Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for Düzce (Turkey) Towards a vibrant, safe and accessible city

A strategic plan for sustainable mobility

A SUMP is a strategic mobility plan based on EU guidelines that supports long-term sustainable urban development. In Düzce, the EU guidelines were adopted by the Turkish Ministry of Transport. The plan was developed by a consortium comprising Sistem Global, LuxMobility, WRI Türkiye, Palyea Teknoloji and Goudappel. 

Together, we aimed to improve liveability by placing people and their mobility needs at the heart of strategy – across all modes of transport. 

Strategic goals of SUMP in Düzce

We started with formulating the strategic goals of the SUMP in Düzce:

• An economically vibrant city
• A (environmental) sustainable Düzce
• A healthy city supported by sustainable urban mobility
• A socially just and safe city with increased traffic safety
• An attractive and accessible Düzce for all

7 building blocks of the Düzce SUMP

To achieve these ambitions, we developed a SUMP built on seven mutually reinforcing building blocks. Each was shaped through an inclusive process involving surveys, public events and workshops with local residents:

1. An attractive city center
   While the city center is already car-free in parts and includes bike infrastructure, narrow streets often make walking and cycling unsafe. We proposed a designated pedestrian zone, regulated car access, and centralised parking solutions to create a more welcoming environment for people.
2. Improve public transport corridors
   Public transport in Düzce currently suffers from limited capacity and irregular service. Residents expressed frustration with long waits and discomfort. To address this, we developed a concept for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corrdiro to increase capacity and reliability.
3. Walkable neighorhoods
   Düzce is heavily car-oriented which affects pedestrain safety and walkability. Our plan introduces a 15-minute-city, ensuring that essential services such as schools and shops are accessible by foot within each neighbourhood.
4. Efficient and attractive mobility hubs
   Düzce’s main interregional bus terminal connects the city to Istanbul and Ankara, but the station is currently unattractive and unsafe. We proposed redesigning the terminal, enhancing safety and better connecting it to the city centre.
5. Safe and attractive cycling
   Existing cycle infrastructure is fragmented and lacks safety measures. The plan outlines a more robust network of segregated cycling lanes, particularly in and around the city centre.
6. An efficient car network with strong hierarchy
   Car traffic is currently unmanaged and lacks structure, which compromises safety for other road users. We introduced a functional road hierarchy and spatial planning approach to guide car traffic efficiently and safely.
7. Accessible city centre
   The city centre currently lacks accessibility features for people with disabilities. Our proposal includes accessible design, such as dedicated parking spaces and barrier-free routes, to ensure inclusive access for all. 

Validated through traffic modelling

To evaluate the effectiveness of proposed measured, four mobility scenarios were modelled using Düzce’s traffic model. These provided insight into potential impacts, such as traffic flow, safety and emissions. Based on the results, tailored measures were selected for each building block. These will be implemented in local projects across the city in the coming years. 

Client: Ministry of Transport Türkiye and Düzce Municipality
Year: 2023 - 2025