Residents prepare for Obama traffic chaos
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Işıl Eğrikavuk
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 06, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL-While US President Barack Obama is getting ready to set foot in Istanbul today, local residents are also preparing for two days of traffic nightmares. Presidential visits in the past like Iranian Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last summer, as well as Thursday’s rehearsals to meet Obama, have blocked off roads in the city for hours.
After weeks of election talk, Turkey’s new hot topic is U.S. President Barack Obama’s three-day visit and arrival in Istanbul this evening. What this visit means for Turkey has been widely discussed among the media and political platforms. But the possible impact of Obama’s visit on the average Istanbul resident has not been so well reviewed.
Some people have experienced similar visits and will take extra precautions to face this one. "I am going to carry both my ID card and passport on me," said Burak Ulusoy, an Istanbul resident. "The police get paranoid during such events. When Pope Benedict XVI was here, they gave me much trouble because my ID card’s cover was ripped. I will also try not to drive around places that Obama is going to visit," he said.
Obama is expected to land in Istanbul at 7 p.m. this evening. When his flight lands Istanbul’s Atatürk airport will be closed to all air and highway traffic. City officials suggest Istanbul residents use the subway in the evening. "We will try our best not to put people in difficult situations," said Istanbul Governor Mummer Güler on Saturday.
"One thing I know is that traffic will become a nightmare," Osman Özcanlı, a designer from İzmir who often flies to Istanbul for his job, said. "I was supposed to come to Istanbul on Monday but after realizing that Obama was also coming the same day, I changed my flight and canceled some meetings. I don’t want to wait in a cab for hours and put myself under stress," he said.
Yet, Obama’s trip seems to have a grander effect than simply changing means of transportation. Some big companies have postponed events and meetings. Vitra, a Turkish design company, is among the extra careful companies. The company’s new collection, which was supposed to be launched at Istanbul Modern Museum today, was postponed because of Obama’s visit.
Doom Day
Istanbul, a city of more than 12 million often hosts world leaders. Yet, each time a world leader arrives, the extreme security precautions taken often turn life into a nightmare for thousands of motorists in the city. A recent case was in August when Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Istanbul. Without notice, all streets from Atatürk Airport to several key locations of the city had been closed to traffic, leaving hundreds furious and desperate.
Obama’s visit to Istanbul coincides with the summit of the Alliance of Civilizations, which will start Monday and last until Tuesday afternoon. The summit will gather at least six heads of state and more than a three dozen foreign ministers, which will make life even more difficult for the residents of Istanbul.
Despite all the complaints and alternative-solution scenarios, such as the use of Istanbul’s ample sea lanes, chaos was foreshadowed during last Thursday’s rehearsals for Obama’s arrival. Police blocked all the roads from the airport to the city center and many people were stuck in traffic. "My girlfriend was coming to Taksim from the airport that day and it took her three hours to arrive," said Burak Ulusoy.
In the case of Obama’s visit, the extraordinary measures are also stemming from the White House security service’s requirements. Arrival by car to the hotel where Obama is staying will not be possible. Those delegations coming to attend the Alliance of Civilizations summit, which made the mistake of choosing to stay in the same hotel as Obama, were told that even if the person is a head of state, he or she would have to walk to the entrance of the hotel from some point. As a result, some delegations preferred to change their hotels, learned Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Blocked for a short time
Reassuring the average Istanbul resident, Istanbul Governor Muammer Güler, announced that roads will only be blocked for a short time.
Yet some are more skeptical. "I hope they will not victimize people like they did during Ahmadinejad’s visit," said Tayfun Kahraman, Istanbul Chamber of City Planners secretary. "When Ahmadinejad came here, the chaos lasted for hours. If they do the same thing for Obama, it will indeed put many people into a desperate situation,’ he said.
Will mobile phones work?
Blocking traffic is one scary thing for sure, yet there are also rumors about cell phones being blocked. Serkan Coşkuner, owner of Aplus Security Systems Company said mobile phones would only be blocked if Obama’s security team decided to place jammers on their vehicles. "This is a common security precaution against any kind of attack that can be operated through mobile phones," said Coskuner. "The aim here is not to eavesdrop on people’s conversations, rather it is to prevent mobile phone-controlled bomb attacks."
Coskuner says mobile phone jammers can block mobile phones up to 500 meters depending on their performance. "And considering the fact that Obama’s security will be very well equipped, his convoy might cause mobile phones to be cut off on its way."
