Cash usage in public transportation vehicles inside Düzce ends with the Smart Transportation Card, Kart81, which is put into practise at the beginning of 2010 with the cooperation of Düzce Municipality and E-Kent.

According to the contract signed between the Privately-Owned Public Bus Owners under the control of Düzce Municipality and E-Kent, which offers high-technology solutions required by modern town-planning, the cash usage in urban transportation in Düzce is abolished. As of April 1^st of 2010, the citizens of Düzce will travel with fast, practical and inexpensive Kart81 instead of cash in public transportation vehicles.

Managing Director of E-Kent, Vahit Özkan said: "As E-Kent, we provide service directed to the management of public transport service in a way enabling maximum contribution to the budgets of all parties while building a service link between the people living in cities and municipalities, local authorities and privately-owned public buses. Transportation becomes faster and more efficient by putting an end to the cash usage in urban transportation in Düzce. Thanks to this system, which intends to remove the cash usage in public transportation, pool will be enabled in public transportation in Düzce. Thus, the vehicles will not wait at bus-stops for extra time to get more passengers or they will not be in competition with each other, and continuity in transportation will be provided. We are glad to be implementing this system in Düzce which will enable us to reach the European Standards in transportation".

Smart Transportation Cards, which is an ideal product for the citizens of Düzce who are regularly using the public transportation vehicles, can be obtained from contracted dealers and ticket offices which have Aktif logo. Kart81 is read by the machines installed in public transportation vehicles by holding the card in a close proximity to the reader and thus enabling the payment. In addition to Kart81, Magnetic Tickets for single use offered by E-Kent will also be in use within the system. The citizens of Düzce will have the comfort of a faster, lower priced and practical system in transportation as of April 1^st of 2010.

The Mayor of Düzce Municipality, İsmail Bayram said: "There are 44 buses used in urban transportation in Düzce, which has a population of 323,000. The time loss in buses due to cash payments which affects our citizens will end with the usage of Smart Transportation Card, Kart81, as being the only instrument of payment in public transportation. We are glad to have brought the world standards in transportation services to our city. Thanks to the Kart81 developed by E-Kent, our citizens of Düzce have met a faster, practical and more economical solution in transportation".

The cooperation of Bahçeşehir University Transportation Application Research Centre (UYGAR )and E-Kent, which offers fast, practical and economical solutions to the transportation issues of cities, will play a key role in solving the urban transportation and urban traffic issues of rapidly growing cities.

As the subsidiary of Aktif Bank which has offered the first "direct banking" in Turkey and offering high-technology services required by modern town-planning, E-Kent has added one more service to its present services. The cooperation of E-Kent, which offers fast, economical and drastic high-technology solutions; required by modern town-planning, to the public transportation problems of cities, and Bahçeşehir University Transportation Application Research Centre (UYGAR ) will play a key role in solving the urban transportation and urban traffic issues of rapidly growing cities.

The signature ceremony of the project, which was developed with the current technological potentials for providing a fast and economical transportation system to the public and creating a comfortable management system for the citizens, held place in Beşiktaş Campus of Bahçeşehir University. With the participation of the Chancellor of Bahçeşehir University, Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, President of UYGAR, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilıcalı, President of Aktif Bank, Dr. Önder Halisdemir and Managing Director of E-Kent, Vahit Özkan, solutions to the traffic issues of cities where E-Kent provides service are explained in the signature ceremony.

UYGAR and E-Kent will provide service to the municipalities in Electronic Fare Collection System (EÜTS) as well as:

• Urban Traffic Arrangement
• Public Transportation Planning,
• Preparing Main Transportation Plans,
• Urban Traffic Control Centre and Installation of Camera Systems,
• Installation of Electronic Control Systems (EDS),
• Installation of Passenger Information Systems and Vehicle Routing Systems,
• Installation of Park Routing and Information Systems.

Pedestrianisation Areas, Bicycle Paths

Introducing fast, practical, inexpensive and innovative systems to Bursa, Kayseri, Tokat, Gaziantep, Kütahya, Sakarya and Düzce, E-Kent will become a significant component of Traffic Control Centres (TKM) with the applications it will put into practise with UYGAR in these cities. Within the scope of the project, the urban traffic will be examined and projects will be prepared according to the needs by determining the bus-stop locations, car park planning, pedestrianisation areas and bicycle paths.

Entire public transportation system will be optimised by providing the integration among municipality buses, privately-owned public buses and minibuses as well as light rail systems; if available, and determining the departure times and intervals between the departures of the vehicles and examining the efficiency of the routes used.

