Istanbul’s historic zones pedestrianized

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Sixteen streets and avenues in the district of Fatih are now closed to vehicles. DHA photo

All motor vehicles were banned on 16 streets and avenues in Laleli in the district of Fatih beginning Jan. 2 as part of an ongoing effort to pedestrianize Istanbul’s historic peninsula in Fatih.

“Thanks to pedestrianization, we have scored another gain besides the revival of commerce and tourism. We [improved the view] in our district that is visited by over 2 million people every day. We made it possible for our people to stop and look around, realize where they are living and understand their history more easily,” Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir said.

Pedestrianization

Streets and avenues where driving has been prohibited lay between Şehzadebaşı and Ordu Avenues, and between Atatürk Boulevard and Büyük Reşitpaşa Avenue, according to reports. Downtown areas in all parts of the world are being pedestrianized, Demir said, adding that their pedestrianization efforts had thus far yielded highly successful results.

Pedestrianization efforts in the historic peninsula in Fatih were initiated to augment the city’s potential for tourism, he said.

The Fatih Municipality initiated its pedestrianization efforts on Genç Ağa Street in the Yedikule neighborhood in 2005. In the areas of Sultanahmet, Sirkeci and Beyazıt, 90 streets and avenues were pedestrianized beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

Another seven streets and avenues between the Şehzadebaşı and Hayriye Tüccarı Avenues, as well as between the Atatürk Boulevard and the Büyük Reşitpaşa Avenue, were also closed to vehicular traffic on Apr. 25, 2011.