Istanbul’s Urban Design Neglects Needs of Visually Impaired Individuals

Istanbul is known for its rich history and vibrant culture. Yet, the city fails a critical segment of its population: visually impaired residents.

Despite laws promoting accessibility enacted nearly two decades ago, the city’s urban design still contains many barriers for people with visual impairments. Challenges range from unsafe infrastructure to social prejudice, creating a daily struggle for equitable living.

This blog explores the need for inclusive urban design in Istanbul. It highlights how proper planning could transform the city into a more accessible and compassionate space.

The Daily Struggles of Navigating Istanbul

For visually impaired individuals like Adem Sevindik, a longtime Istanbul resident, the urban environment presents significant mobility obstacles. Sidewalks and tactile paving—meant to guide the visually impaired—are often compromised by improper usage and encroachments.

Sevindik recounts encountering obstructions such as:

• Scooters and motorcycles parked haphazardly on sidewalks and pathways.
• Chairs, tables, and other items placed by shopkeepers, blocking tactile paving lines.
• Vehicles misusing designated pathways.

These physical barriers disrupt the freedom and independence of visually impaired individuals. They reduce the ability to navigate public spaces with confidence.

For Sevindik and many others, such challenges are not only inconvenient but fundamentally unfair.

Social Barriers Compound the Issue

Physical obstacles are just part of the problem. Social attitudes also make life harder for visually impaired individuals.

Sevindik shares his experience of encountering insensitive comments and dismissive behavior from strangers. These issues highlight a broader lack of societal understanding and empathy.

Despite this, Sevindik chooses to respond with compassion and patience. He uses every instance as an opportunity to advocate for greater awareness and sensitivity.

Architectural Oversight That Endangers Lives

Istanbul’s poorly designed infrastructure can have tragic consequences. Fatih Karadayı, vice president of the Association of the Visually Impaired of Türkiye, points out serious safety issues on public transit systems.

A fatal accident in 2021 drew attention to the lack of protective barriers on metro and tram platforms. This incident sparked a campaign titled, “We Don’t Want to Die on the Tracks.”

Despite the urgency of this event, little has been done to implement safeguards. This reflects a major gap in the prioritization of inclusive design.

Accessibility Laws: A Broken Promise?

Türkiye passed accessibility laws in 2005 requiring urban designs to consider the needs of all citizens, including those with disabilities. Two decades later, much of Istanbul’s urban planning is still not compliant.

Advocates like Karadayı question not just the state of physical infrastructure but the mindset that delays its improvement. He argues the root problem lies in a lack of consideration toward inclusivity in design from the outset.

The Case for Inclusive Urban Design

Visually impaired individuals such as Sevindik and Karadayı are not asking for pity. They want thoughtful urban planning—solutions that enable independent living.

Inclusive design benefits everyone by creating safer, more accessible, and user-friendly environments.

Key Aspects of Inclusive Urban Planning

Addressing Istanbul’s deficiencies requires a multipronged effort that includes:

• Accessible Public Transit: Installing safety barriers at metro and tram platforms to prevent accidents.
• Unobstructed Pathways: Enforcing regulations to keep sidewalks and tactile paving clear from scooters, motorcycles, and commercial encroachments.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating citizens to foster empathy and understanding toward visually impaired individuals.
• Policy Implementation: Proper enforcement of existing accessibility laws to ensure compliance and progress.

Time for Change

Istanbul’s current approach to urban planning shows an urgent need for a shift in both mindset and policy. From prioritizing basic safety measures in public transit to respecting tactile pathways, change is overdue.

Advocacy efforts must be supported with concrete actions from the government, businesses, and the public. Only then can Istanbul become a city that serves all its residents.

Conclusion

The experiences of visually impaired residents like Adem Sevindik show that Istanbul’s challenges can be overcome. This requires collective action and empathy.

Inclusive design is essential. Holistic urban planning and respect for accessibility laws are important steps.

Addressing societal bias will help make Istanbul more accessible. Accessibility should be a core part of urban design, not an afterthought.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Istanbul’s urban design fails to meet needs of visually impaired people