Mapping public transport accessibility mismatches in Ataşehir, Istanbul: an exploratory case study

This research examines neighborhood-level variations in public transport accessibility and their relationship with socioeconomic differentiation in Ataşehir, Istanbul, as an exploratory case study. Adopting a quantitative methodology, the research employs GIS-based network analysis incorporating pedestrian walking distances, terrain slope, and service frequencies, alongside a matrix-based quadrant analysis used to classify neighborhoods according to different accessibility–development mismatch patterns. The findings reveal notable intra-district variation in the spatial distribution of public transport accessibility and socioeconomic development. High transit accessibility is predominantly concentrated along major metropolitan corridors shaped by investment-led growth and heavily reliant on road-based, rubber-tired systems, leaving inner, mature settlements structurally underserved. Conversely, affluent enclaves exhibit a planned reliance on private mobility despite low transit provision. This configuration suggests that the physical presence of high-capacity transit infrastructure does not necessarily translate into functional accessibility when pedestrian access, local connectivity, and service frequency remain uneven. The case points to a partial mismatch between transit provision and the local urban fabric, particularly where corridor-based infrastructure does not fully address neighborhood-level accessibility needs. Ultimately, these results emphasize the critical necessity of integrating local spatial conditions into transport policies and planning.