Evaluation of Pedestrian Movement and Sustainable Public Realm in Planned Residential Areas, Mersin, Türkiye

Züleyha Sara Belge (), Burak Belge, Hayriye Oya Saf and Elvan Elif Özdemir
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Züleyha Sara Belge: Department of City and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Çiftlikköy Campus, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey
Burak Belge: Department of City and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Çiftlikköy Campus, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey
Hayriye Oya Saf: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Çiftlikköy Campus, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey
Elvan Elif Özdemir: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Çiftlikköy Campus, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-28

Abstract: The study investigates the disconnect between formal urban planning standards and experiential walkability outcomes in Viranşehir, a planned neighborhood in Mersin, Türkiye. Although the area complies with national regulations on the provision of public services, it exhibits systemic limitations, including car-oriented street layouts, fragmented pedestrian networks, and underutilized public spaces. Employing a mixed-methods case study, the research integrates archival sources (aerial imagery, zoning plans, satellite data) with field observations to assess pedestrian environments. A light coding of sidewalk continuity, crossings, and edge conditions indicates that many streets are bounded by extensive inactive walls, protected crossings are absent along critical routes such as the school–park axis, and sidewalks are frequently narrow, obstructed, or discontinuous. These built-form features undermine safety, comfort, and social interaction despite formal regulatory compliance. The findings demonstrate how grid-pattern street systems prioritize vehicular mobility, while gated developments restrict permeability and diminish everyday encounters. In response, the study proposes a hierarchy of interventions: immediate measures such as school streets, protected crossings, and traffic calming, followed by medium- to long-term strategies including shaded seating, sidewalk widening, and participatory design guidelines. By linking statutory standards with lived experience, the paper conceptualizes walkability not only as a technical planning requirement but also as a socio-cultural right, offering transferable insights for the creation of more inclusive urban environments.

Keywords: Mersin; pedestrian movement; street design; public realm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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