Living with Others: Encounters and Togetherness

Derived from the analysis of everyday life and metrobus mobility, the chapter analyzes the idea and perception of togetherness. As the spatial patterns of mobility in Istanbul are lived, their routinization in the regulated conduct of the interlocutors is also realized with others through metrobus-grounded encounters. Accordingly, everydayness realized with the metrobus mobility reproduces the differentiated and insecure perceptions. Despite diverse encounters, the metrobus undermines the essence that could be derived from the socio-spatial togetherness. Regulars often become indifferent toward diverse others they encounter on the metrobus; hence, indifference, insecurity, and differentiation were the conceptual findings of these premises. However, some interlocutors, albeit few in number, displayed relative proximity toward others. The metrobus, to some extent, has the potential to bring the different, unknown, and stranger into public visibility and proximity. It prompted self-reflection for a few interlocutors and transformed the abstract concept of a “city of diversity” into a concrete reality.