The use of mobile phone jammers is not uncommon in Turkey. Jammers are used in many mosques in order to prevent any noise during prayer time. "Prime Minister Erdoğan also uses jammers in his office too," Coşkuner said.
Ahmadinejad had apologized for the trouble he caused. And likely Obama will do the same. Yet, what will the city officials do? Are we going to be able to host a leader without victimizing ourselves?
Some people have experienced similar visits and will take extra precautions to face this one. "I am going to carry both my ID card and passport on me," said Burak Ulusoy, an Istanbul resident. "The police get paranoid during such events. When Pope Benedict XVI was here, they gave me much trouble because my ID card’s cover was ripped. I will also try not to drive around places that Obama is going to visit," he said.
Obama is expected to land in Istanbul at 7 p.m. this evening. When his flight lands Istanbul’s Atatürk airport will be closed to all air and highway traffic. City officials suggest Istanbul residents use the subway in the evening. "We will try our best not to put people in difficult situations," said Istanbul Governor Mummer Güler on Saturday.
"One thing I know is that traffic will become a nightmare," Osman Özcanlı, a designer from İzmir who often flies to Istanbul for his job, said. "I was supposed to come to Istanbul on Monday but after realizing that Obama was also coming the same day, I changed my flight and canceled some meetings. I don’t want to wait in a cab for hours and put myself under stress," he said.
Yet, Obama’s trip seems to have a grander effect than simply changing means of transportation. Some big companies have postponed events and meetings. Vitra, a Turkish design company, is among the extra careful companies. The company’s new collection, which was supposed to be launched at Istanbul Modern Museum today, was postponed because of Obama’s visit.
Doom Day
Istanbul, a city of more than 12 million often hosts world leaders. Yet, each time a world leader arrives, the extreme security precautions taken often turn life into a nightmare for thousands of motorists in the city. A recent case was in August when Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Istanbul. Without notice, all streets from Atatürk Airport to several key locations of the city had been closed to traffic, leaving hundreds furious and desperate.
Obama’s visit to Istanbul coincides with the summit of the Alliance of Civilizations, which will start Monday and last until Tuesday afternoon. The summit will gather at least six heads of state and more than a three dozen foreign ministers, which will make life even more difficult for the residents of Istanbul.
Despite all the complaints and alternative-solution scenarios, such as the use of Istanbul’s ample sea lanes, chaos was foreshadowed during last Thursday’s rehearsals for Obama’s arrival. Police blocked all the roads from the airport to the city center and many people were stuck in traffic. "My girlfriend was coming to Taksim from the airport that day and it took her three hours to arrive," said Burak Ulusoy.
In the case of Obama’s visit, the extraordinary measures are also stemming from the White House security service’s requirements. Arrival by car to the hotel where Obama is staying will not be possible. Those delegations coming to attend the Alliance of Civilizations summit, which made the mistake of choosing to stay in the same hotel as Obama, were told that even if the person is a head of state, he or she would have to walk to the entrance of the hotel from some point. As a result, some delegations preferred to change their hotels, learned Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Blocked for a short time
Reassuring the average Istanbul resident, Istanbul Governor Muammer Güler, announced that roads will only be blocked for a short time.
Yet some are more skeptical. "I hope they will not victimize people like they did during Ahmadinejad’s visit," said Tayfun Kahraman, Istanbul Chamber of City Planners secretary. "When Ahmadinejad came here, the chaos lasted for hours. If they do the same thing for Obama, it will indeed put many people into a desperate situation,’ he said.
Will mobile phones work?
Blocking traffic is one scary thing for sure, yet there are also rumors about cell phones being blocked. Serkan Coşkuner, owner of Aplus Security Systems Company said mobile phones would only be blocked if Obama’s security team decided to place jammers on their vehicles. "This is a common security precaution against any kind of attack that can be operated through mobile phones," said Coskuner. "The aim here is not to eavesdrop on people’s conversations, rather it is to prevent mobile phone-controlled bomb attacks."
Coskuner says mobile phone jammers can block mobile phones up to 500 meters depending on their performance. "And considering the fact that Obama’s security will be very well equipped, his convoy might cause mobile phones to be cut off on its way."
The use of mobile phone jammers is not uncommon in Turkey. Jammers are used in many mosques in order to prevent any noise during prayer time. "Prime Minister Erdoğan also uses jammers in his office too," Coşkuner said.
Ahmadinejad had apologized for the trouble he caused. And likely Obama will do the same. Yet, what will the city officials do? Are we going to be able to host a leader without victimizing ourselves?