Main Transportation Plans of the cities will be prepared according to the future land use decisions of the city. The Main Transportation Plan will contain collecting information on the present and future term land use, determination of the present transportation infrastructure, collecting the socio-economic data related to the planned area, conducting surveys and traffic count works, transportation demand pattern and preparation of calibration. According to the transportation demands as determined by this plan, the most convenient transportation systems to provide the required capacity will be chosen and arranged.

Traffic Control Centre

A traffic control centre, which uses the latest technological systems, will be set up in order to enable the management of the urban transportation from one centre. This centre will be a centre which contains and operates Traffic Density Sensors and Variable Message Systems (DMS), optional electronic control systems, passenger information and vehicle routing (vehicle tracking, smart bus-stop and electronic public transportation vehicle routing) and park routing-information systems.

Number of violations will be reduced by the deterrence created by controlling the traffic points for 24 hours using the Electronic Control Systems (EDS). On road parking, special purpose lane or red light violation systems will be set up and operated from the Traffic Control Centre.

Informing through SMS

Monitoring the public transportation vehicles with vehicle tracking system real-time, passengers will be informed through web and SMS about the arrival times of vehicles. The traffic density in city centres will be reduced by directing the public transportation vehicles, through electronic vehicle routing system, to the accumulation areas. Both systems will be operated from Traffic Control Centre following the site installation.

The vehicles to park in the urban areas will be informed by DMS panels about the occupancy rates and they will be directed to the closest parking lots. Therefore, drivers will be informed by DMS panels about the traffic in the route while the urban traffic density is reduced. The system will be operated from Traffic Control Centre following the site installation.

Scholarship to 10 municipality employees from E-Kent every year

To start from February 2010, in order to contribute to the specialization of municipality employees in subjects of Public Transportation and Traffic Engineering, 5 persons will be given post graduate scholarships every six months, by E-Kent according to the determined selection criteria, to study in "Urban Systems and Transportation Management" post graduate program carried out under the coordination of UYGAR.

Aktif Bank financing the projects

Aktif Bank will give financial support to the projects; to be implemented by UYGAR and E-Kent, with favourable conditions if required.

Speaking in the signature ceremony, Managing Director of E-Kent, Vahit Özkan said: "As E-Kent, with the objective of "Building city technologies", we are creating business partnerships with numerous respected and reliable local and foreign hardware, software and technology firms. Today, the cooperation which we perform the signature ceremony has a very different meaning and importance for us in that we have the scientific power of Bahçeşehir University, one of the respected universities in our country, by our side. We believe that we will conduct successful works by combining our powers with the academic staff under the management of Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilıcalı, the President of UYGAR,".

It will make a great contribution to the local authorities

President of UYGAR, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilıcalı said that for enabling a more efficient public transportation and faster and more comfortable service to the citizens, the cooperation of UYGAR and E-KENT will make a great contribution to the local authorities as being a first.

Stating that UYGAR not only gives priority to the technical aspects but also to the practical applications, Chancellor of Bahçeşehir University, Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan said: "This cooperation we made with Aktif Bank within this framework is an important operation in terms of company-university cooperation and also an important service which we’ve provided to the community together".

Stating that our country and cities rapidly develop in the 21th Century while the traffic problems of our cities increasingly continue, President of Aktif Bank, Dr. Önder Halisdemir said: "The project, which was developed with the current technological potentials for providing a fast and economical transportation system to the public and creating a comfortable management pattern for the citizens, includes numerous applications ranging from pedestrianisation areas, bicycle paths and traffic control centres to informing the citizens through SMS. As Aktif Bank, we will be glad to provide the required financial and credit support for the implementations of this project. We were already developing modern systems regarding transportation within our subsidiary E-Kent, and now we have added the academic background to our applications with UYGAR.

"Electronic Fare Collection System" of E-Kent; the leading firm of transportation technologies, has met the citizens of Düzce on January 14^th of 2010. Undertaking the transportation operations in Düzce, E-Kent has introduced a fast, practical, inexpensive and innovative system; Kart81, Smart Transportation Card of Düzce, to the local community.

Offering high-technology solutions required by modern town-planning, E-Kent brought its "Electronic Fare Collection System" to Düzce. Building a service link between the citizens and Local Municipality and Privately Owned Public Buses by its wide field organisation while offering solutions and consultancy required to provide the optimum efficiency for public transport services, E-Kent shared a fast, practical and more economical solution; Kart81, with the citizens of Düzce.

