Woman Driver Continues Journey in Ordu

In Ordu, Ayşegül Kurt, a mother of 3 children, works as a driver in a private public bus operated by the Metropolitan Municipality and she is the only woman working in this profession in the city. Driving a bus that is 8.5 meters long and has a capacity of 70 passengers, Ayşegül Kurt receives full support from passengers and colleagues.

The Only Female Driver in the Profession She Started with Enthusiasm

Ayşegül Kurt (47), who came to Ordu from Istanbul in previous years and worked as a shuttle driver, decided to become a minibus driver upon the recommendation of a friend. With her previous experience, Kurt took the wheel and started her duty as a driver in the 1st stage of the Ordu Metropolitan Municipality’s private public bus, which is 8.5 meters long and has a capacity of 70 passengers. The female captain, who has been driving bus number 52 for about 2 weeks, states that her colleagues and passengers support her.

Carrying Out Her Responsibilities with Awareness

Emphasizing that it is difficult to drive these vehicles in traffic and requires even more carefulness when there are many passengers, Kurt stated, “There are standing passengers, children, elderly, and disabled passengers, and you need to drive the vehicle by keeping track of all of them. Since they are standing, you should not make sudden braking maneuvers; we take on a great responsibility.”

“Other drivers should pay more attention especially where public transport vehicles are present”

Kurt, who says that other drivers in traffic should pay more attention especially where public transport vehicles are present, expressed, “I request them to stay away from sudden overtaking, cutting in behaviors, especially near public transport vehicles. We also put ourselves at risk because, in the end, we carry lives. They suddenly cut in without signaling, and we struggle in such situations because we cannot make sudden brakes,” she said.

“I am proud of my wife”

Ahmet Kurt, who always supports his wife and says he will continue to do so in the future, stated, “I am always behind her, I am proud. Hopefully, may Allah grant her to drive safely without accidents and troubles. Our people are also yielding very positive results now,” he said.

• Passengers expressed their happiness in seeing women in such sectors.