Social democrat vows end to ’one-way’ traffic
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by İzgi Güngör
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 28, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The one-way street system has overwhelmed everyone in Ankara’s Çankaya district and the Republican People’s Party’s candidate for the local elections, Bülent Tanık, says he wants it undone, adding that he will take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights if need be
The social democratic mayoral candidate for Ankara’s Çankaya district will reverse Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek’s new one-way traffic system back to the good old days if elected, even applying to the international court if needed.
"The traffic pattern based on one-way streets has overwhelmed everyone in Çankaya. The system hasn’t only threatened human life but also destroyed socio-cultural relations and working conditions," Bülent Tanık, the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, mayoral contender for Çankaya, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview.
"Except for in very narrow streets, we will end all ’one-way street’ and ’no left turn’ rules in Çankaya if we are elected in an effort to meet local demands. Çankaya residents will be able to move any direction they want. We will force the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in this respect and we will not refrain from applying to the international court (the European Court of Human Rights) in case of a negative response from the municipality."
With the candidacy of an urban planner, Tanık, who is also former chairman of the Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects’ Chambers, or TMMOB, the CHP wants to perpetuate the decades of social democrat dominance in Ankara’s Çankaya district, which is densely populated by secular elites and known to be a CHP stronghold. Tanık’s main rival is the center-right politician Bülent Akarcalı of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.
According to political observers Akarcalı does not have much of a chance in Çankaya in the March elections, but Tanık said the AKP sees Çankaya as a fortress to be overthrown. Tanık said Çankaya has been a symbol with its intellectual identity and residents who stick closely to republican values as well as being the only electoral region in Ankara where the CHP secured dominance in the 2004 local elections. The situation makes Çankaya a coveted and prestigious electorate to be captured not only by the CHP but by the AKP as well.
"Çankaya, however, is not where it should be. Ankara has regressed in every aspect during the last 15 years under the rule of the current mayor and Çankaya suffered the most," he said. "The government and the metropolitan municipality offer no support here. " Tanık said.
Many problems for Çankaya
Çankaya faces many problems as many arrangements in the region bear the traces of government and municipal policies aiming to punish Çankaya residents, evidenced by the one-way traffic pattern as well as arrangements on cross roads, according to Tanık. The pedestrians cannot cross the street and many residential and working premises in the region have lost their value because of the new traffic arrangements. Some have had to move to another district or city.
"We will work to solve these problems and restore the values of Çankaya. We will create a socially, economically, culturally, aesthetically and physically stronger Çankaya," Tanık said.
Tanık said his priority would be solving transportation problems in the region but he some interesting projects as well, such as forming a children’s choir and creating play zones in Çankaya’s streets. The children’s choir is not only a cultural project but also an enlightenment project through which around 30,000 girls and boys aged between 8-12 will sing side by side to create solidarity, according to Tanık. He also plans to periodically block some streets to traffic during daytime to create play zones for children to learn that playing doesn’t only mean watching TV.
For a comprehensive transformation in Çankaya, Tanık said it is necessary for the CHP to win the Ankara mayoral seat because things would become too difficult without support from the metropolitan municipality. However, as part of his projects, he will exert all his effort to explore and advance a spirit of solidarity among Çankaya residents and create a sense of belonging by urging them to be involved in his projects, which he deems the most effective and lasting resource for any municipality that wishes to complete projects.
"The government has long ignored Çankaya residents and their potential. With around 800,000 inhabitants, Çankaya has a very qualified community and those who sustain Ankara’s industry. We will do everything we can to revive their dynamism and increase participation in our projects," Tanık said. He said being an urban planner was advantageous for handling municipal projects but the mayoral post implied a political task. "If we develop the residents’ sensitivity and make them a shareholder in our projects, then politics will meet the technical. I don’t want votes, I want love from the voters."
"The traffic pattern based on one-way streets has overwhelmed everyone in Çankaya. The system hasn’t only threatened human life but also destroyed socio-cultural relations and working conditions," Bülent Tanık, the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, mayoral contender for Çankaya, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview.
"Except for in very narrow streets, we will end all ’one-way street’ and ’no left turn’ rules in Çankaya if we are elected in an effort to meet local demands. Çankaya residents will be able to move any direction they want. We will force the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in this respect and we will not refrain from applying to the international court (the European Court of Human Rights) in case of a negative response from the municipality."
With the candidacy of an urban planner, Tanık, who is also former chairman of the Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects’ Chambers, or TMMOB, the CHP wants to perpetuate the decades of social democrat dominance in Ankara’s Çankaya district, which is densely populated by secular elites and known to be a CHP stronghold. Tanık’s main rival is the center-right politician Bülent Akarcalı of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.
According to political observers Akarcalı does not have much of a chance in Çankaya in the March elections, but Tanık said the AKP sees Çankaya as a fortress to be overthrown. Tanık said Çankaya has been a symbol with its intellectual identity and residents who stick closely to republican values as well as being the only electoral region in Ankara where the CHP secured dominance in the 2004 local elections. The situation makes Çankaya a coveted and prestigious electorate to be captured not only by the CHP but by the AKP as well.
"Çankaya, however, is not where it should be. Ankara has regressed in every aspect during the last 15 years under the rule of the current mayor and Çankaya suffered the most," he said. "The government and the metropolitan municipality offer no support here. " Tanık said.
Many problems for Çankaya
Çankaya faces many problems as many arrangements in the region bear the traces of government and municipal policies aiming to punish Çankaya residents, evidenced by the one-way traffic pattern as well as arrangements on cross roads, according to Tanık. The pedestrians cannot cross the street and many residential and working premises in the region have lost their value because of the new traffic arrangements. Some have had to move to another district or city.
"We will work to solve these problems and restore the values of Çankaya. We will create a socially, economically, culturally, aesthetically and physically stronger Çankaya," Tanık said.
Tanık said his priority would be solving transportation problems in the region but he some interesting projects as well, such as forming a children’s choir and creating play zones in Çankaya’s streets. The children’s choir is not only a cultural project but also an enlightenment project through which around 30,000 girls and boys aged between 8-12 will sing side by side to create solidarity, according to Tanık. He also plans to periodically block some streets to traffic during daytime to create play zones for children to learn that playing doesn’t only mean watching TV.
For a comprehensive transformation in Çankaya, Tanık said it is necessary for the CHP to win the Ankara mayoral seat because things would become too difficult without support from the metropolitan municipality. However, as part of his projects, he will exert all his effort to explore and advance a spirit of solidarity among Çankaya residents and create a sense of belonging by urging them to be involved in his projects, which he deems the most effective and lasting resource for any municipality that wishes to complete projects.
"The government has long ignored Çankaya residents and their potential. With around 800,000 inhabitants, Çankaya has a very qualified community and those who sustain Ankara’s industry. We will do everything we can to revive their dynamism and increase participation in our projects," Tanık said. He said being an urban planner was advantageous for handling municipal projects but the mayoral post implied a political task. "If we develop the residents’ sensitivity and make them a shareholder in our projects, then politics will meet the technical. I don’t want votes, I want love from the voters."