Legal Pathways for Urban Mobility Resilience: A Content Analysis of Policy Documents for Istanbul’s Transport Systems Authors

Abstract

This paper examines how urban mobility resilience is addressed within Istanbul’s transport policy and legislative framework through a systematic qualitative content analysis of 35 national and local policy documents. Building on resilience theory and international policy frameworks, including the Sendai Framework, the European Green Deal, and Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) principles, the study develops thematic benchmarks to evaluate the coherence, strengths, and gaps of disaster preparedness and resilience strategies. The findings reveal that national policies establish comprehensive strategic and legal frameworks, while local policies provide detailed operational measures. However, disaster preparedness and sustainable mobility remain insufficiently integrated, and coordination between national and local governance levels is only partially aligned. The paper identifies key opportunities for improving policy coherence, integrating resilience with sustainable transport planning, strengthening data-driven governance, and enhancing institutional coordination to improve the long-term resilience of Istanbul’s transport systems against climate-related and seismic risks.