Orientation/direction parameters of central subway stations in the 21st century metropolis life: The example of İstanbul Central Station

Metropolises contain the crowdedness brought by the intense population mobility and the consequent urban transportation and access difficulties. The search for solutions for transportation systems has shifted from the ground surface to the underground settlement as a result of this dynamic and has completely changed the understanding of urban transportation with metro systems. Metro systems located in metropolises with industrial, commercial and residential centers provide the greatest solution to the problem of space and transportation. As a result of dynamic life needs, spaces with collective use, which have very limited stopping times at the 21st Century Central metro stations; It contains many urban living areas such as shopping places, social and cultural sharing places, places of worship. The aim of this study is to examine the issue of wayfinding in central metro stations and to try to determine how space organizations affect users' wayfinding. For this purpose, Şişli-Mecidiyeköy metro station in Istanbul was chosen as the study area for the station. The first reason for the choice is that this stop is used very heavily, the second reason is that it includes a transition to another metro line. Data were collected from the users by conducting a survey at the selected station, analyzes were made and interpreted using the SPSS Statistics Program. As a result of the evaluations, it has been determined that people think that they do not have much difficulty in finding directions at metro stations, they usually pause at waiting points to find direction, and they find the directional signs to be sufficient at a certain level.