Cycling can be a healthier, more efficient, more sustainable way to get around cities, if it’s safe and conveninent. There are many large and small local cycling projects in Turkey, both at the local and national level. More integrated, coordinated implementation, bringing various experiences and voices together, could have a wider impact on making cycling safer and more viable as a commuting mode.

Building on the experience of the Netherlands in creating a similar national-level project, WRI Türkiye Sustainable Cities brings together cycling NGOs and city administrations in eight cities with the national government to promote active, democratic participation of civil society in cycling policy and build their capacity to work with government. Empowered with trainings on policymaking, networking and mentoring, the cycling groups will prepare and present cycling strategy documents for their cities and work with their municipalities to create a national cycling strategy document.

Funded by the European Union’s Civil Society Support Programme III, Cycling for All aims to foster this cross-sectoral collaboration to help cycling become an established, viable commuting mode in Turkey. The project has three main pillars: governance, capacity development and policy development.

Governance

WRI Türkiye Sustainable Cities collaborates with eight cities to promote dialogue and joint strategy development between cycling organizations and local governments, as well as active participation among the organizations in decision-making processes at local and national levels.

Capacity Development

Best practices are shared with cycling NGOs, municipalities, central administration representatives and project partner Fietsersbond, the Dutch Cyclists’ Union. Subsequent capacity building for 16 civil society group representatives from the eight cities focuses on policy development, participation, representativeness and lobbying.

Policy Development

Through mentorship and workshops, the cycling NGOs develop and work with their cities on local action plans, as well as a national-level action plan for cycling. At the project’s end, the finalized action plans will be shared with relevant decision-makers, institutions and organizations, along with learnings gained during the project process.

Cover image credit: Ben Welle