Undertaking the operations of Electronic Fare Collection Systems in Bursa, Tokat, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Kütahya and Sakarya where it has installed systems in nearly 2500 vehicles and turnstiles, providing service to an average number of 7 million passengers daily, E-Kent, which safely manages 1 billion transactions in integration with banking systems, has set up the installations of Electronic Fare Collection Systems in public transportation vehicles that are within the control and service area of Düzce Municipality after signing an agreement with Düzce Privately-Owned Public Bus Owners. Having taken over the operation right for a period of10 years and having set up the system in all active privately-owned public buses, E-Kent puts an end to cash usage in public transportation vehicles.

The Smart Electronic Fare Collection System set up in Düzce by E-Kent, which uses systems in districts where it provides service in line with the latest technological developments, is used in all leading large metropolises the world over such as London, Paris, New York, Sidney, Beijing as well as Bursa, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Tokat, Kütahya, Eskişehir, Balıkesir, Amasya and Tarsus in Turkey.

Use your Smart Transportation Card; Kart81, or Magnetic Ticket, and feel comfortable...

Smart Transportation Cards, which is an ideal product for the citizens of Düzce who are regularly using the public transportation vehicles, will be obtained from contracted dealers and ticket offices which have Aktif logo and they will be added credits. Afterward, they will be read by the machines installed in public transportation vehicles by holding the card in a close proximity to the reader and thus enabling the payment. The citizens of Düzce, who use the Magnetic Ticket or Smart Transportation Card; Kart81, offered by E-Kent will have the comfort of a faster, lower priced and practical system in transportation.

E-Kent has participated in the Albania National Public Transportation Congress as speechmaker and sponsor which was organised by UITP in Tirana, Albanian capital, between December 07^th and December 11^th of 2009.

Representing E-Kent which is at the same time a member of UITP, Managing Director, Vahit Özkan, has made a presentation giving information about current, technological and quality services and solutions in public transportation in the International Public Transportation Conference organised in Tirana International Hotel on December 8^th of 2009.

Representing Burulaş which is a transportation company active in Bursa, the first operation of E-Kent and one of the largest districts E-Kent provides service to, Erdinç Alkan also made a presentation. E-Kent services and solutions particularly for Bursa were discussed in detail in this presentation.

Lunch on the conference day has been given under the sponsorship of E-Kent with a broad participation.

After the conference, some official talks were held in the capital of Macedonia, Skopje and in the capital of Kosovo, Pristine with the participation of Burulaş team, participants from İETT and Secretary General of Töhob.

In a meeting held in the Ministry of Environment and Regional Planning of Kosovo Republic with Mahir YAĞCILAR (Kosovo Turkish Democratic Party Chairperson and Minister of Kosovo Environment and Regional Planning) and his team, Minister Mahir Yağcılar stated that they are open to all Turkish investments to be made in Kosovo. Stating that he is closely interested in Kosovo’s needs in transportation as being a transportation engineer himself, Minister Yağcılar conveyed his thanks to the Çalık Holding, which includes E-Kent within its structure and has numerous investments in the Balkans, owing to the investments it has made.

E-Kent hosted Mayors from all corners of Turkey in its booth in the Kent 2009 Fair, organised in TUYAP İstanbul Fair and Congress Centre with the motto "Habitable Cities" between December 17th and December 20th of 2009.

Organised by Tüyap Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım Corp. between December 17th and December 20th of 2009 with the contributions of Turkish Association of Municipalities and Marmara Association of Municipalities, KENT 2009, "13. Needs of Local Authorities, Kent Furniture, Park and Garden Arrangement and Sports Arenas Fair" has been opened following the opening speeches of the Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, M. Mehdi Eker and the Lieutenant Governor of İstanbul, Ahmet Aydın.

On the other hand, 2 day training work organised by TBB, Turkish Association of Municipalities, for a total number of 179 Mayors coming from the centres of population which are comprised of districts and counties of populations that are higher than 100,000 was done concurrently with the Kent 2009 Fair in Tüyap Fair and Congress Centre.

Developments in local authorities sector were exhibited in KENT 2009 Fair in which Metropolitan Municipalities throughout Turkey and major Associations of Municipalities gave information about their services in the booths particularly assigned for them, and almost 150 companies, company representatives and hundreds of municipalities participated as visitors. Most efficient equipment and products, which municipalities should use while bringing service to the public, were exhibited as a whole.

E-Kent, which offers high-technology solutions required by modern town-planning while operating these technological solutions with its wide field organisations, builds a service link between the passenger and Local Municipalities and Privately Owned Public Buses, offers solutions and consultancy required to operate the public transportation in a way enabling maximum contribution to the budgets of all parties, has found the opportunity to gather with hundreds of municipality officials and tens of mayors in Kent 2009 Fair.

The services and solutions offered to the local authorities attracted a great interest in the booth of E-Kent which was also visited by İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Kadir Topbaş. E-Kent, which has been offering electronic fare collection solutions since 2002 to the leading cities of Turkey, city transportation systems, public and privately owned public buses and public spaces such as car parks, cultural parks, zoos and museums, sets up and operates its easy and fast payment systems at every point where municipality services are given while considering the special needs of these cities. E-Kent also offers planning and efficiency consultancy service to the public institutions and private institutions.

With the aim "To be the indispensable key of city life", E-Kent is creating business partnerships with numerous respected and reliable local and foreign hardware, software and technology firms. Technological solutions emerging as a result of these partnerships were introduced to the decision takers in Kent 2009 Fair. The booth of E-Kent which has been positioned as Honorary Member of Turkish Association of Operators of Privately-Owned Public Transportation Buses TÖHOB and a member of International Association of Public Transportation (UITP) as a result of its successful works and the synergy it brought to the sector, was also visited by the management of TÖHOB, Turkish Association of Operators of Privately-Owned Public Transportation Buses.

"Use your mind, Use your Card"

E-Kent "Electronic Fare Collection System" which currently provides service in the districts of Bursa, Kayseri, Tokat, Gaziantep and Kütahya has met the citizens of Sakarya on December 23rd of 2009. E-Kent which took over the operations of transportation in Sakarya has introduced "Kart54"; a fast, practical, inexpensive and innovative system, to the local community.

Being the subsidiary of Aktif Bank which provided the "direct banking" for the first time in Turkey, and offering the high-technology solutions required by modern town-planning, E-Kent is now in Sakarya with "Electronic Fare Collection System" and "Kart54"... Building a service link between the passenger and Municipality and Privately Owned Public Buses by its wide field organisation, E-Kent has introduced a fast, practical and more economical solution to the citizens of Sakarya with "Kart54". The system has brought a great reform to the transportation in Sakarya by eliminating the time loss in the buses due to cash payments and waiting for the change while offering a practical usage and smart cards with lower price alternatives in intensive usages of transportation.

"Kart54", which is an ideal product for the citizens of Sakarya who regularly use the public transportation vehicles, can be obtained from dealers and ticket offices that are easily accessible to the citizens. Kart54, which can be obtained from dealers and ticket offices, is added credits in 18 charging stations at present and they are read by machines to be set up in public transportation vehicles just by holding the card in a close proximity to the reader and thus enabling the payment. A key solution to the mix-up in public transportation system, "Kart54" has four types as full fare, student fare, reduced fare and open fare.

Electronic Fare Collection System in Sakarya...

Electronic Fare Collection System provides service to an average number of 7 million passengers by 2500 vehicles and systems set up in turnstiles in Bursa, Tokat, Kayseri, Gaziantep and Kütahya where it has undertaken the operations. E-Kent, which safely manages 1 billion transactions in integration with banking systems, has begun providing service to the citizens of Sakarya with the agreement it signed with Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality. E-Kent, which began setting up the installations of Electronic Fare Collection Systems in vehicles that are within the control and service area of Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality, has received the operating right for a period of 10 years. With the system set up in public buses in the first step and to be set up in privately owned public buses within a year, E-Kent puts an end to cash usage in public transportation vehicles. The systems using high-technology and to be set up by E-Kent support the smart card and magnetic ticket products which are used in all leading large metropolises the world over such as London, Paris, New York, Sidney, Beijing as well as Bursa, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Tokat, Kütahya, Eskişehir, Balıkesir, Amasya and Tarsus in Turkey.

Speaking in the "Kart54" publicity meeting, the Mayor of Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality, Zeki Toçoğlu said that a historical step had been taken in transportation. Mentioning the cash usage in buses now came to an end owing to Kart54, Mayor Zeki Toçoğlu said: "Smart Transportation Card Kart54 which conduced to our meeting here today is one of the steps of improving our transportation system, and perhaps it’s the pivotal one. Kart54 is the key element to the mix-up in public transportation. Thanks to this card, we are getting an inexpensive and practical transportation".

