Spatial Analysis of Land Uses and the Continuity of Pedestrian–Bicycle Routes in Coastal Corridor Planning: The Case of the City of Rize

Urban coastal corridors are important spatial systems where the relationships between recreational uses, transportation infrastructure, and public open spaces become concentrated. This study aims to spatially evaluate land use types and the continuity of pedestrian and bicycle paths within the coastal corridor of Rize city center. The study area covers an approximately 15 km-long coastline located within the boundaries of the central district of Rize. ArcGIS-based spatial analyses, field inventory studies, and on-site observations were employed in the research. Land use types were analyzed using a supervised classification method; six recreational areas identified along the coast were evaluated in terms of their spatial and physical characteristics, accessibility levels, and the presence of pedestrian and bicycle paths. The findings indicate that settlement and transportation areas are dominant within the coastal corridor, while urban green areas exhibit a limited and fragmented distribution. The presence of uninterrupted pedestrian and bicycle paths along only 4.5 km of the approximately 15 km-long coastline restricts the functionality of the coastal corridor as a linear recreational system. Within the scope of the study, a planning proposal based on ensuring the continuity of pedestrian and bicycle paths was developed to address these spatial discontinuities.