Ordu’s Only Female Public Bus Driver: Ayşegül Kurt

In Ordu, Ayşegül Kurt, who works as a dolmuş driver on the special public bus of the Metropolitan Municipality, serves as the only woman in the city. Kurt, who drives a bus that is 8.5 meters long and has a capacity of 70 people, receives full support from passengers and colleagues.

Experienced Female Driver: Ayşegül Kurt

Ayşegül Kurt (47), a married mother of 3 who used to work as a service driver in Istanbul in previous years, decided to become a dolmuş driver upon the recommendation of a friend in her hometown Ordu. Having driven different vehicles in the past, Kurt took the wheel of the 8.5-meter-long and 70-passenger capacity Ordu Metropolitan Municipality Special Public Bus as a driver in the 1st phase. The female captain, who has been driving bus number 52 for about 2 weeks, states that her colleagues and passengers support her.

“A passion since childhood.” Ayşegül Kurt, who loves driving large vehicles, said, “It’s a passion since childhood. I started this profession 15 days ago, and those who see me for the first time are surprised and congratulating me. In general, it’s going well, they congratulate me because a woman is seen in this profession for the first time in Ordu. The driver colleagues are also very helpful, so far it’s going well,” she said.

Great Responsibility: Being a Public Transport Driver

Emphasizing that it is difficult to drive these vehicles in traffic and that more attention is needed when there are many passengers, Kurt stated, “There are standing, children, elderly, and disabled passengers, and it is necessary to drive the vehicle by keeping track of all of them. Since they are standing, we should not make sudden movements like sudden braking, we take on a great responsibility,” she said.

“We struggle when other drivers squeeze us in traffic.” Kurt, who says that other drivers in traffic need to be more careful, especially where public transport vehicles are present, said, “I request them to stay away from sudden overtaking, cutting in, especially at the points where public transport vehicles are. We put ourselves at risk, after all, we carry lives. They cut in front of us without signaling, and we struggle in these points because we cannot make sudden brakes,” she said.

“I am proud of my wife.” Ahmet Kurt, who said that he always supports his wife and will continue to do so in the future, stated, “I always stand by her, I am proud. Hopefully, may Allah grant her to drive without accidents and troubles. Our people are now giving very positive results,” he said.

Passengers expressed their happiness in seeing women in such sectors.