Traffic in Alanya Turns into a Mess: The Problem is Deepening

According to the data published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) for July 2024, the number of motor vehicles in Antalya is rapidly increasing. Antalya ranks high in Turkey for the number of vehicles, with a total of 1,520,457. This increase in vehicles is exacerbating traffic congestion and parking issues, especially in Alanya.

As the number of motor vehicles in Antalya grows, traffic and parking problems are worsening. According to TÜİK's July 2024 data, Antalya is among the top cities in Turkey for vehicle density, particularly in terms of cars and motorcycles. The vehicle density in Alanya further compounds traffic jams and parking shortages. The data reveals that the most common type of vehicle in Antalya is cars, with a total of 688,859. This figure reflects the tendency of individuals and families to rely on their own transportation due to Antalya's vast geography and the growing population, especially during the summer months. Cars are followed by 235,143 pickup trucks and 465,692 motorcycles. The high number of motorcycles highlights the transportation preferences along Antalya's coastline.

The number of buses is 12,365, while minibuses total 21,570. These vehicles are mainly used for public transportation within cities and between districts. Additionally, there are 29,680 trucks and 62,439 tractors contributing to Antalya's traffic.

TOP 5 CITIES BY VEHICLE TYPE For each type of vehicle, the top 5 cities in Turkey with the highest numbers are as follows:

Cars:

Istanbul: 3,756,898

Ankara: 1,944,818

Izmir: 989,722

Antalya: 688,859

Bursa: 654,202

Minibuses:

Istanbul: 107,505

Ankara: 28,782

Antalya: 21,570

Izmir: 19,471

Bursa: 17,181

Buses:

Istanbul: 36,806

Ankara: 19,133

Izmir: 14,639

Antalya: 12,365

Bursa: 7,904

Pickup Trucks:

Istanbul: 856,269

Ankara: 395,676

Izmir: 291,953

Antalya: 235,143

Bursa: 211,299

Trucks:

Istanbul: 156,410

Ankara: 98,372

Izmir: 50,061

Mersin: 41,797

Bursa: 32,992

Motorcycles:

Istanbul: 730,005

Antalya: 465,692

Izmir: 434,056

Hatay: 239,285

Mersin: 224,031

Tractors:

Izmir: 83,205

Bursa: 77,638

Balıkesir: 71,260

Ankara: 71,031

Denizli: 63,338

These figures show that the majority of vehicles in Turkey are concentrated in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya. Istanbul stands out as having the highest number of vehicles across all categories, while Antalya ranks second in the number of motorcycles, highlighting the density in this category. Izmir leads in the number of tractors. These rankings clearly reflect the distribution of vehicle types based on city size, population, geographical layout, and economic activities. The density of vehicles in major cities is a key factor contributing to urban traffic and parking issues. In tourist areas like Antalya, the high density of motorcycles and cars further exacerbates traffic congestion and parking problems, particularly in the summer months.

“MOTORCYCLES ARE A NECESSITY DUE TO CONDITIONS” Ali Akkaya, Chairman of the Alanya Drivers Association, commented on the situation, saying: “As the number of vehicles rapidly increases, the roads are not being expanded, and traffic congestion is occurring. Specifically, in our district, due to favorable climate conditions, vehicle shortages, parking issues, and traffic density, people are turning to motorcycles. Our association issues plates for new vehicles entering traffic, and out of the 10 plates issued daily, 6-7 are for motorcycles. The conditions are indeed forcing people to use motorcycles.”