Spatial Analysis of Social Exclusion From a Transportation Perspective: a Case Study of Ankara Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Having been used extensively since the 1980s, the concept of social exclusion has given a new impetus to the discussions of poverty and disadvantageousness. Widely known as being quite difficult, complex, and controversial to define in essence, the concept of social exclusion can be defined as the condition in which certain individuals or social groups cannot integrate into the society either socially or economically or politically. The inability of the individuals to build meaningful social relationships in the community or lack of access to social activities in the city lead to social cohesion problems. This triggers segregation of the society, particularly in large cities, in both social and spatial terms. In the context of accessibility, "urban transport" appears as one of the most important factors determining level of social inclusion/exclusion of the individuals or groups. In this study relations between social exclusion and transport has been evaluated as an attempt to identify socio-spatial segregation pattern of Ankara. By doing so, it has been intended to illustrate the spatial segregation of the city formed by the social exclusion due to the transportation constraints.