Gaziantep hosts CIVITAS Study Visit to advance behavioural change and active mobility uptake
Image by EUROCITIES
From 28 to 30 April 2026, the city of Gaziantep (Turkey) hosted a dynamic three-day study visit as part of the CIVITAS Replication and Deployment Programme. The visit brought together experts, Champion Cities, peer cities, and local stakeholders to collaboratively address a shared challenge: how to foster behavioural change and improve mobility management in a fast-growing urban environment.
Understanding the local context
Gaziantep, one of Türkiye’s largest and most rapidly developing cities, has been investing in sustainable mobility solutions while managing increasing transport demand. The study visit was designed to deepen understanding of the city’s mobility ecosystem and explore how behavioural change strategies can support more sustainable travel patterns.
The first day focused on building a strong foundation by examining Gaziantep’s current mobility strategy and key projects. Participants were introduced to the city’s priorities and its central challenge through presentations and discussions led by local representatives. This was complemented by an in-depth “challenge breakdown” session, where participants collectively analysed the underlying factors shaping mobility behaviours, including regulatory frameworks, financial instruments, and institutional dynamics.
A key highlight of the day was a comprehensive site visit, allowing participants to experience the challenge on the ground. The visit included technical stops at major locations across the city, such as cycling corridors and intersections, the Gaziantep Traffic Control Centre, and shared mobility infrastructure. These visits provided concrete insights into the interaction between infrastructure, operations, and user behaviour in real-life conditions.
Learning from peer and Champion Cities
The study visit placed strong emphasis on peer learning and knowledge exchange. Representatives from the peer city of Ankara shared their experiences, offering perspectives on public transport, cycling promotion, and behavioural change measures.
On the second day, contributions from invited experts further enriched the discussion. Experts from EIT Urban Mobility and ENVERÇEVKO introduced methodologies and tools that can support cities in influencing travel behaviour and designing effective mobility interventions.
Champion Cities, Utrecht and Budapest (BKK), and the Twin City Kifissia also shared practical case studies, highlighting approaches that have worked in their contexts, as well as challenges encountered along the way. These exchanges helped participants identify transferable lessons and adapt proven solutions to Gaziantep’s specific needs.
“I think the CIVITAS Replication and Deployment programme offers a very good knowledge exchange between cities. For the Challenge cities it can be very helpful to get information from the Champion cities who experienced the same issues, so they can address the problems more effectively,” said Mihály Antal from BKK, highlighting the importance of shared learning within the programme.
From insights to solutions
Building on this knowledge, the study visit moved into intensive co-creation sessions. Through structured workshops, participants worked together to translate ideas into concrete solutions tailored to the local context.
The process began with brainstorming and collaborative exercises designed to connect participants’ expertise with Gaziantep’s challenge. Ideas were then refined and consolidated into potential measures, which were presented to the host city during a pitching session.
A dedicated stakeholder mapping exercise enabled participants to identify the key actors needed to implement these solutions—from municipal departments to external partners—highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in mobility planning.
“It is an invaluable experience to step out of your own context and into others, in order to help the host city but also return home myself with new ideas and perspectives on our own challenges,” said Rens Jonker from the City of Utrecht, reflecting the mutual benefits of the exchange.
The second day concluded with a bicycle tour across the city, offering participants a first-hand experience of Gaziantep’s cycling infrastructure and reinforcing discussions on active mobility and behavioural change.
Turning ideas into action
The final day focused on moving from concepts to implementation. Participants explored financial mechanisms and existing resources during a “business canvas” session, identifying how proposed solutions could be funded and sustained over time.
This was followed by a detailed discussion on actionable implementation steps, where participants defined timelines and practical measures for rolling out the selected solutions. The study visit concluded with a collective reflection, capturing key learnings and takeaways from the three days of collaboration.
Looking ahead
Gaziantep’s study visit highlights the value of hands-on exchange and collaborative problem-solving in addressing complex urban mobility challenges. By combining local knowledge with international expertise, the CIVITAS Replication and Deployment Programme supports cities in developing realistic, implementable solutions.
As Gaziantep takes the next steps toward developing its deployment plan, its journey will serve as a reference for others committed to making cycling in cities more attractive and enhancing modal shift towards active modes.
View the detailed presentations and materials and photos from the CIVITAS Study Visit in Gaziantep.
Author: Arianna Americo
