Turkey
Istanbul
UMR Index Rank
#42
(-1)
Score: 48%
Sustainable Mobility
#43
(-8)
Score: 43.0%
Public Transit
#27
(+1)
Score: 53.8%
Technology Adoption
#48
Score: 28.8%
| Population | 16.0 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 1,471 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 10,909 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 17,349 |
UMR Index Rank
#42
(-1)
Score: 48%
Sustainable Mobility
#43
(-8)
Score: 43.0%
Public Transit
#27
(+1)
Score: 53.8%
Technology Adoption
#48
Score: 28.8%
What Istanbul Does Well In Urban Mobility
Istanbul boasts a strong multimodal public transportation system that is well utilized. The city is investing to improve its public transport network with a Sustainable Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, aiming for 70% of journeys to be made by foot or public transport by 2040. The plan includes introducing priority bus lanes and improving the ferry network. The city is also improving its metro and rail network. Istanbul plans to extend the metro and tram system from the existing 380 kilometers (236 miles) to 717 kilometers (446 miles), with just under 90 kilometers (56 miles) under construction in 2024.
The city also has automated metro lines and is investing to expand the network. In 2023 the automated M8 opened, connecting Bostanci, a coastal neighborhood on the Anatolian side of the city, with the inland neighborhood of Dudullu. The metro can serve over 40,000 passengers an hour in each direction at maximum capacity. As of 2024, work is proceeding on extending the automated line 5 to reach Sultanbeyli District, a southeastern neighborhood, and the Sabiha Gokcen Airport, also in the city’s southeast.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Istanbul’s Transportation System
Walking is popular, but Istanbul’s infrastructure for pedestrians is subpar. The city lacks cycling lanes and its hilly terrain poses challenges to cycling adoption. Istanbul’s 2050 vision includes plans to build more cycling and walking paths, extending the 374-kilometer (232-mile) cycle network and the 63-kilometer (39-mile) pedestrian network that existed in 2022. In 2024 the city also launched the Cloud project, which will construct pedestrian paths above roads to improve safety and connectivity between different modes of public transport at Zincirlikuyu, a busy transportation hub with around 100,000 visitors daily.
Infrastructure to ship freight into and around Istanbul lags behind index peers. Improvement would require investment, and a Chinese e-retail conglomerate unveiled plans in 2023 to invest ₺34 billion ($1 billion) into a new logistics hub at Istanbul Airport.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Istanbul Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Istanbul can improve its cycling infrastructure by accelerating plans to build more cycling lanes. The city can ensure infrastructure investment includes buffers and cyclist- friendly traffic lights to improve cyclist safety. The city can invest more in the public bike- sharing program, isbike, and in e-bikes, which can be useful on the hilly terrain. The cycling school founded in 2022 as part of isbike to teach safe cycling practices is a positive step to encourage cycling adoption, which can be expanded upon.
To improve the quality and efficiency of its supply-chain infrastructure and associated services, Istanbul can invest more in transportation routes that facilitate the movement of goods in the city, including building more distribution centers on the city’s peripheries and dispatching nodes in the center. Istanbul also can consider more public- private partnerships to support businesses investing in local infrastructure and services.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley