Principle 1: Equitable Use

The Design should provide Equitable Use for any sort of people and their diverse abilities which
means design needs to support the same means of use for all users.

However, crosswalks without any signs or notations for the handicapped, quite easily found in Kizilay.
When designs, safety and security should be provided and segregation should be avoided to provide the equitable use for everyone.


Though there are a few structures which are made for the handicapped but they do not function properly because of some problems. For example, there are few slopes that help the
handicapped to reach the certain height but most of them have problems that they do not have
exits nor neither connections with others. Also, the pedestrian bridges do not provide slope path but only steep stairs.

Principle 2: Flexibility In Use

Flexibility comes when the design is able to support a wide range of individual activities and preferences. Ankara has many problems with its bus stops. Even most of the public buses are lowering for handicapped people , bus stops don't high enough.

For private buses it is worse. In the shown picture, it seems quite chaotic and inharmonious. It does not provide any choices in methods of use. There is no any flexibility designed for the handicap. Most of the time people have to "climb" to get in the bus.

There should be more careful facilitation for when the user's use with precisions and accuracy.
No clear distinction among pedestrian, vehicles (in this case ‘Dolmuş’) and bus-stop which means it doesn’t have any chance to provide adaptability to the user’s pace or personal usage. Not only that, it rises possibilities of dangerous accidents.

Principle 3: Simple And Intuitive Use

Simple and intuitive use term for express, design is easy to understand regardless from user's experience, knowlege, language skills or current concentration level.

Eliminating unnecessary complexity and being consistent with user's expectations are most important criterias of this principle.

This car park in Kocatepe is contradicting this principle because of its unpredictable and irrelevant place.


Car park is like an island between vehicular roads and there is nothing for distinct car park to road itself. For someone who using main road in front of it, car park is not easily understandable.

For person who came Kocatepe first time or person with low concentration it is hard to understand these cars are actually parked and it may lead misunderstandings about width of the road.

Principle 4: Perceptible Information

This design principle is concerned about the design's property of communicating necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.

In the example of the alley that leads from Atatürk boulevard to Necatibey street around the Izmir street, the main route used goes in front of the Danistay Building. The street curls to the Izmir street whereas the used alley is in front of the Danistay Building. There is no sign indicating there is a passage through the building thus forcing pedestrians to take the long way to the Necatibey street through Izmir street. This contradicts to the use of different visual and sensory elements for redundant presentation of essential information.

Principle 5: Tolerance For Error

This design principle suggests that a design should minimize hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

Providing fail safe features and creating appropriate protection for hazards and errors are important aspects of this principle and it can't be observed at the pedestrian bridge above the Mithatpaşa-Meşrutiyet crossing.

The problem at this bridge is that it has a very low parapet in comparison to average human height. This being combined to the mismatched heights of the stairs leading to the bridge platform can cause many accidents. Also the supports of the main rail of the parapet are widely open for a child to go through easily. And the height of the bridge is around 8 meters so in a moment of error, the consequences will be lethal.

Principle 6: Low Physical Effort

Low physical effort principle claims that design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

Design should minimize repetitive actions and sustained physical effort.

This pedestrian bridge in Kızılay does not satisfy this principle because of the height and number of the stairs.

Bridge is too high for that street and to climb those stairs require much more effort.

Old or handicapped people won't able to climb those stairs so they won't use it. Because of that there can occure accidents.

Principle 7: Size and Space For Approach and Use

Appropriate size and space must be provided for approach, reach, manuplation, and use regardless of user's body size or mobility for achieving universal design.

In Ankara there are a lot of problems in term of size. Especially in stairs and pedestrian walks
irregularity became visible.



Providing adequate space for used item is main poin for this principle. In this bridge stairs of bridge is landing the pedestrian road but, its position on the road lefts no space for people who do not want to climb the stairs. People have to pass from very narrow place to turn right.