Is SUMP a Panacea for Dynamic Cities? Bridging Ambition and Reality: A Case Study of Istanbul

Abstract

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) aim to improve urban transport by integrating land use, public transit, and active mobility in an equitable and sustainable way. Initially designed for European cities, SUMPs face challenges in fast-developing urban contexts in the Global South. This paper reflects on Istanbul—a fast-growing, car-dependent developing megacity with complex governance structures. Istanbul’s evolving landscape offers a lens to explore how SUMP strategies can adapt to rapid urban growth, institutional fragmentation, and shifts from flexible bus networks to fixed rail systems. The study emphasizes integrating land use, institutional capacity, and multimodal systems, while recognizing informal transport and expanding stakeholder engagement. Rather than critiquing SUMPs, it seeks to amend and localize them to better suit dynamic metropolitan realities in developing regions.