Hawaii Bicycling League

Archives for November 2015

Light Up the Night!

 

What’s the biggest factor in deterring nighttime collisions? LIGHTS! Lights make you visible and give you a defined presence on the road. They are crucial in improving your chances of not being hit while riding, at night or in bad weather.

While many of us know that lights are a critical collision-reducer and use them regularly when riding at night, there are many “invisible cyclists” that don’t.

HBL will be on the streets this winter to help give light to those who are caught in the dark without one. By giving out free lights to folks who need them, we hope to keep more cyclists safe, through this holiday season and onward.
If you are interested in helping out “light-less” riders become more safe at a future “Light Up the Night” event, please email Malia at Malia@HBL.org!

§291C-147

Not only are lights smart to have and use, but in Hawaiʻi they are the LAW. Hawaiʻi State Law §291C-147 states that any bicycle used from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise must have a white head light and at least a red rear reflector. We recommend accompanying this with a red rear light as well for increased visibility.

Some tips to keep you safe and seen:

  • Wear bright clothing when riding at night
  • Add reflectors to your bike and clothing
  • Be alert at all times!
  • Take the whole lane when appropriate (§291C-145: you are entitled to the road too!)

Do you have more tips and tricks to make you more visible?

Be smart, be seen and be safe!

City Council Bill 68 Deferred & Proposal for a GOOD Alternative

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A Bad Bill Deferred

Bill 68 would have been BAD for bikeways and Complete Streets. It would have required a City Council resolution for every individual bikeway project. This flies in face on good systems planning which is needed to build a network of bikeways and embodied in the Oahu Bike Plan. It would roll back our landmark Complete Streets ordinance that made consideration of bikeways a requirement with all new construction, reconstruction, and maintenance projects. See bottom for info on why Bill 68 would h

Luckily, the the overwhelming opposing testimonies were heard. At the 11/19/15 hearing, Councilmember Trevor Ozawa, Bill 68’s introducer, started the hearing by saying that he was requesting that the bill be deferred and that he intends to work with DTS to come up with a positive alternative. Thank you to all those that were part of this opposing testimony.

GOOD alternatives

HBL met Ozawa and most of the other councilmembers to discuss Bill 68 and propose an alternative approach. The stated goals of Bill 68 is increased transparency, accountability, and public and council involvement in bikeway implementation. There are options to achieve these goals without impeding bikeway implementation, as Bill 68 will do.  HBL looked at models from around the US and found the Seattle model to achieve these goals in a way that HELPS the advancement of bikeways and Complete Streets. 

We have urged councilmembers to consider the Seattle model as an alternative to Bill 68:

  • Master bicycle plan with 20-year network (which we already have) – this provides the overall network vision to make cycling safe and accessible to all
  • 5-year bikeway implementation plan updated on an annual basis – this creates a high level of transparency into how the priorities and projects identified in the master bicycle plan are being implemented, while allowing for response to unforeseen opportunities and needs.
  • Implementation update to council every 6 months
  • Use of a 2 public meeting process for bikeway projects with a significant potential for impacts, such as parking and traffic flow – this ensures that all members of the community have the opportunity to have their needs, desires, and concerns heard and considered in the final outcome

These combined procedures will ensure a high level of transparency in bikeway prioritization and implementation, accountability in implementation of the bike plan, and robust community and council involvement.

Stay Involved

Thank you to all those that submitted testimony, called your Councilmember, and urged others to act. Your actions played a GIANT role in Bill 68 being deferred in seek of a good solution. While the day’s news is positive, we are going to have to remain vigilant as it’s possible the next bill could be negative.

If you aren’t already, please join our Bike Advocacy Team to stay involved in this and other bicycle advocacy issues.

Bill 68 – Impediment to Bikeways, Bad for Complete Streets

  • The Oahu Bike Plan, which identifies needed bikeway projects, had an extensive public process. 
  • The Oahu Bike Plan was approved by unanimous vote of the City Council on 12/7/12 (Resolution 12-307).
  • The City is required to update the bike plan every 5 years, so there are frequent opportunities for the public to weigh in on what should and shouldn’t be in the plan and the City Council has approval power for every update (Revised Ordinance of Honolulu 2-12.1(e)).
  • Bikeway projects with potential community impacts go through an additional project specific public process. Bikeway projects, such as Waialae Avenue and King St, go through a project specific public process involving public meeting, neighborhood board presentation, and direct outreach to adjacent property owners. Click here for a summary of all the outreach that occurred for King St. 
  • While this bill is about so much more than the, we shouldn’t forget that the City Council initiated action towards King Street protected bike lanes with the unanimous vote on Resolution 14-46 CD1.
  • It would make bicycling projects more expensive and time consuming. Adding a City Council step to every bikeway project would add time to each project, which could increase the cost of projects.
  • In 2006, 72% of voters said that making Honolulu bicycle and pedestrian friendly should be a priority. This bill would slow and impede implementation of this strongly support priority.
  • It would make Complete Streets more difficult to implement. With the passage of Bill 26 in 2012, the City Council made Complete Streets the law. Bill 68 would make implementation of this more difficult and ultimately lead to many lost opportunities and fewer Complete Streets.
  • The Public Infrastructure Map is reserved for large infrastructure projects (i.e. wastewater facilities, police stations).  The only transportation projects included in the PIM are major roads, and rapid transit corridors and stations. South King Street isn’t even on the PIM (see the PIM here).

Hamakua Dr Improvement Community Meeting

Hamakua Road Diet

The City & County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is holding a public meeting to discuss proposed Complete Street design improvements to Hamakua Drive in Kailua.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 24 from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Kailua District Park.

Please come out and support this project! This will make Hamakua Drive a more complete street! Making it safer and more enjoyable to walk, bike, and drive.

Proposed design alterations are similar to Keolu Drive and include:

  • Bike lane from the intersection of Kailua Road to Keolu Drive.
  • Replace two travel lanes with a center turn lane.
  • Painted median
  • Removal of non-marked, peak period restricted parking from Kailua Road to Hekili St.

For more information contact Daniel Alexander or call 735-5756

City & County Flyer:

Hamakua Flyer

 

#OptOutside and #RideAloha on Black Friday

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Just HBL on Friday, November 27th, 2015 for an #OptOutside Bike Ride. Burn off that extra serving of stuffing and opt to be outside instead of shopping!

Ride will begin from Kahala Park (Corner of Pahoa & Moa St) at 8:30am. We will ride throughHawaii Kai, along the coast past Hanauma, to Kailua. With a short stop at Makapu’u Lookout, and potentially a ride into Bellows Air Force Base. We’ll arrive in Kailua around 10:30-11am, have brunch (bring some $ if you want food), then ride back to town. There will be two options for the return trip: going back along the coast or over the Old Pali road! Riders may also join us in Kailua and ride back to town.

Coastal Return Route is approx 50mile ride. Old Pali Loop is approx 40mile ride with a BIG hill!

OptOutside Route 1- Coastal                                                 OptOutside Route 2 – Old Pali


Return Option 1: Coastal Route – Approx 50 Miles


Return Option 2: Old Pali Loop – Approx 40 Miles

Join the Facebook event or Sign Up for Updates Here

Create your own “OptOutside” photo from REI – Click Here

For questions, please contact travis@hbl.org

Ride is free to join. HBL Membership is encouraged, but all are welcome. Casual as well as faster riders can join, but overall pace will be set by the casual riders. Please be comfortable riding the distance. Anyone not comfortable with the full distance is welcome to still join us and then take the bus back from Kailua. Riders can also choose to join us in Kailua (around 11:30am or Noon) and ride back to town. We’ll likely be eating/meeting at Whole Foods on Kailua Road. Please bring money if wanting to buy food in Kailua. This is a self-supported ride. Please have flat tire repair kits and water.

**This ride is not associated with REI, simply joining their #OptOutside campaign**

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3442 Waialae Avenue, Suite 1
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
Telephone: 808-735-5756
bicycle@hbl.org

HBL’s Mission:

To enable more people to ride bicycles for health, recreation, and transportation through advocacy, education, and events.