Karaköy pedestrians bypass safety barriers to avoid long underpasses

In the Karaköy district of Istanbul, pedestrians are increasingly bypassing official crossing points in favor of shorter routes, leading to safety concerns and unusual scenes. Despite the presence of underpasses and directional signage, many people—including tourists and those unfamiliar with the area—are choosing to avoid the long, complex paths required to use the designated underpasses.

To save time, some pedestrians are walking along approximately 100 meters of iron barriers to find an opening, while others are jumping over the barriers entirely. This behavior has led to individuals attempting to cross through heavy vehicle traffic, creating significant safety risks in one of the city's most densely populated pedestrian and vehicular zones.