Two years ago, Turkey witnessed one of the most devastating natural disasters in its history.
The 2023 earthquake that struck Turkey claimed more than 50,000 lives, caused nearly $100 billion in damage and, according to the World Health Organisation, was the worst natural disaster to hit the WHO European region in a century.
Years on, the scale of the rebuilding effort remains immense. Cities across the region are reconstructing streets, homes and public spaces from the ground up.
In a context where urgent humanitarian and infrastructural needs understandably dominate, sustainability is rarely the priority. Yet in Hatay, one of the regions most severely affected, sustainable development is quietly being woven into the city’s recovery.
A key part of the effort comes through a partnership with Turkish shared micromobility company Tripy, which is working alongside local authorities to integrate e-bikes into Hatay’s redesigned transport network.
For a city piecing itself back together, the efforts represent a small but meaningful symbol of hope amidst devastation and a step toward a more resilient and future-ready urban environment.
Keeping cities moving during a crisis
Hatay suffered catastrophic damage during the 2023 quake, with more than 75,000 buildings destroyed beyond repair.
Tripy does not seek to position itself as a “saviour” but the company strongly believes mobility operators have a responsibility to support cities in crisis.
“Sustainable mobility providers hold a critical support role in keeping cities moving following crises and helping them recover and rebuild in the future,” Tripy CEO Dr. Ali Onuralp Ünal told Zag Daily.
Tripy has sold a fleet of shared e-bikes to Hatay Municipality which riders can book through the Tripy app as usual whilst being operated by the city as a public bike share system.
Priced at 3.5 TL per minute (around 6 pence), the service is aimed to be an accessible transport alternative at a time when many other mobility options remain unavailable.
“Hatay’s transport network was severely disrupted. Tripy filled a mobility gap by offering an affordable, environmentally friendly and rapidly deployable transport option together with the Municipality during a period of limited mobility choices.”
Next year, the operator plans to double the number of e-bikes sold to the city. While modest in scale, Tripy says the rollout is deliberately measured.
“The number is intentional and appropriate for Hatay’s current post-earthquake recovery stage,” says Dr. Ünal. “The city is still rebuilding its transport network, parking infrastructure and public spaces so a phased deployment is the safest and most responsible approach.”
According to Tripy, usage figures from the initial fleet of bikes in Hatay already match the demand typically seen in Turkish cities with more than three years of shared e-bike operations.
Aiding Hatay’s rebuilding efforts
Beyond providing mobility right now, Tripy aims to play a role in shaping Hatay’s future.
“Tripy’s philosophy is not only to deploy operations after a crisis but to stand with the city and contribute to its recovery journey,” says Dr. Ünal.
To support Hatay’s recovery, the operator is sharing real-time data with the Municipality to help plan future infrastructure. Data on demand, safety hotspots and route patterns are already informing where cycling lanes, parking zones and safe mobility corridors should be prioritised.
“Hatay urgently needs eco-friendly and cost-effective mobility solutions during its reconstruction and it will continue to need this in its future,” says Dr. Ünal. “It is our responsibility to support the development of sustainable urban mobility and help residents access a more convenient and reliable transportation experience.”
Tripy believes its collaboration with Hatay can serve as a benchmark for how public and private actors work together after disasters – not just to rebuild what was lost but to redesign cities with greater resilience and sustainability in mind.
Tripy’s Turkish growth and European hopes
Hatay marks the fifth Turkish region Tripy has a presence in, alongside İzmir, Eskişehir, Sakarya and Konya.
Tripy’s entrance comes at a time when Turkey’s major cities are grappling with severe congestion, with Istanbul ranked as the world’s most congested city.
The operator argues that wider adoption of micromobility can help ease these pressures. Tripy reports 1.5 million trips, 13 million minutes of ride time and more than three million kilometres travelled across its operational areas. Tripy is aiming to reduce traffic congestion by nearly 5% in two years as it supports Hatay’s recovery goals.
Building on its domestic success, Tripy is eyeing expansion into Europe, particularly the UK. Earlier this year, it secured accreditation from shared mobility charity CoMoUK, strengthening its case for entry.
But Tripy’s move into Hatay is not a classic expansion. It’s a unique partnership between operator and city to keep citizens moving during times of crisis.
“Yes, transport is a small part in the grand scale of Hatay’s development but it has the potential to be crucial and help make the city future-proof,” said Dr. Ünal.
Sustainable, multimodal mobility is increasingly viewed as a pillar of urban resilience. At this year’s Smart City Expo in Barcelona, Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of the POLIS Network, underscored this point: “A resilient urban transport system should function during normal times but also in crisis in an integrated, flexible and sustainable way.”
In Hatay, that principle is already being put into practice. And while e-bikes alone cannot rebuild a city, they may help ensure that what rises from rubble is more connected, more sustainable and better prepared for the future.
