Turkey: bicycle and public transport rehabilitated in the face of the crisis

by time news

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It is a global phenomenon which spares no country and which hits the poorest hardest: inflation undermines everyone’s purchasing power. In Turkey, it is breaking historic records, reaching 80% over one year in July. Of all the product categories, it is transport that has increased the most, with an annual increase in prices of 119%. As a result, more and more Turks are abandoning their cars. They prefer public transport and, sometimes, other modes of travel.

At a gas station in central Istanbul, Bülent growls as he fills up his yellow vehicle. This taxi driver looks exasperated. Gasoline prices have gone up again. For a year and a half, it has even tripled in Turkey: “ It does not stop, this inflation! Before, the price increased every week. Now it’s every 24 hours. Obviously, Bülent has no choice, the taxi has to drive. So the savings, he tries to save them elsewhere, on his personal vehicle: “ My car is still in the red. When I go to the gas station, I only put in a few liters of gasoline at a time. I try to ride less. I can no longer afford it! Fuel has become a luxury. »

Bülent rails against the state, which levies more than 25% in taxes for each liter of gasoline – a rate that has been rising in recent months. But the price of fuel evolves above all according to that of oil – imports of which cover more than 90% of Turkey’s needs – and the price of the pound against the dollar, which has been collapsing for a year due to the choices government money.

Also read and listen: “It does not stop, this inflation!”: in Turkey, the price of fuel explodes

Result: the Turks learn to do without their car. In an Ipsos poll published at the end of July, nine out of ten motorists say they have used it less recently due to rising fuel prices. More than seven in ten claim to go to work by public transport, whereas they used to take their own vehicle. This is the choice made by Bekir, an accountant in a company: “ Before, four days out of five, I took the car. Now my car is sleeping in front of my house. If I absolutely need it, I take just enough gas for the trip. In fact, I use my car as a taxi. But 90% of the time, I take the bus. It’s not ideal, the buses are crowded, I often have to wait for the next one or walk to another stop. But I’m saving money. And I don’t think I’ll be back to my old habits anytime soon. »

Preferred public transport

In Istanbul, the statistics from the town hall confirm the trends in the polls. Between June 2021 and May 2022, the number of monthly passengers on public transport jumped by 67%. This includes buses, trams, boats or subways.

Istanbulites therefore prefer municipal transport, which is cheaper than the car, even if the cost of this transport has itself increased significantly – by 36% in 2022.

The explosion of fuel prices and general inflation also push some Turks to sell their cars. And even, for a small part of them, to give up any form of motorized vehicle. Adem, veterinary technician, pedals an hour and a half every day, round trip, between his home and his place of work: “ Everything was getting too expensive, I couldn’t make it anymore, so I sold my car and bought a bike. If I still traveled by car, it would cost me 2 000 pounds a month just for petrol. There, it’s free! Plus, I don’t have the heart palpitations I used to have anymore, I’ve lost weight, and I smoke less because I smoked 3 or 4 cigarettes on my car trips. My health has gained from the change. »

His wallet, his health, but not necessarily his social life. Because of inflation, Adem says he can no longer go out with his friends, not to mention the holidays he will not be taking this summer.

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