ESKİŞEHİR BREATHES EASİER ON CAR-FREE SUNDAY

With the Car-Free Sunday initiative implemented by Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality, the city's busiest boulevards were closed to vehicle traffic, and the city took a breath of fresh air. Pedestrians, cyclists, and children's laughter filled the streets of Eskişehir. Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, who walked with citizens along Atatürk Boulevard, emphasized that the initiative is an awareness movement that will allow the city to breathe.

Led by Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, Eskişehir has undertaken an important project aimed at reducing air pollution and creating a pedestrian-friendly urban culture. Within the scope of the 2026 Eskişehir Year Projects, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality has launched the "Car-Free Sunday" initiative. Through this initiative, some of the city's busiest areas were closed to vehicle traffic and allocated to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation. The first implementation of the initiative, which will be held on the last Sunday of every month, took place on Atatürk Boulevard, Gündüz Ökçün Boulevard, and Ali Rıza Efendi Boulevard. Between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., the boulevards were closed to vehicle traffic and became meeting points for the residents of Eskişehir throughout the day.

On Car-Free Sunday, residents went for walks, rode bicycles, children played games, and young people skateboarded. In the city center, the sound of vehicles was replaced by human voices and children's laughter.

The initiative received strong support from the people of Eskişehir. Residents who spent Sunday outdoors expressed their satisfaction by saying, "We should also support this culture. We had a wonderful day. We sincerely thank our Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce for this visionary initiative."

Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce also spent time with residents along Atatürk Boulevard throughout the day. Walking and chatting with citizens, Ünlüce emphasized that the initiative is an awareness movement that will allow the city to breathe.

In her statement, Ünlüce included the following remarks:

"Our aim is not to impose bans. We want people not to use their cars on Sundays unless it is absolutely necessary. Let us use public transportation, ride bicycles, and go for walks. The city will rest, and we will contribute to reducing the impacts of the climate crisis. According to the data we have received, fewer cars were used today. In 2026, we will continue the Car-Free Sunday initiative on the last Sunday of every month and, together, continue to let Eskişehir breathe."

After the walk, Mayor Ünlüce went to her program on Sanat Sokağı using public transportation.

While the initiative is considered a step that will set an example for Türkiye in the fields of environment and urban planning, it is aimed for Car-Free Sunday to become a permanent urban culture in Eskişehir.