In our city, the bicycle is part of a strong cultural heritage passed down from generation to generation, known among the people as the ‘velespit’ (an old local term for bicycle). From the early 1900s, the bicycle became an important element of both daily life in Konya, and began to develop in a sporting sense in the 1920s. Hence, in Konya, the bicycle is an integral part of the city’s identity. We now hold the title of European Cycling Capital awarded by the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation (ACES Europe) – a natural outcome of a city culture spanning over a century, a strong vision, and the investments made over many years.
  In the early 2000s, Konya started planning cycle lanes as an integral part of the transport infrastructure on newly opened or redeveloped streets. We aimed to create a seamless network by constructing cycle lanes along the main transport corridors connecting the city centre with surrounding areas. Thanks to this approach, we now have a network spanning 680 kilometres. Some citizens expressed reservations regarding the reorganisation of road spaces or parking capacity. However, over time and with the creation of safe and uninterrupted routes, the popularity of cycling has increased: citizens no longer debate the necessity of cycle paths. They are demanding that the cycle path network be expanded further.
  Our bike-sharing system stands out as one of our most successful initiatives in terms of multimodality. Starting in 2010, the system now operates 1,000 bicycles and 250 electric bicycles. Thanks to stations located at various points across the city, our citizens can easily switch between public transport and cycling. Another key initiative we launched is the Bicycle Tram project. During the pandemic, we converted two of our existing trams and put them into service on a 21-kilometre route. They enable citizens to board with their bicycles and travel longer distances in a comfortable and sustainable way. The trams also contribute to our awareness campaigns, by displaying striking visual graphics about cycling.
  The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is a project we place great importance on. Alongside the establishment of a robust rail and public transport system, the plan prioritises the removal of vehicle traffic from the historic city centre which we want to return to public use. These areas are home to thousands of years of cultural heritage, and have the potential to offer more pedestrian access, greater social interaction and a higher quality of life. In this context, we have launched initiatives to convert one lane in each direction on Mevlâna Street. The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan truly serves as the people-centred roadmap to our vision of the future.
  Konya is home to over 1.4 million citizens in the city centre and a total population of approximately 2.5 million. This scale indeed necessitates inter-institutional coordination and long-term planning. As Konya Metropolitan Municipality, we maintain strong collaboration with all district municipalities, ensuring that services are delivered swiftly on the ground. We are also carrying out joint projects with public institutions to ensure that the transformation of the city progresses in a safe and socially appropriate way. We also conduct regular reviews with cycling associations and communities. We strive to incorporate their on-the-ground experiences into decision-making. Finally, we collaborate with national and international organisations: the designation of Konya as the 2026 European Cycling Capital by ACES is a tangible outcome of this and has served as a significant source of motivation for us.
  With the constant pressure of urbanisation from a growing city, we have been compelled to develop holistic and scalable solutions in transport planning. Our primary objective was to reduce the reliance on private vehicles for urban travel and to increase sustainable options accessible. Now, two separate rail system lines are being built, with a third line coming soon. We also have plans for metro and tram lines: we aim for a robust rail system network of approximately 120 kilometres within the next 5 to 10 years, which will deeply transform the way residents move in and out of the city.
  Our ideal for the city in 20 years’ time is a structure where public transport, cycling and walking are widespread, and the city identity is highlighted through urban planning. The Darülmülk Project we are implementing in our city centre aims to restore the visibility of Konya’s historical and cultural fabric, in particular transforming the Suriçi district into a more liveable urban centre by reducing traffic pressure. In the field of smart cities, Konya is currently implementing 142 projects and 121 initiatives making urban mobility more efficient, accessible and sustainable through applications such as the Smart Public Transport System (ATUS) and the Smart Cycling System (ABUS). In 20 years, we envision Konya as a world-class city that shapes the future without losing its ties to the past, and that is more peaceful, more accessible, and offers a high quality of life.
  During Plenary 2 - Built to inspire: Designing beautiful urban environments, we will share Konya’s transformation story in the field of cycling transport and the concrete results we have achieved with the participants. Furthermore, as an institutional partner at the Velo-city Conference, we look forward to welcoming all participants at our booth (number 6)!