Istanbul Offers Free Public Transport on First Day of School

Istanbul is set to offer free public transportation on September 14th, the first day of the 2026-2027 academic year, as part of measures to manage the anticipated surge in traffic. The decision was made during the Istanbul Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) meeting held in Eyüpsultan.

From 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM on this day, all public transport vehicles integrated with the city's ticketing system will be accessible without charge. This initiative is expected to encourage more residents to use public transit, thereby alleviating the heavy traffic typically experienced on school opening days.

In preparation for the influx, a significant deployment of personnel and resources is planned. A total of 3,151 personnel across 1,496 teams will be stationed at 808 points throughout Istanbul. Additionally, inspections of school buses will be conducted to ensure safety and compliance. Traffic management will be a priority, with 33 tow trucks ready for accident response and 60 personnel along with 30 "On-Site Solution Vehicles" assigned to school routes.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and related institutions will monitor traffic density via city cameras from the Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) and Traffic Management Center (UYM) for three days. Construction work in areas near schools will be suspended during the first week of school, and ongoing projects must be completed before the academic year begins. Traffic lights in 64 school zones will also feature child-friendly sounds to enhance traffic awareness among younger pedestrians.