Managing Director of E-Kent, Vahit Özkan said: "The systems which we give the name validator and can define as fare collection machines have been installed in 71 municipality buses as the first stage of the project. 2 concept card/ticket sales offices and card charging stations will be positioned at the most central points of the city and the citizens of Sakarya who are using the urban transportation will be offered fast and practical service. In addition, sales of tickets and cards as well as card charging services will be given to the citizens of Sakarya at many points alternatively by making agreements with18 dealers as charging stations.

The leading company in the field of transportation technologies, E-Kent, which has been offering service to the cities and their citizens, with the principle of building city technologies, working in cooperation with the associations of municipality and privately owned public buses since 2002 has become the First Honorary Member of Turkish Association of Operators of Privately-Owned Public Transportation Buses (TÖHOB) in the meeting of the association organised in Antalya in 2009.

Chairman, Vice Chairman and Members of nearly 100 Associations of Privately-Owned Public Buses, Local Transportation Authorities of Antalya, press members and executives of sponsoring firms participated in the last meeting of TÖHOB 2009 organised by Turkish Association of Operators of Privately-Owned Public Transportation Buses (TÖHOB) in Antalya Porto Bella Hotel between November 19^th and November 20^th of 2009.

Associate Professor Şaban Kızıldağ has made a presentation, “Mazeret Yok – No Excuse”; which he has presented to 690,000 people until today, on the first day of E-Kent Surprise Meeting which was organised under the sponsorship of E-Kent. Drawing a great interest from the participants of the meeting, the activity has left its mark on the meeting.

In the meeting, Chairman of TÖHOB; İsmail Yüksel, Secretary General; Onur Orhon, and chairmen and executives of associations representing various districts made speeches. Sales Director of E-Kent, Ferit Baycan also shared with participants the latest developments experienced in transportation technologies and electronic fare collection systems by a presentation he made.

In the meeting which draw great interest from the national and local media, TÖHOB management has declared E-Kent Corp. the first Honorary Member of TÖHOB owing to its constructive contributions to the transportation sector as well as its support to the Privately-Owned Public Buses. The plaque of Honorary Membership was given to the E-Kent Marketing Director; Ejder Osmancı, by Ercan Soydaş who is both the Board Member of Ankara Chamber of Artisans of Privately-Owned Public Buses and the Inspectorate Member of TÖHOB.

E-Kent Marketing Director, Ejder Osmancı has given a vote of thanks for E-Kent having been declared the First Honorary Member of TÖHOB. In his speech, Ormancı stated that transportation as a sector that is active, dynamic, and has a bright future and is very open to improvement is one of the sectors in Turkey which adds the highest value and has the highest potential. Stating that they have completed the year 2009 with 2 pleasant developments as E-Kent, Ormancı shared the information that E-Kent fare collection systems were chosen in public transportation also in Sakarya and Düzce.

One of the city portals, "Kart38" that E-Kent, which offers service with the principle of building City Technologies and is the leading company in transportation technologies, put into practise as the complement of transportation solutions in cities where it offers service has been awarded the first prize in "e-news" as a result of the evaluation of the jury as well as public votes in "Informatics Stars E-Cycle Competition" organised by Informatics Association of Turkey.

City portals put into practise by E-Kent; a subsidiary of Aktif Bank, in the cities where it offers service are implemented for the creation of a social environment while enabling more efficient advertisement of those cities. In the competition that covered various web projects which provided cycle in internet environment or carried the business structure to the internet environment, evaluation was done with the contribution of specialists and experienced jury members along with public votes therefore enabling active participation in the activity from more internet users of all levels.

City portal of Kayseri, www.kart38.com contains information regarding Kayseri such as current news, activities, information on transportation, history and geographical structure, projects of the municipality, social services given by the municipality. In addition to this useful information, it also provides information about city guide, weather forecast for the city, photo album related to the city, exchange rates, classified advertisements, announcements and tender information. Additionally, Kart38 holders of Kayseri citizens can reach all the details of their transport cards.

"Kart38", advancing to the final in "e-news" section as a result of the votes of the jury, won the first place by taking the highest votes in the public voting performed between November 01^st and November 16^th.

The citizens of Kütahya have met a modern payment system in transportation with the Kart43.

Kart43 has been launched by the participation of the Mayor of Kütahya, E-Kent, executives of our bank, our dealers of charging stations and the citizens of Kütahya on August 15th. In our activity which drew a great interest from the press, Citizens were informed at four separate booths and more than 1000 cards were sold in a few hours. Kart43 which has been representatively inaugurated by the Mayor of Kütahya; Mustafa İça, has begun being used in Public Buses.

Offering contemporary transportation systems solution to Bursa, Kayseri, Gaziantep and Tokat in the past, E-Kent has reinforced its leading position in the sector by adding Kütahya to its service list.

Smart Card system is being adapted in Kütahya within the scope of contemporary public transportation system. Being in the search of this subject matter, Public Bus owners in Kütahya has agreed with E-Kent which is an important brand in smart card and satellite tracking systems.

Chairman of Privately Owned Public Buses, Ferhat Tak said “We are very pleased to have provided a contemporary fare collection system to Kütahya” regarding the agreement and made the following speech.

'We have chosen the system which is used in the most developed cities around the world for Kütahya. Our passengers will travel with their smart cards or magnetic cards which can be obtained from every point of the city. Therefore we will put an end to the cash usage in our buses. Thus, we entirely prevent improper travelling and all chances of possible misuses. Besides, with the complete removal of cash payments, we pass to the pool that our artisans have desired. In the fare collecting system, all entries when getting on the bus are recorded as income to the common pool. At the end of the day, progress payments are wired to the accounts. We now put an end to the racing among bus drivers who try to pick up more passengers. All our vehicles have a definite number of trips per day and these trips are tracked through vehicle tracking systems installed in the vehicles. Our passengers will also see the arrival times of the buses on "smart bus-stops" that are to be set up in present bus-stops. In addition, we are installing information displays in our vehicles. They will be able to see the current news and the following bus-stops on that line.

Everything has been planned for the supply of smart cards and magnetic cards which will be used instead of cash by our passengers. We are setting up the entire system together with E-Kent which is the leading operator company in its field in Turkey. With their experience gained in large metropolises of Turkey, they will be in service of the citizens of Kütahya both through the ticket offices to be opened in central locations and dealers to be opened all around the city. In addition, Electronic Ticket Vending Card Recharging Machines which are available in a few cities in Turkey will be also installed in Kütahya. Our passengers will experience the technology and automation 24 hours and 365 days a year. We will put the system into use in September and will remove the cash usage. I say 'Enjoy your new system' to our city and artisans"

E-Kent which provides services to the districts of Bursa, Kayseri, Tokat and Gaziantep now meets the citizens of Kütahya.

E-Kent introduces a fast, practical, inexpensive and innovative system to the local community in Kütahya by bringing high-technology solutions required by modern town-planning.

Building a service link between the passenger and Local Municipality and Privately Owned Public Buses by its wide field organisation while offering solutions and consultancy required to provide the optimum efficiency for public transport services, E-Kent offers a fast, practical and more economical solution to the citizens of Kütahya in transportation.

5. International Infrastructure, Traffic Management Road Safety and Parking Systems Fair was organised in İstanbul Expo Center between May 27^th and May 29^th. Managing Director of E-Kent, Atalay Taşkoparan has made a speech in Intertraffic İstanbul Fair which brought 150 participants and 350 brands from 18 countries together.

5. Intertraffic İstanbul Fair, in which traffic, transportation, infrastructure, road construction and maintenance, and parking issues; those of which constitute the main problems of particularly İstanbul and many cities, along with solution offers were discussed in detail has been organised in İstanbul Expo Center between May 27^th and May 29^th of 2009.

E-Kent that has been incorporated to Çalık Holding at the beginning of 2008 and is a subsidiary of Aktif Bank also took place in Intertraffic İstanbul Expo which brought ‘Traffic, Transportation and Local Authorities’ sector together and hosted to 150 leading international participants and 350 brands from 18 countries.

E-Kent, which offers high-technology solutions required by modern town-planning, builds a service link between the passenger and Local Municipality and Privately Owned Public Buses, offers solutions and consultancy required to operate the public transportation in a way enabling maximum contribution to the budgets of all parties, has advertised its products and services in 5.Intertraffic İstanbul Fair.

Public transportation is of prime importance in solving transportation problems...

Stating that the transportation issue is amongst the priorities of municipalities in the recent years and separate radical changes for almost every city are now being planned, Managing Director of E-Kent, Atalay Taşkoparan said in his speech at 5.Intertraffic İstanbul Fair: "In plans intended to solve the transportation issues in the city, public transportation is of prime importance. Every improvement to be done for public transportation will affect all other components in city transportation. Therefore, the beginning of the positive change in city transportation depends on the modernisation of Public Transportation; which is at peace with the people of the city, consistent, comfortable and preferable".

Saying the development of vehicles in modernisation of public transportation as well as the services which people living in the city would directly or indirectly use when benefiting from public transportation play a key role, Atalay Taşkoparan also mentioned an example service model experienced with 'şehir kartım' (my city card).

E-Kent which has set up and been operating electronic fare collection solutions in public spaces such as railway networks, municipalities, both public and privately owned public buses, car parks, cultural parks, zoos and museums located in major cities of Turkey while considering the special needs of these cities since the day it has been established has more than 3 millions smart cards.

2. Annual Meeting of Turkish Association of Operators of Privately-Owned Public Transportation Buses has been held under the sponsorship of E-Kent.

2. Assessment Meeting of TÖHOB “Turkish Association of Operators of Privately-Owned Public Transportation Buses” has been held under the sponsorship of “E-Kent Electronic Fare Collection Systems Corp.” and hosted by Eskişehir Chamber of Privately Owned Public Bus Owners at Eskişehir Albatros Hotel between February 27^th and March 1^st.

The meeting sponsored by E-Kent Electronic Fare Collection Systems Corp. has been held with the participation of Eskişehir Chamber of Public Bus Owners, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor; Yılmaz Büyükerşen, Head of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Department, Deputy Chief Constable, former General Manager of İETT; Muammer Kantarcı, along with Chairmen of Chambers of Privately Owned Public Bus Owners, Cooperatives, Associations and Chambers of various other cities.

Chairman of Eskişehir Chamber of Public Bus Owners made the opening speech and afterward the meeting continued with the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yılmaz Büyükerşen’s speech. General Secretary of TÖHOB, Onur Orhon stated that important sectoral developments are expected in 2009 and he said “Artisans have high expectations from TÖHAB, we will seek ways to turn the local elections into an opportunity, and we will make clear the steps regarding judicial definition”. Managing Director of E-Kent, Atalay Taşkoparan, and Manager of E-Kent Sales Department, Ferit Baycan were also among the speakers. The first day of the meeting ended with the E-Kent Gala Dinner.

The first annual meeting of Turkish Association of Operators of Privately-Owned Public Transport Buses (TÖHOB) was sponsored by E-Kent and held at Uludağ Büyük Hotel in Bursa from January 6 to 8, 2009. This meeting was hosted by Bursa Chamber of Privately-Owned Public Transport Buses, and entertained 200 members of said association.

Members who attended this meeting included chairman of Bursa Chamber of Privately-Owned Public Transport Buses, chairman of TÖHOB, Mr. Tacettin Kınay, Director of Public Transport Department of Bursa Municipality, representatives of BURULAŞ, Mr. Recep Altepe, Mayor of Osmangazi Town and members of TÖHOB from 45 cities.

Representatives of E-Kent exchanged ideas with the members of TÖHOB about the needs of the public transport industry in general, suggested certain solutions to them, and gave information about the products and solutions which could be helpful to them. E-Kent made it clear that its new products distinguish it from its competitors.

Mr. Atalay Taşkoparan, Managing Director of E-Kent, gave information about the E-Kent system providing high technology solutions for modern urban services, its outstanding innovations and its management principles. He also explained the speed, economics and facilities provided by the E-Kent systems operated in the cities of Bursa, Kayseri, Tokat and Gaziantep with remarkable success.

At the end of the first day, the members enjoyed the Gala Dinner organized by E-Kent and great conversation. The second day of the meeting started with a special presentation by the representatives of TÖHOB, having the content: the problems the privately-owned public bus operators suffer and the solutions they expect. It was followed by a presentation entitled “Why E-Kent?” by the representative of E-Kent, giving detailed information about its field and central solutions, new suggestions (city monitors, kiosks and integrated vehicle tracking system), magnetic tickets and smart cards.

E-Kent Elektronik Ücret Toplama Sistemleri A.Ş. is a company providing public transport and payment services and high technology solutions, employing a staff of 250 experienced people, managing field operations in 7 cities, providing support for these services 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, bringing together passengers, municipalities and privately-owned public transport buses, and developing solutions and consulting services to make public transport systems profitable to public transport companies or local authorities.

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) was started in 1885, and today is the industry’s largest non-governmental organization. It has 2,900 members from public transport companies, local and national regulatory authorities, industrial companies, research centers, academics and consultants from 90 countries.

