Key word: active mobility, environmental protection

Main characteristics:

• Over 16 M inhabitants. 
• Geographically, connects the continents of Europe and Asia through the Bosphorus with 3 bridges and one underwater tunnel. About 65% of Istanbul’s land area is in Europe, while the remaining 35% is in Asia. 
• Has a hilly topography. 
• One of the densest vertical urbanization among the cities of the world.  
• Has rich cultural history since it played an important role throughout the centuries. Attracts lots of domestic and foreign tourists. 

Challenges to tackle:

• Since Istanbul is so densely populated, transportation of inhabitants environmentally becomes a great challenge. Among the 11,6 million trips made each day, only 28% are by public transportation and just 0.5% by bicycle. 
• Many people lack awareness about how to share lanes with bicycles, as well as where cyclists should and should not cycle. 

Main goals of the LL:

• Improving the existing bicycle paths. 
• Raising awareness that cycling is not only for recreational purposes, but also a mode of transportation. 
• Fostering a mindset of respecting cyclists in traffic among the inhabitants of Istanbul, which is essential for the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians.