Spatial Encounters and Togetherness in the Metropolis

This book analyzes Istanbul's bus rapid transit, the metrobus, as an encountering space to unfold the perception and practice of togetherness. Based on field research with regular metrobus passengers, the book presents a layered analysis between everyday life, everyday mobility, and togetherness to emphasize the metropolitan impact on the socio-spatial experience and subjectification. By articulating Lefebvrian social space in a metropolitan context, the book discusses that Istanbul's spatially and temporally framed everydayness leads inhabitants to the need for bus rapid transit. On the other hand, the need for the metrobus produces transit modes of experience in regulars' socio-spatial relation and subjectification. As a result, encountering and being with the unfamiliar and diverse others undertake the framed typologies of the first two layers and produce a dissolving essence in the idea and practice of togetherness in Istanbul. Özlem Cihan is a Research Assistant in the Department of International Relations, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey.