 This file photo shows Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir as he inspects the construction work around the historic Sultanahmet area on Dec 6. Hürriyet photo |
Shop owners in Istanbul’s historical peninsula are worried about losing customers due to the closing of the area to vehicle traffic, yet many pedestrians have expressed their pleasure at the news, daily Milliyet reported Tuesday.
The area between Sultanahmet, Beyazıt and Sirkeci – 90 streets in total – was closed to vehicle traffic starting Jan. 1. Vehicles bringing supplies to the shops in the area are now able to enter the area after 6 p.m. and before 10 a.m.
Daily Milliyet visited the area on the first working day after the implementation and reported that pedestrians walked freely in the area yet area artisans said they were not happy.
“Our market opens early. Previously customers were freely coming and buying their products. But now, so as not to be stuck without their vehicles in the ban hours, they accumulate during certain hours. As we now must restock our products in the shop after 6 p.m., we end up going home toward midnight,” said Abuzer Taşkan, the owner of Mataş Textile company. Taşkan said the number of customers had diminished sharply.
Mehmet Tekin from Raspond Textile on Sultanhamam Hacı Street said customers unable to enter streets by car would prefer to go to Bayrampaşa and Merter, other shopping areas.
Varol Şahin Dodanlı, a member of the administrative board of the Turkish Home Textile Industrialists Association, said the vehicle ban should be between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., to relieve shops’ product transfer problems.
Carriers have also complained of exhaustion, as trucks must stop far from shops.
The area between Sultanahmet, Beyazıt and Sirkeci – 90 streets in total – was closed to vehicle traffic starting Jan. 1. Vehicles bringing supplies to the shops in the area are now able to enter the area after 6 p.m. and before 10 a.m.
Daily Milliyet visited the area on the first working day after the implementation and reported that pedestrians walked freely in the area yet area artisans said they were not happy.
“Our market opens early. Previously customers were freely coming and buying their products. But now, so as not to be stuck without their vehicles in the ban hours, they accumulate during certain hours. As we now must restock our products in the shop after 6 p.m., we end up going home toward midnight,” said Abuzer Taşkan, the owner of Mataş Textile company. Taşkan said the number of customers had diminished sharply.
Mehmet Tekin from Raspond Textile on Sultanhamam Hacı Street said customers unable to enter streets by car would prefer to go to Bayrampaşa and Merter, other shopping areas.
Varol Şahin Dodanlı, a member of the administrative board of the Turkish Home Textile Industrialists Association, said the vehicle ban should be between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., to relieve shops’ product transfer problems.
Carriers have also complained of exhaustion, as trucks must stop far from shops.
No comments:
Post a Comment