower energy consumption per capita. Bringing different fuel alternatives to the agenda is also one of the issues to be addressed within the scope of Kocaeli SUMP
One of the most important issues for a city is to provide resilience against natural disasters and other situations that show or may show vulnerability. It is necessary to anticipate any disaster or situation that may occur, to determine precautions for beforehand and to design intervention scenarios for afterwards.
Transport is an important building block for managing a holistic response process against situations caused by disasters or other issues such as climate change that may affect the city. Within the scope of Kocaeli SUMP, it is aimed to identify measures and interventions against all kinds of vulnerabilities in the city in terms of transport.
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning requires both the accurate presentation of the current situation and the identification of possible and desired scenarios for the future and the formulation of appropriate strategies within the framework of the plan.
Within the scope of Kocaeli SUMP, a process has been adopted in which the current situation of the city will be analysed primarily in terms of transportation; these analyses will be synthesised to determine the predictions for the future; and targets and strategies will be developed to meet the needs identified with stakeholder participation and to achieve the desired results for the formation of a sustainable transportation concept. This process is important in terms of constructing each point of the city in a holistic manner by considering together with all stakeholders.