IMM statement on minibuses reverberates across the islands: “essential”
“The license for the previous vehicle has expired.”
A statement issued by the IMM on the matter said that “public transport is essential for the islanders.” The IMM said public transport is “essential” for the archipelago, whose population reaches 60,000 during the summer, and noted that this is also necessary for disadvantaged groups during the winter.
IMM said the minibuses that sparked the reaction had started operating after the licences of previously used 13-seater vehicles had expired, and were used in 12 countries. The vehicles were described as “zero-emission, electric, quiet and environmentally friendly”.
“Due to the fact that no domestic or foreign automakers participated in the tender for the new electric vehicles that they were requested to produce specifically for the islands, it is a licensed electric vehicle that is jointly produced,” the statement said. Within the scope of an industrial cooperation project with the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, ASELSAN and KARSAN “purchased the vehicles equipped with security devices.”
“Subscribed to by IMM”
Key points from the IMM statement include:
– The majority of residents of the Adalar district, consisting of Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kunaliada, have expressed their satisfaction with the removal of the phaeton and the provision of public transport by IMM and IETT in a completely clear, planned and economical manner from 2020.
– However, some islanders argue that there should be no public transport in the islands, and that people can get around on foot. Some do not want to continue using unregistered electric vehicles whose permits have expired, and some do not want new cars because new registered and safe electric vehicles are larger.
– The vehicle has started operating in the Adalar region and is used in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Croatia, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the United States and Canada.
– The permit issued by UKOME for the use of existing 13-seater electric L-class unregistered vehicles expired on 30 April 2024. For this reason, electric, quiet and environmentally friendly vehicles have been introduced, but they must be M-class and registered in accordance with the relevant legislation.
– IETT implements public transport as a public service in Adalar, as in all other districts of Istanbul. The IETT’s income-expense ratio is only 35%. The cost of public transport is subsidized by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
– Not providing public transport services in the Adalar area is not only a legal impossibility, but also a necessity for people of different ages and with different health conditions who live on the island to get to where they want to go, such as hospitals, schools, cemeteries and beaches.
In the 16 square kilometres of Adalar, it is not possible to provide transportation entirely by foot depending on the season, such as summer or winter, and transportation is also needed to accommodate tourists visiting the densely populated island, which makes over 60,000 trips on public holidays and weekends.
