Türkiye's motorcycle boom creates havoc, prompts new measures
by Burak Akinci
ANKARA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's roads have become a blur of two wheels in recent years. Once seen as a niche passion, motorcycles are now an everyday sight across major cities, offering both freedom and frustration in equal measure.
Official data showed the number of registered motorcycles nationwide has jumped by nearly 90 percent in the past five years, reaching 6.77 million as of July 2025.
Istanbul alone accounts for almost 1 million of them, making Türkiye's economic hub the country's motorcycle capital.
But the surge is not confined to the Bosporus city. Capital Ankara, Izmir, and other major urban centers are seeing similar trends as more residents turn to two wheels to cope with traffic gridlock and rising living costs.
Yigit Dedeoglu, an Istanbul-based road safety expert and motorcycle enthusiast, said the surge in the number of motorcycles gained speed after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, when economic challenges and high fuel prices pushed many toward cheaper and faster ways to move.
The explosion of e-commerce also accelerated the shift, creating a new army of delivery couriers racing against time to meet demand, he added.
For some, motorcycles offer affordability and speed, two crucial advantages in cities where cars idle endlessly in congestion and fuel prices remain stubbornly high.
For others, the rapid expansion of motorcycles brings growing concerns over safety, regulation and road culture.
"The boom in motorcycle number has caused significant problems in traffic. The problem is not their presence but an uncontrolled rise in numbers," said Dedeoglu.
"Motorcycle drivers thought that traffic regulations don't necessarily apply to them and began breaking the rules. Traffic regulations apply to all, meaning to both cars and motorcycles," he added.
In Ankara's Aydinlikevler district, 36-year-old motorcyclist and business owner Mehmet Acuner explained that as the number of motorcycles rises, so does irresponsible behavior.
"There are riders going up on pavements, doing dangerous moves, and doing silly stunts just to film videos. Of course, not everyone is like that," he noted.
Official figures showed that the rise in motorcycles has been accompanied by a sharp increase in accidents. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, more than 76,000 motorcycle-related crashes resulted in deaths or injuries, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported in September, quoting police data.
"While motorcycle riders can be involved in accidents, they also face constant risks from the behavior of other road users," said Acuner. "Even when riders follow safety guidelines, they remain vulnerable," he added.
"We use all the necessary protective gear, but still there are many accidents with injuries. And these happen mostly because of car drivers' carelessness," he said.
"Even when we are just riding normally, cars cut us off, push us to the side, make us fall," said Celal Buyukkayikci, a motorcycle courier in Istanbul.
He added that tensions frequently escalate into confrontations and viral brawls that usually make headlines.
According to Dedeoglu, encouraging better driving habits and mutual respect among all road users is essential if the country hopes to balance convenience and safety.
To tackle these challenges, a new traffic law bill is awaiting discussion in the Turkish Parliament, proposing strict penalties for traffic violations.
In a post on X on Nov. 1, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that those who disregard traffic safety would face severe punishments under the bill, including hefty fines, suspension of their driver's license, and vehicle impoundment. ■