Generated by GPT-4
Emre checked his phone nervously as he walked out of his dorm in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul. It was 2:15 pm and he had to be at his grandmother’s house in Sultanahmet by 3:30 pm for her 80th birthday party. He had spent the morning baking her a chocolate cake, her favorite, and carefully wrapped it in a sturdy box. He hoped it would survive the journey across the city car-free zone, which covered most of the historic peninsula and the surrounding areas.
He had no driver’s license, and even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to use a car in the old city, where privately-owned vehicles were banned since 2030. The ban was part of a radical plan to reduce congestion, pollution, and noise, and to reclaim the roads as public spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, and small-scale commerce. Commercial vehicles, mostly autonomous, were allowed to enter the zone on specific days and hours, depending on their size and purpose, and had to pay a hefty fee. Emre had seen how the old city had transformed over the years, with more greenery, parks, plazas, fountains, and benches along the former streets, and with more shops, cafes, markets, and art installations popping up in the reclaimed spaces. He had also seen how the old buildings, mosques, churches, and monuments had been restored and protected, and how the cultural heritage of the city had been celebrated and preserved.
But today, he had no time to admire the scenery. He had to catch the public bus that would take him to the Galata Bridge, where he would transfer to an autonomous water taxi that would ferry him across the Golden Horn to the Eminonu pier. From there, he would hop on an electric bike from one of the many e-bike fleets and docking stations that dotted the residential areas, and pedal his way to his grandmother’s house in the heart of the old city. He had planned his route carefully, using the integrated app that connected all the public transportation systems in the city, and that gave him real-time updates on the availability, schedules, and fares of each mode. He had also reserved his seats and bikes in advance, using his digital wallet and identity card, to avoid any delays or surprises.
He reached the bus stop just in time, and scanned his phone on the reader. The bus was a sleek, silver, electric vehicle, with comfortable seats, large windows, and a smart display that showed the route, the stops, and the estimated arrival time. It also communicated with the other buses, taxis, and bikes in the network, and adjusted its speed and route accordingly, to optimize the traffic flow and minimize the waiting time for the passengers. Emre found a seat near the front, and placed his cake box on his lap. He hoped no one would bump into it or try to peek inside. He had spent hours decorating it with chocolate frosting and sprinkles, and writing “Happy Birthday, Nene” in Turkish and Arabic, as his grandmother spoke both languages.
The bus moved smoothly along the boulevard, passing by Taksim Square, Gezi Park, and Istiklal Street, where Emre could see people walking, shopping, eating, and enjoying the sunny afternoon. He remembered how these places used to be crowded with cars, buses, and trams, and how noisy and chaotic they were. He also remembered learning about how the Gezi Park had been the site of a massive protest in 2013, when the government had tried to demolish it and build a shopping mall and a replica of an Ottoman barracks. The protest had sparked a wave of civil unrest and social movements that had eventually led to a change of regime and a new vision for the city. Emre wondered what his grandmother thought of all these changes, and how she had lived through them. He knew she had a lot of stories to tell, and he hoped he would have time to listen to them today.
The bus reached the Galata Bridge, and Emre got off, following the signs to the water taxi station. He scanned his phone again, and walked to the platform, where a sleek, white, autonomous boat was waiting for him. He boarded the boat, and found his seat, next to a window. He placed his cake box on the seat next to him, and secured it with a seat belt. He looked out of the window, and saw the majestic view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the skyline of the old city, with its domes, minarets, and towers. He felt a surge of pride and awe, as he realized he was living in one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world.
The boat started to move, and Emre heard a friendly voice from the speakers, welcoming him and the other passengers, and informing them of the safety and service features of the boat. The voice also told them that the boat was powered by solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells, and that it was equipped with sensors, cameras, and radars, that enabled it to navigate the water autonomously, and to communicate with the other boats, bridges, and piers in the network. The voice also said that the boat had a wireless charging system, that allowed it to recharge its batteries at the docking stations, and that it had a smart waste management system, that collected and recycled the trash and sewage from the passengers and the crew. The voice also said that the boat had a variety of entertainment and information options, such as music, movies, games, news, and maps, that the passengers could access from their phones or the screens on the seats. Emre decided to check the map, and see how far he was from his destination. He was relieved to see that he was only 10 minutes away from the Eminonu pier, and that he was on schedule.
He looked out of the window again, and saw the Galata Tower, the Spice Bazaar, the New Mosque, and the Suleymaniye Mosque, as the boat glided along the water. He also saw other boats, of different shapes and sizes, carrying people, goods, and services, across the water. He saw some boats that were floating restaurants, cafes, bars, and hotels, and some that were floating libraries, museums, and galleries. He saw some boats that were floating gardens, farms, and greenhouses, and some that were floating solar panels, wind turbines, and water purifiers. He saw some boats that were floating schools, hospitals, and offices, and some that were floating playgrounds, sports, and leisure facilities. He saw some boats that were floating markets, workshops, and studios, and some that were floating art, music, and culture events. He saw how the water had become a vital and vibrant part of the city, and how it had enabled new forms of living, working, and playing.
The boat reached the Eminonu pier, and Emre got off, thanking the voice and the crew. He scanned his phone again, and walked to the e-bike station, where a shiny, red, electric bike was waiting for him. He scanned his phone again, and unlocked the bike. He placed his cake box in the basket, and secured it with a strap. He put on his helmet, and adjusted the seat and the handlebars. He checked the battery level, the speed, and the distance on the display. He also checked the map, and saw that he had to ride for about 15 minutes, along the Divan Yolu, the main road that connected the Eminonu pier to the Sultanahmet Square, where his grandmother’s house was. He also saw that the road was marked as a bike lane, and that he had to follow the signs and the signals, and to respect the other cyclists and pedestrians.
He started to pedal, and felt the bike respond to his movements, and boost his speed. He felt the wind in his hair, and the sun on his face. He felt the thrill of riding a bike in the old city, and the joy of being close to his grandmother. As he was biking, he received a notification on his phone from a nearby shop that had seen his social media post about heading to his grandmother’s birthday party. They were offering him a birthday gift for his grandmother, which they had already wrapped and personalized with a note that matched Emre’s tone and voice from his post. From his social posts, they knew his general location, so figured Emre would be passing by their shop. Emre was surprised but pleased, and stopped to pick up the gift, grateful that he could give it to his grandmother along with his cake.
After picking up the gift, Emre hopped back on his back. He reached the Sultanahmet Square, and turned left, towards his grandmother’s house. He saw the familiar sight of the wooden, two-story, Ottoman-style house, with its blue door, green shutters, and red roof. He parked his bike at the docking station, next to the house. He scanned his phone again, and locked the bike. He took his cake box from the basket, and checked it for any damage. He was relieved to see that it was intact and undisturbed. He had made it, with his cake, gift and time to spare. He walked to the door, and rang the bell. He heard his grandmother’s voice, from the intercom, saying “Who is it?” He said “It’s me, Emre. I’m here for your birthday.” He heard his grandmother’s voice, saying “Oh, Emre, my dear, I’m so happy you’re here. Come in, come in.” He said “Happy birthday, Nene. I love you so much. I have a surprise for you.” He showed her the gift and cake box, and said “I made you a chocolate cake, your favorite. I hope you like it.”