Project Bulletin

Background

Cities, where a large portion of the world’s population lives, face threats such as social and economic challenges, climate change, and health issues. Adapting the “15-minute city” concept to urban areas plays an important role in making cities more resilient, sustainable, and accessible. As part of the Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future Research Program, the project AccessCity4All – Adapting the 15-Minute City Concept to Support Active Mobility in Neighborhoods with Different Levels of Accessibility was launched in 2024 to enhance accessibility in European cities.

This project examines not only proximity to services but also how residents experience accessibility, considering infrastructure, safety, personal needs, desires, and social dynamics. AccessCity4All aims to improve the 15-minute city concept by accounting for the diversity of people's mobility needs and spatial differences across neighborhoods.

The project aims to identify mismatches between calculated, perceived, and actual accessibility through detailed research conducted in nearly 50 neighborhoods ranging from city centers to outer districts. By examining mobility habits and perceptions of different population groups, the project seeks to enhance neighborhood-level accessibility sensitive to social groups and thereby support sustainable urban transformations.

By acknowledging the complexity of the urban environment, it argues that there is no single ideal “15-minute city,” but rather various “15-minute neighborhoods,” depending on urban location and population composition.

Thanks to the participation of multiple Urban Living Labs (ULL) in a comparative research design, scientific results and policy-relevant outputs can be transferred to other cities in Europe. Urban Living Labs offer opportunities to test solutions in real-life urban environments, include multiple stakeholders, and evaluate and adapt innovations across different locations.

The data collected through ULL participation will influence strategic policymaking and planning beyond the partner cities, contributing to better modeling of service accessibility across European cities and supporting the implementation of accessibility-based planning concepts for active, healthy, and inclusive neighborhoods.

The project, coordinated by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Austria), was submitted and accepted under DUT (Driving Urban Transitions) in partnership with ILS Research gGmbH (Germany), University of Groningen (Netherlands), University of Lisbon (Portugal), and Gazi University (Türkiye) (2024–2027). A mixed-method research approach is being implemented across five Urban Living Labs located in Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Türkiye. The cities/regions to be examined are Vienna/AT, Münster/DE, Groningen/NL, Lisbon/PT, and Ankara/TR. The collaborative partners in Türkiye are Çankaya Municipality (Ankara) and Keçiören Municipality (Ankara).

The mixed-method approach includes calculating citywide accessibility, organizing stakeholder workshops, conducting Walk-Along Interviews (WAI) in these districts, and implementing Participatory GIS (PPGIS) studies in neighborhoods with different urban contexts. Overall, AccessCity4All will engage numerous residents across five European cities.

Urban Living Lab: Ankara

Within the AccessCity4All project of the DUT 2022 call, the project team from Gazi University, Department of City and Regional Planning, conducted Walk-Along Interviews (WAI) in two different districts of Ankara: Çankaya and Keçiören. For conducting WAI and online surveys, collaborations were made with Çankaya Municipality, Keçiören Municipality, and Keçiören Municipality Teknomer.

The WAI method enables detailed analysis of concepts such as pedestrian safety, accessibility, barriers, daily access behaviors, and spatial inequalities, as users reveal details of streets and spaces in their neighborhoods through their own experiences. Interviews were conducted while walking along the daily walking routes of participants; photos, audio recordings, and route tracks were collected simultaneously by the project team. In this way, real-time pedestrian experience was observed, and participants’ physical reactions such as changes in walking speed, pauses, and moments of tension were recorded. Physical issues such as narrow sidewalks, level differences, uneven surfaces, and obstructive elements were documented with photographs.

Interviews were coded using MAXQDA, and a matrix of relationships among themes was produced. With these features, the Ankara WAI dataset provides a multilayered analysis of “perceived accessibility” and “perceived safety.” A total of 18 interviews were conducted in Ankara. Most were with older individuals, with some conducted with families with small children, representing the two main user groups.

 

Study Areas and 15-Minute Access to Services

A total of 11 WAI interviews were conducted in 9 neighborhoods in Çankaya, and 7 WAI interviews were conducted in 4 neighborhoods in Keçiören. Based on the information provided by participants about themselves and their neighborhoods, Çankaya is described as having higher education levels, higher-quality open spaces, more green infrastructure, but also sloped topography and long pedestrian crossings. In Keçiören, denser settlements, narrow sidewalks, high traffic density, and more behavioral safety concerns were observed.

Participants described health facilities, pharmacies, daily shopping points, public transport stops, parks and recreational areas, schools, and socio-cultural facilities as key destinations that should be within 15-minute distance in their neighborhoods. In both districts, health services and daily shopping centers were found to be accessible. However, cultural facilities, sports areas, ATMs, and post offices were not sufficiently accessible in some neighborhoods.

WAI Findings – Experiences of Older Adults (65+)

Older participants frequently mentioned infrastructure issues that negatively affect slow-moving pedestrians. The low walking speed of older individuals makes existing sidewalks even more problematic, as narrow sidewalks do not allow two people to walk side by side. Tree trunks, utility poles, and traffic signs located in the middle of sidewalks frequently obstruct walking paths. Vehicles such as motorcycles and scooters parked on sidewalks force older adults to step onto the roadway. Uneven sidewalk and road surfaces increase the risk of falling. The absence of resting areas such as benches along walking routes also creates difficulties for older adults. Overall, sidewalks and pedestrian-dedicated areas are considered insufficient.

