Aydın Tiryaki (2025)

Date: November 29, 2025

Walking is the most natural, healthiest, and most fundamental right of a human being in a city. However, in today’s urban planning and practices, this right is frequently interrupted. We often see that a sidewalk starting with great hopes and modern standards suddenly “disappears” after a few hundred meters, is occupied, or is rendered impassable due to various obstacles.

The Problem of Discontinuity The biggest problem for a pedestrian is not the absence of a sidewalk, but its sudden termination or the interruption of its continuity. A sidewalk that is suitable for a stroller or a wheelchair for two blocks might suddenly turn into a narrow passage blocked by a utility pole, a shop’s display, or a parked vehicle in the third block. This “discontinuity” essentially means that the path is closed to certain segments of society—namely the elderly, the disabled, and parents with children.

Sidewalks Are Not Parking Lots or Exhibition Areas Unfortunately, in many of our cities, sidewalks are viewed as “spare spaces.” When a driver cannot find a parking spot, they head for the sidewalk; when a shopkeeper wants to display their goods, they expand onto the sidewalk; and when a construction project starts, the first place to be barricaded is the sidewalk. However, the continuation of that sidewalk belongs to the pedestrian. Any occupation that forces a pedestrian onto the main road, putting their life at risk, is a violation of a fundamental right.

A Call to Municipalities: Ensure Continuity It is not enough to just “build” a sidewalk. What matters is ensuring that the sidewalk remains functional throughout its entire length. Municipalities must not only inspect the physical condition of sidewalks but also their “accessibility continuity.” A ramp built at the beginning of a street serves no purpose if there is no ramp at the end of it.

The city belongs to the pedestrians. For a truly livable city, we demand that sidewalks be planned not as disconnected fragments, but as an uninterrupted network. Let the continuation of the sidewalk be open to pedestrians too!

| aydintiryaki.org | YouTube | Aydın Tiryaki’nin Yazıları ve Videoları │Articles and Videos by Aydın Tiryaki | Bilgi Merkezi│Knowledge Hub  | ░ KALDIRIMIN DEVAMI DA YAYALARA AÇIK OLSUN │ LET THE SIDEWALK’S CONTINUATION BE OPEN TO PEDESTRIANS ░ 29.11.2025

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A Note on Methods and Tools: The original Turkish version of this work was authored entirely by the author, without any assistance from artificial intelligence. (Note: AI was utilized solely as a translation and writing assistant to prepare this English version of the original text.)