Good News for Seniors!
Great news for citizens over 65! A nationwide program now allows all citizens aged 65 and over to travel within cities free of charge. According to İlhan Erzin, vice president of the Turkish Retirement Council Association (TEKD), a regulation coming into force on March 5, 2014, will enable veterans, relatives of martyrs, retirees and citizens aged 65+ to use local public transportation without paying fares. Vice President Erzin stated that relatives of martyrs and veterans, seniors aged 65 and older, and people with disabilities and their caregivers will be eligible for the free urban travel scheme. The conditions for implementing this program across the entire country have been approved.
Caregivers or relatives of people with disabilities should apply for an official disability identification card at the provincial directorates of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies. Once they have the required identification, they will no longer be charged for local city travel.
The new regulation for those aged 65 and over also covers intercity sea and rail travel. Seniors who choose to travel between cities by sea or rail will receive a 50% discount on their fares. There are no time-of-day restrictions for either local or intercity trips under this scheme.
To ensure compliance, the regulation includes a financial penalty for violations. Administrative authorities may impose a fine equivalent to the cost of 50 full tickets on those who abuse or contravene the rules. This penalty is intended to deter misuse and protect the integrity of the program.
In summary, the approved measures provide free local transportation for eligible groups and significant discounts for seniors on intercity sea and rail services. Eligible individuals and their caregivers should secure the necessary documentation from the relevant provincial offices to benefit from these measures.