One of the most significant problems reported by older adults was inadequate traffic lights. Pedestrian crossing times are short, drivers display impatient behavior, and some drivers pressure pedestrians by honking or giving verbal warnings. These findings show that behavioral safety is at least as important as physical safety.

WAI Findings – Experiences of Families with Children

The most important issue for families with children is the inability to walk side by side with their children. Narrow sidewalks make it difficult to hold a child’s hand, forcing the parent to step onto the roadway, creating unsafe conditions and slowing the walking pace of the family. Families also reported a decline in the sense of safety due to poorly maintained buildings, graffiti and wall writings, individuals displaying aggressive behavior on the streets, and poorly lit areas.

Participatory GIS (PPGIS)

PPGIS are advanced participatory mapping tools that enable the collection of place-based data. In the context of the 15-minute city, PPGIS tools provide spatial information regarding perceived accessibility of services and amenities, residents’ spatial practices, and perceptions of their living environments. Their use allows for gathering information about necessary services for different resident groups living in neighborhoods with varying calculated accessibility levels (e.g., neighborhoods in the city center vs. those on the periphery).

In the survey conducted with residents of Çankaya and Keçiören, 955 surveys were accepted as valid when considering the requirement to mark the approximate location of participants’ homes and at least two different daily activity locations to measure mobility. Results show that residents living in Çankaya generally meet their needs related to health (hospital, pharmacy, health clinic), sports, recreation, and grocery shopping within their own district, while residents of Keçiören meet their needs both within their own district and in other districts.

Keçiören District Recreation, Sports, Parks, Cafes etc. Marked Locations Heat Map

Results

Interviews with different pedestrian groups in Ankara reveal both shared challenges and distinct behavioral responses shaped by age and physical ability. There is widespread dissatisfaction with sidewalks; they are often described as narrow, uneven, high, dirty, or obstructed by parked vehicles, trees, scooters, or commercial signs. Fast-moving traffic, wide roads, short green-light durations, and long red lights are common concerns. Many residents noted the lack of safe pedestrian crossings and insufficient respect for vulnerable pedestrians. Many participants reported feeling unsafe due to inadequate lighting, blind spots, and aggressive or suspicious individuals.

Despite these challenges, many people also highlighted positive features of their neighborhoods, such as calm and pleasant environments, friendly communities, green spaces, playgrounds for children, shaded areas, and—in some cases—bicycle lanes (e.g., Ümit Neighborhood, Şehit Cevdet Özdemir Neighborhood) and pedestrian crossings.

Common concerns across all groups relate to inadequate sidewalk infrastructure. Participants mentioned obstacles caused by urban elements such as narrow sidewalks, uneven surfaces, parked vehicles, tree trunks, and poles. These conditions often force pedestrians onto vehicle lanes, compromising safety and comfort. Poor sidewalk maintenance—including rubble and inadequate lighting—further increases the risk of falling and reduces walkability.

However, notable differences emerge in how these challenges are perceived and managed. Families with children emphasize the need for wider sidewalks that allow comfortable side-by-side walking and highlight safety concerns related to fast-moving traffic and dangerous crossing conditions. Older pedestrians report challenges stemming from insufficient pedestrian crossing times, increased fall risks due to uneven surfaces, and anxieties caused by poor urban design and aggressive driver behavior. Mobility and sensory impairments such as herniated discs or hearing loss further increase vulnerability for older adults in high-traffic environments.

Despite these obstacles, resilient behaviors are evident; for example, older individuals often prefer to remain on sidewalks—narrow or uneven as they may be—demonstrating a strong adherence to pedestrian norms and safety rules. Families tend to avoid dangerous routes by choosing neighborhoods with shaded, wider sidewalks and green areas, where walking is more comfortable and less stressful.

Overall, these findings underscore the urgent need for urban planning that addresses diverse pedestrian needs. Improvements in sidewalk infrastructure, enhanced safety features, and the promotion of inclusive environments that support safe and comfortable walking for all age groups are essential.

 

Project Team:

Prof. Dr. Özge YALÇINER ERCOŞKUN (Executive): E-mail: ozgeyal@gazi.edu.tr

Prof. Dr. Ebru Vesile ÖCALIR (Researcher): E-mail: ebruocalir@gazi.edu.tr

Dr. Ceren ERCOŞKUN (Postdoctoral Scholar): E-mail:  cerenercoskun@gmail.com

Hilal TULAN IŞILDAR (PhD Scholar): E-mail: hilal.tisildar@uab.gov.tr

Tuğçe OLGUN (Master Student Scholar) E-mail: tugce.olgun.713@gmail.com

Source of photos 1 and 2: Başkent Newspaper – Keçiören Municipality

Source of photo 3: The photo was taken by Buse Türkoğlu.

Source of photo 4: The photo was taken by Buse Türkoğlu.

Source of posters: Prepared by Tuğçe Olgun.

Source of heatmap: Prepared by Tuğçe Olgun.