Public transport crisis in Istanbul: Will buses run today? Are public transport services continuing?

Private public bus owners affiliated with IETT in Istanbul gathered in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) building, citing unpaid receivables.

During the protest held in front of the municipal building, vehicle owners expressed that the promises made by IBB officials for months have not been fulfilled.

Private Public Bus Platform Spokesperson Lawyer Erhan Güneş stated that no concrete steps have been taken for 6 months and expressed that they may shut down their engines if necessary.

THEY WANTED TO COME TO THE IBB BUILDING WITH BUSES

During the protest, bus owners wanted to pull their vehicles in front of the IBB building, but police teams took extensive security measures and ensured that the buses were directed to the Yenikapı rally area.

Only two representative buses were allowed to come in front of the municipal building. After the buses were brought in front of the building, the vehicle owners continued their protest with applause.

"WE DO NOT WANT TO VICTIMIZE THE PEOPLE OF ISTANBUL"

Making a statement on behalf of the group, Private Public Bus Platform Spokesperson Lawyer Erhan Güneş stated that they are in a difficult situation due to unpaid receivables and said the following:

“We have to explain to the valuable people of Istanbul that this business is no longer working. Our intention is not to victimize the public, but this is our fourth visit to Saraçhane since May. Every time we came, IBB bureaucrats stalled us by saying, ‘We will solve it today, we will solve it tomorrow, we will take out a loan after the election.’ However, 6 months have passed, and we have not been able to move forward even one step.”

Güneş stated that there are 3 thousand 41 private public buses in Istanbul and that they have receivables of approximately 2 million TL per bus. Expressing that the vehicle owners have reached a financial dead end, Güneş made the following striking statement:

“We have reached a point where we cannot turn our wheels. Tradesmen cannot take care of their families. There is no one left whose commercial record has not been damaged. If this problem is not solved, we will have no choice but to shut down our engines.”

"WE ARE TIRED OF IETT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE"

Lawyer Güneş claimed that the IETT General Directorate is applying "psychological pressure" on vehicle owners.

“IETT does not apply TÜVTÜRK inspection criteria. Instead, it imposes 240 inspection criteria it created itself. These criteria are not in the directives. It pulls our vehicles into its own stations and cuts our hours for unnecessary reasons. For this reason, our vehicles that are banned from service victimize both us and the people of Istanbul.”

MOBBING ALLEGATION

Güneş stated that these practices of IETT should be ended as soon as possible and added:

“This mobbing must be stopped now. The people of Istanbul and we tradesmen should not be victimized any further. We expect the IBB to take a serious step to solve the problem.”

PROTEST ENDED WITHOUT INCIDENT

The protest ended without incident after the statements were made. Private public bus owners reiterated their threat of "shutting down engines", stating that they could take tougher measures if payments are not made.

They stated that they are waiting for a step from the IBB for a solution they can win.

WILL BUSES RUN TODAY? ARE DECEMBER 3 PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES CONTINUING?

Yes, bus services are continuing in Istanbul after the protest held during the night hours. However, it was also stated that the employees' next protest decision is to shut down their engines.