Eskişehir’s “Car-Free Sunday” Initiative Draws Inspiration from Europe
Yusufhan Toraman
The “Car-Free Sunday” initiative launched by Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality as part of European Mobility Week has emerged as a local reflection of the European Union’s sustainable transport and environmental policies. Ahmet Fırat Bilgili, Head of the Municipality’s Department of Transportation, emphasized that the project goes beyond traffic management and is directly linked to the climate crisis, carbon emissions, and contemporary urban models widely adopted across Europe.
Inspired by France, the Netherlands, and Denmark Implemented across selected sections of Odunpazarı, Tepebaşı, and Atatürk Boulevard, the initiative aims to reduce private vehicle dependency and encourage alternative transportation. Stating that many global cities have transformed this idea into a permanent lifestyle, Bilgili said, “We took France, the Netherlands, and Denmark—especially Copenhagen—as examples, alongside global models like Singapore. This initiative is about much more than bicycles; it is about creating spaces where citizens can walk, read, or socialize freely.” He also noted that the project helps reconnect younger generations, who are often trapped behind screens, with nature and community life.
“We Can No Longer See Snowfall in Eskişehir” Highlighting the link to EU climate policies, Bilgili stated that the effects of climate change are now visible in daily life. “Fifteen years ago, snow would reach our knees, but now we are struggling with drought,” he explained. While adaptive intersection systems are being used to collect real-time traffic data, Bilgili acknowledged that measuring carbon emissions specifically for a 450-meter closed zone on a single day remains a technical challenge. He also urged citizens to leave their cars at home rather than driving to the event area.
“We Cannot Yet Say We Have Fully Reached EU Standards” Acknowledging that Eskişehir has not yet fully achieved EU standards where sustainable transport is viewed as a fundamental urban right, Bilgili emphasized that social transformation and building a traffic culture take time. He expressed concern that the public does not take the climate crisis seriously enough until it directly affects daily services like water. However, he noted that new pedestrianization projects—inspired by developed world cities—remain on the agenda for areas like the Odunpazarı Museums District, the university surroundings, and Cengiz Topel.
Free Public Transportation is Subject to Presidential Decrees Responding to questions about making public transportation free or discounted on Car-Free Sundays, Bilgili pointed to legal limitations. “As a municipality, we cannot independently reduce fares to zero; it depends entirely on presidential decrees,” he explained. To support citizens who leave their cars behind, the municipality instead operates public transit at weekday-level capacity on Sundays to minimize waiting times.
“We Never Viewed This Project Through the Lens of Votes” Addressing mixed reactions on social media, Bilgili stated that the atmosphere on the ground is much more positive. “Our mayor and our teams have never viewed this project through the lens of votes. Social media might create a negative impression, but when we explain the environmental and social benefits to angry citizens in person, they walk away satisfied,” he said. Emphasizing that all safety protocols for emergency vehicles are strictly maintained, Bilgili concluded that the true value of the project lies in the revival of public culture and seeing happy children back on the streets.May 19 no such decree was issued, so free transportation could not be implemented. We also wait for decrees during holidays. As a municipality, we cannot independently reduce fares to zero,” he said.
Nevertheless, Bilgili stated that the municipality has introduced different measures to encourage public transportation on Car-Free Sundays.
“What we can do is increase the frequency of services on Car-Free Sundays. We operate at weekday-level capacity on Sundays so that citizens who leave their cars behind will not face long waiting times. This is the level of service we are currently able to provide,” he said.
We never viewed this project through the lens of votes
The initiative has sparked mixed reactions among the public in Eskişehir, especially on social media. Bilgili, however, argued that the atmosphere on the ground is very different from the online response.
“Neither our mayor nor we ourselves have ever viewed this project through the lens of votes. Perhaps we can say 50 percent support it and 50 percent criticize it, but if you only look at social media, it creates the impression that 95 percent are against it,” he stated.
Bilgili said that once the purpose of the project is explained directly to citizens, reactions tend to change.
“I spent hours in the field during those Sundays, standing alongside our staff. Sometimes a citizen would approach us angrily while we were closing the roads, but once we explained the purpose of the project, the climate crisis and its importance for children, they would say, ‘Alright, this is actually a good initiative,’ and walk away satisfied,” he said.
He also recalled that similar debates emerged when pedestrianization and car-free policies were first introduced in European cities and emphasized that all necessary safety precautions have been taken.
“We never experienced any fights or serious confrontations in the field. Safety is extremely important; alternative routes for ambulances, fire trucks and police vehicles are always prepared, and our teams can reopen roads within seconds if necessary,” he noted.
According to Bilgili, the most significant outcome of the project is the revival of a public culture within the city.
“What we see in the streets are happy children and young people drawing pictures outdoors. More than the criticism on social media, this genuine satisfaction in public spaces and the environmental vision it represents for the future are what truly matter to us,” he concluded.
Eskisehir in Europe 