In order to expand its capabilities and to introduce newer systems, E-Kent has become a member of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

E-Kent is to introduce a newly redesigned BuKART to local passengers in Bursa in the New Year. Produced in a limited number by E-Kent, the 2009-themed BuKART is a smart card distinguished by the 2009 calendar printed on the back. Available in the city of Bursa, BuKART will provide new advantages in 2009. Already established as an indispensable tool for local passengers in Bursa, the new BuKART now contains a special New Year theme and the 2009 calendar to provide further convenience to the users.

In addition, according to a statement issued by BURULAŞ and E-Kent - which has been providing public transport smart cards and systems in Bursa since 2002 - this new card will be followed by many other new services this year. An economical, modern and multi-functional smart card will be introduced to increase the service level of local public transport services.

A tender announced by Greater Kayseri Municipality in June last year - for its project called Kayseri Card, aimed at unifying its public transport services, stadium, museums and collection of electricity and water bills - has been awarded to Aktif Yatırım Bankası A.Ş.

Organized by Mr. Mehmet Tarınç, Deputy Mayor of Kayseri, the tender was awarded for supplying, installing and operating public transport, electronic fare collection and vehicle tracking systems within the municipal borders of Kayseri for a term of 10 years on a build-and-operate basis. Six bidders presented bids for the Kayseri Card tender, with Aktif Bank’s bid proving superior.

The award contract stipulates that all public transport fares in Kayseri - for the public transport buses owned and operated by the municipality and by the private sector and for the suburban railway system to be unveiled in the near future - will be collected by means of a single card. In the future, the card will be expanded to electricity, water and natural gas bills, museums, stadiums and other public services. The awarded contractor will install the systems and be entitled to operate it for a term of 10 years.

Aktif Bank

After installing a public transport electronic fare collection system in Bursa in 2002, Aktif Bank is now constructing the infrastructure needed for this new system in Kayseri, through its subsidiary E-Kent.

E-Kent has previously installed similar electronic fare collection systems in Bursa and Tokat, modernizing the public transport services in those cities, raising them to the highest standard available, and turning them into a financially auditable structure.

Thanks to the vast experience and specialty of E-Kent, Aktif Bank has been providing secure public transport, fare collection and banking services in various cities throughout Turkey, and will now provide innovative and reliable services in Kayseri too. 

The Cardist Card Technologies Fair, which presents new developments made in the card technologies industry, including new applications and providers, was held in Istanbul from June 10 to 12, 2008, at the Rumeli Hall within the Lütfi Kırdar International Congress and Exhibition Center. This was the second time Turkey hosted this fair, the first and only fair organized for this industry in Eurasia.

E-Kent promoted its electronic fare collection solutions at the fair. Contactless card technologies and solutions, of which E-Kent has substantial experience, were prominent this year. E-Kent provides, installs and operates electronic fare collection systems for subway systems, light rail systems, streetcars, municipal buses, privately-owned public transport buses, cable cars and other public transport systems.

Çalık Yönetim Sistemleri A.Ş., which operates in the payment systems field and is an affiliate of Aktif Bank, has taken over E-Kent.

E-Kent was awarded a contract to install and operate an electronic fare collection system for the public transport services in the city of Bursa in 2002. Since then it has expanded its range in technical, social and management terms, and in addition to the Bursa system it is now operating other systems it has installed in several other cities in Turkey.

The systems provided by E-Kent modernize the public transport fare collection operations in those cities, raise them to the highest standard currently available, and turn them into a financially auditable structure. The systems include magnetic tickets, smart cards, validators for fare collection, turnstiles for entry and exit at railway stations, ticket recharging machines, point-of-sale terminals, and hand-held terminals used for checking the systems.

The electronic fare collection systems operated by E-Kent enable the local management teams to calculate daily income and to easily distribute it to the relevant parties. They help the local authorities to monitor the transactions made by and between the banks, operators and service providers online, to make account settlements on the cash flow and incomes, and to distribute them to the relevant parties. Total annual turnover of the electronic fare collection systems operated by E-Kent is TL 190m. Over 1 million smart cards are in use in said systems at present.

After signing a share transfer protocol to purchase the shares of E-Kent, Mr. Önder Halisdemir, Managing Director of Aktif Bank, made the following statement: "At Çalık Yönetim Sistemleri A.Ş., we aim to develop innovative and reliable solutions for all kinds of payment and subscription management systems to satisfy all the parties involved. The merging of E-Kent with this company will create a unique synergy for the public transport, banking, natural gas distribution and telecommunication services we provide. I wish the company every success."