At the mind of maps, Rize Republic Street

Behavioral geography, which is an important area of study in the geography, examines how people perceive the environment they live in from the differences in their interests, desires, needs, experiences, socio-cultural background, gender, age, education level, level of awareness and interests and the factors that affect their perceptions. Shopping spaces are the places where the interaction between human and space is most intense. These places are different in people‟s minds that living in the city. The most effective way to express the spatial schemas that people create perceptually in their minds in line with their experiences and interests is mind maps. In this study, it is aimed to explain how Cumhuriyet Street, which is one of the most important streets in Rize, is perceived by the population groups with different qualifications living in the city and what factors affect these perceptions, and perceptual differences of these population groups through mind maps. In the scope of the research, questionnaire and gap filling method was applied to 246 people consisting of craftsmen, officals, high school and university students, housewives and educators. The obtained information was digitized by statistical methods, transferred to tables and graphics and mind maps were created. Then, by interpreting the findings, it was revealed how Cumhuriyet Street was located in the mind maps of the inhabitants of the city.