Problems and Purpose

The “Woman Accessing Public Transport - TOPUK” project aimed to develop spatial interventions together with participatory methods to make women's access to public transport safe, secure and comfortable. In this context, safety-enhancing design criteria have been determined to strengthen pedestrian access on the route from the vicinity of Prof Dr Türkan Saylan Cultural Center (TSKM) located in Maltepe District as a pilot area, towards the exit of Kadıköy-Kartal metro line Gülsuyu station, IETT stop and minibus waiting area. In the evaluations made with Maltepe Municipality, while Nar Sokak, located to the west of TSKM, is used as a bus transit route, it is considered unsafe by users due to its narrow sidewalks and alternatively, the pedestrian road inside TSKM is used. These and similar problems reported by users contributed to the focus of the project on the side road to the south of the Prof Dr Türkan Saylan Cultural Center and the Nar Street to the west.

Background History and Context

TOPUK project has emerged in order to identify the problems faced by women on their way to and from public transportation routes together with them and to develop solutions together. The main objective of the project is to continue the urban intervention processes developed by public institutions with participatory methods and to ensure that the citizens are involved in the whole project process. In this sense, TOPUK project has been a project carried out with the participation of women who are in a disadvantaged position in transportation and developing solutions to their problems on a design scale. From the determination of the problems to the implementation of the application, all users, especially women, were involved in the process and guided the decisions. For this purpose, the project has been developed with methods that prioritize participation.

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

This project is supported by Sustainable Urban Mobility Network of Turkey, KAVŞAK. "Woman Reaching Public Transport- TOPUK" has been developed in partnership with EKA Creative Studio, IMM Department of Transportation, ITU IstanbulON Urban Mobility Laboratory, Maltepe Municipality and Street is Ours Association.

Methods and Tools Used

TOPUK project was based on a process-wide participation approach and users were allowed to express their opinions at every stage of the project. While developing the project content, it was ensured that both expert opinions and users' opinions were taken. In line with this approach, the project was designed and completed as 3 modules: analysis, design and implementation.

In the analysis part, which is the first module, a workshop was organized to get research and user opinions about the field. The workshop invitation was made through the SMS notification tool of Maltepe Municipality. An effective and productive workshop process was carried out with 21 people who participated in the workshop. Evaluations were made on the problems faced by women in the streets connected to the public transportation stations in the selected area and solutions were discussed. Within the scope of the workshop, a 1/100 scale and 210X100 square centimeter model of the area was prepared modularly and exhibited by the users to process their views. Tiny flags showing the locations of important structures in the area were placed on this model, and post-it, scaled tiny trees, people, and parts with drawings on transparent plastic material such as vehicle roads and pavements were provided for the use of the participants. For one week after the workshop, the model was exhibited at the Prof Dr Türkan Saylan Cultural Center to get the suggestions of the users and opinions were received with an officer in charge of the model.

As a result of the workshop, the data obtained from the surveys, the opinions of the participants, and their suggestions on the map and model were visualized and reported for the use of the design marathon participants. The model, on the other hand, was preserved and exhibited for the participants in the design marathon held in the future.

In the design part, which is the second module, it is aimed to make comprehensive design proposals for the project area determined by using the data obtained in the first module. A design marathon was held at Prof Dr Türkan Saylan Cultural Center for two days on 13 – 14 August 2022. 45 students and new graduates from 15 different universities participated in this marathon and developed projects on the field based on user opinions. The students, who were divided into eight different groups, developed eight different projects together with the mentors who supported them for two days. The design development process did not only end with the design marathon, but the final application project was developed through meetings with stakeholders and design marathon participants. During the drawing process of the final application project, suggestions from Maltepe Municipality and IMM Transportation Department were guided, and the design marathon participants voluntarily supported the preparation of the visuals and the drawing of the final project. During the development phase of the implementation project, communication was made with the IMM's UTK unit, and work was carried out to make the decisions permanent through legal means. Even if the approval of the UTK cannot be completed during the project period, it will be legal support for the permanent implementation of the decisions taken after the project.

In the implementation process, which is the third module, the participation of the living citizens who use the project area and its surroundings was considered important. For this purpose, an open call was made to the users via social media and banners hung around TSKM, and minor changes were made in the design with the suggestions of the users during the application. A more effective implementation was realized thanks to the participation of the people who know the field best and know the problems better than anyone else. During one week after the implementation day, the project area was monitored by the officials and the changes were photographed. The approaches of the users of the area after the change and whether the area was used efficiently or not were determined. In the TOPUK project, which consists of three modules, it is aimed to integrate public participation in each module and thus to be an exemplary project.

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

It was observed that users, especially women, were positively affected in line with the increasing interest and feedback received from people using the street after the application event. After design interventions, the street has become safer for users. In addition, the ownership of the field by the participants involved in the practice process and activities such as pilates in the field was also noted as a positive effect. With the seating areas and plants placed in the area, a more comfortable and enjoyable walking experience has been achieved for pedestrians.

Developed through a participatory process, the project and one-day practice event are temporary, but reveal the basic steps and tips for making the access of pedestrians to public transportation permanently safe, comfortable and enjoyable. The potential to create permanent changes by using these basic outputs by the local government is among the important outputs of the project.

Analysis and Lessons Learned

Social media tools such as instagram, igtv, twitter and facebook were mainly used for communication and announcements within the scope of the project. However, it has been seen that face-to-face meetings have a great potential in order to reach people from all walks of life related to the project area more easily.

Including volunteer participants with different backgrounds in the project process provided a great advantage by increasing the diversity and quality of solutions and ideas to be developed regarding the identified problems. During the project implementation process, different bureaucratic obstacles were encountered regarding the permit processes and the project schedule was delayed and extended in an unpredictable way. It will be important for institutions/persons who want to realize similar projects to consider these stages in terms of the continuity and time plan of their projects.

See Also

Within the scope of the project, a collaborative process was carried out through a multi-stakeholder structure. Institutions representing the public, private sector and civil society took part in the project, which was realized in partnership with EKA Creative Studio, Sokak Bizim Association, Maltepe Municipality, IMM Transportation Department and ITU IstanbulON Urban Mobility Laboratory. Collaborations developed during the project will enable new partners in similar projects to be carried out on various topics in the future. Establishing relationships between partners throughout the process has provided great experience for future projects. As a result of the communication developed by EKA Istanbul and Maltepe Municipality Strategy Development Directorate, a new project planned to be realized in 2023 was born and the team was entitled to receive financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies for this project. It was also stated that the project partners are open to cooperation in future projects and are happy to work together.

References

Kainak (2022), Women Reaching Public Transport Project, https://www.kainak.net/en/topuk-projesi

Kavsak Network (2022), Final reports of projects benefiting from the KAVŞAK Network micro-grant program, https://kavsak.net/kavsak-agi-mikro-hibe-programindan-faydalanan-projelerin-sonuc-raporlari/

External Links

EKA Creative Studio - ekaistanbul.com

Kainak Team - kainak.net/en

Istanbul Technical University IstanbulON Urban Mobility Laboratory - https://istanbulon.itu.edu.tr/en

Sokak Bizim Dernegi (The City is Ours Association) - https://www.sokakbizim.org/

Maltepe Municipality - https://www.maltepe.bel.tr/en

Notes

Kainak is a volunteer team within the EKA Creative Studio and conducted the TOPUK Project along with EKA team.