Martı Founder Oktem called on Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to take action for the regulations on carpooling

The Founder of Martı, Oğuz Alper Öktem, arrived in front of the facility where the UKOME meeting was held and made statements. Öktem emphasized that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) has the authority to issue a shared travel regulation.
The Founder of Martı, Oğuz Alper Öktem, made statements in front of the Zeytinburnu Çırpıcı Social Facilities where the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) meeting was held. In his statement, Öktem highlighted that the IBB has the authority to issue a shared travel regulation. Thousands of TAG drivers who wanted to voice their demands for the shared travel regulation were seen gathering in front of the hall where the UKOME meeting was held to support Öktem.
Öktem, stating that the IBB has the authority to issue the shared travel regulation, said, ‘We researched with our lawyers and understood that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has the authority to issue a shared travel regulation. According to the item in clause (k) of Article 17 of the UKOME regulation, the mayor can invite district mayors to vote and achieve the majority if he wishes.’
In his statement, Öktem said, ‘Bugra Gokce, Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) President, says ‘UKOME does not have the authority to issue a shared travel regulation.’ This statement is incorrect. We looked into it with our lawyers and understood that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has the authority to issue a shared travel regulation. There are two methods to do this. The first one is that the mayor can invite district mayors to vote in UKOME and achieve the majority. In other words, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality can invite district mayors to vote in UKOME and enact the desired regulation. The shared travel regulation can be issued through this method. The second method is much simpler; Article 15 (b) of the municipal law grants the authority to issue regulations to the municipality or the transportation department. The same law’s Article 18 (m) also grants the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Assembly the authority to approve. Therefore, the transportation department can draft the regulation and the assembly can approve it. If Mr. Ekrem Imamoglu takes the initiative, the shared travel regulation can be issued by UKOME or the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Assembly. The laws are very clear. Today, we came here to make our voices heard and to explain how necessary this shared travel regulation is for Istanbul. We are 150,000 drivers in Istanbul, the largest transportation community in Turkey, and we came here united to request this regulation. Do not further inconvenience Istanbul. Enact this regulation. Let the people of Istanbul breathe easily and access transportation easily. We, 150,000 drivers, want this.’