[_b8r0]

Istanbul is about 3000 years old and built on 7 (some very steep, think San Fransisco steep) hills. It was never designed (if designed is a word you can use at all here) for either tall buildings or vehicles.

Over the past 10 years something weird happened, people started buying cars, and some people would buy more than one but as most people live in apartments in Istanbul it appears as though there are more cars on the road than there are parking spaces in some areas (I know this is the case where my in-laws live near Nisantasi).

In my experience Istanbul drivers will mostly adhere to traffic lights, but not necessarily to things like zebra crossings and road markings. The worst drivers tend to come from the countryside as they don't necessarily know the road layout and drive as though they're in a village or open countryside.

I've been told quite a few times that the only reason the fatality rate from car crashes is not as high as it should be is because for most of Istanbul it's hard to drive faster than 50kmh for any period of time.

Of course, if you really want to see what 'driving by inshallah' is like, then you need to go to Saudi Arabia. When god determines whether or not you live or die, there's no point in driving properly.

[yigit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_claimed_to_be_bu...

And only the old Istanbul (historic peninsula) is claimed to be built on seven hills.

[thejbf]

Is it necessary to mention Saudi Arabia here? Atheists dont drive better in Istanbul. Istanbul is an old, huge and unorginized jungle. Most of the bridges and connections are not designed to handle today's traffic volume. I remember spending 3hrs just to arrive work and get back at home (And there are only 10km btw the two -- avg I spend at least 2 hrs). There is not a proper railway or metro system. Even though sea transportation is fair enough, most people drive and they drive alone. Population is estimated to be 20M with tourists. There are tens of thousands cars crossing the bridges that are making the Europe-Asia connection with only 7 lines in total.

Given these circumstances, just imagine the stress on the drivers.

But the best part: I live in Asia and work in Europe. My 2hrs is an intercontinental journey.

[_b8r0]

I think it is necessary to mention Saudia Arabia because it's much worse in Saudi Arabia. I'm sorry if there was a misconception that I was implying that all Turks drive 'by inshallah', which of course isn't true, they just tend to drive badly - those in Istanbul drive aggressively (or insanely, by the standards of some other places) out of necessity. Those out in dogu anadolu drive as though they're still out in the villages.

As an aside - I don't know anyone who cycles in Istanbul. Is there a cycling commuter community there?