Archives for May 2018

*Update*

Funding Restored for the Pensacola St Protected Bike Lanes

At the May 15th hearing, the Budget Committee voted to restore previous removed funding for the Pensacola Street protected bike lane. It was a major victory as without the funding Pensacola could not move forward. Undoubtedly, the 94 people that submitted written testimony and 10 that came to testify in person all strongly requesting that the funding be restored made an impact. Thank You to everyone that did so!  And please stay involved!

YOUR support needed!

Submit Testimony on Bill 15 today!

Come out May 15th in-person to support!

On March 22, around 150 people came out to DTS’s public meeting on Pensacola St and Ward Ave protected bike lanes. The feedback was overwhelming in support. Many expressed strong support for one or both of the proposed bikeways as they would make it safer for them to bicycle. The bikeways would create crucial mauka-makai connections that would create safe bike routes for thousands more in the Makiki, Ala Moana, and Kakaako neighborhoods.

Apparently after the public meeting, forces started moving to defeat the Pensacola St protected bike lane. Their argument – 30 public street parking spaces are more important than the bikeway. There are 634 public street parking spaces on or within a block of Pensacola St between Wilder and Waimanu. To the opponents, giving up 30 parking spaces of these to create a safe place for people to bike (what would be the only bikeway connecting to Makiki!) isn’t worth the trade off. And they are fighting to make sure the bikeway doesn’t become a reality. Unfortunately, some our City Councilmembers seem to be giving into to this argument – parking is more important than safety.

The proposed budget moving through City Council has been stripped of funds to build the Pensacola St Protected Bike Lane. Without these funds, the project is dead. We need a strong show of support to tell them that bike safety and bikeways are critically needed for public safety!

SUPPORT

We need a strong show of support to tell them that bike safety and bikeways are critical to public safety!

1. Submit testimony on Bill 15 – Testimony must be submitted by May 14th.
   1. On May 10th, do the following to submit.
   2. 1) Click here to submit testimony
   3. 2) Enter the info:
      Name
      Phone
      Email
   4. Meeting Date – 5/15/18
   5. Council/PH Committee – Budget
      Agenda Item – Bill 15 
      Position – Comments
      Written testimony – Speaking from your own experience is the best. Main point is that the Pensacola St Protected Bike Lanes are important and that you are requesting they fund the project so it can move forward make our streets safer for cycling. 
2. Come out to the City Council Budget hearing May 15 9:00am at Honolulu Hale (City Hall) 2nd floor conference committee – Nothing is as powerful as showing up and speaking up. If you can make it, your presence at this hearing would go a long way!

Talking points to consider including your testimony:

1. Remember to start by saying you’re writing to request they provide funding for the Pensacola St protected bike lane project.
2. Improved safety for those bicycling – The Pensacola St protected bike lane will dramatically improve bicycle safety for those currently cycling along this documented high bicycle injury corridor – Hawaii Department of Health data shows a staggering 28 serious bicycle injuries (requiring EMS response) in the last 5 years on the Piikoi/Pensacola couplet.
3. Enable more people to bicycle = individual and community benefits – The Pensacola St protected bike lane will create a safe bicycle route to Makiki and Ala Moana/Kakaako that will enable more people to choose to bike. More people bicycling comes with many individual and community benefits – less pollution, doing our part against global warming, reduced household transportation expenses, less congestion/parking demand, improved quality of life, and more street safety. Bicycling has increased on King St  by 125% and on South St by 381%!
4. Improved safety for those walking – It will improve safety for pedestrians because people on bikes will have a designated place to ride instead of the sidewalk and it will reduce pedestrian crossing distances – Hawaii Department of Health statistics have shown a reduction in pedestrian injuries on King St following implementation of the King St protected bike lane.

Please email our Advocacy Director – Daniel@HBL.org to let him know you’re interested in supporting.

Pensacola St details

• Proposal details: The City is proposing a 2-way protected bike lane on the east side of Pensacola St extending from Waimanu St (where Pensacola dead ends in Kakaako) to Wilder St (in Makiki). This will require the removal of a car lane between Kapiolani Blvd and Lunalilo St and the removal of some parking between Lunalilo St and Wilder St.

• Alternatives considered: Some you might remember that the City had previously stated they would implementing a protected bike lane on Piikoi St as the next project. However, based on the City’s traffic analysis they determined that Pensacola St was preferred because it would have minimal traffic impacts.
• Why this is important
  • Safe Connection to Makiki – There are over 30,000 people in Makiki, many with bikeable distances to work, school, and stores, the only problem is there is NO bikeway connection to Makiki. The City’s analysis has found that Pensacola St is the best option to get a protected bike lane into Makiki. Let’s build Pensacola protected bike lane and make cycling accessible to the thousands of that live in Makiki!
  • Safe Connection to Ala Moana – The beach park and mall are two of the biggest destinations in Honolulu. We need a bikeway connection to them! (after that next step is to get a bikeway the remaining short distance to the beach)
  • Safe Connection to Kakaako – Kakaako is growing – more jobs, more housing, more destinations – yet there is no bikeway connection from the King St protected bike lane down to Kakaako. Let’s build Pensacola to provide this!
  • We Need to Improve Bicyclist Safety along this Dangerous Corridor – The Pensacola/Piikoi couplet (the term for a pair of one-way streets) had 28 serious bicycle injuries (requiring EMS ambulance response) in the last 5 years – that’s someone getting seriously injured while biking on average every 2 months. Looking at the nearest mauka/makai alternative – the statistics are similarly alarming on Keeamoku St which had 22 serious bicycle injuries in the same 5 years. A 2-way protected bike lane on Pensacola will provide a much needed safe bikeway connection!
  • Providing Real Transportation Options – Biki is set to expand to Makiki. In order to make Biki and bicycling a real transportation option, a safe dedicated bikeway linking Makiki to the rest of the city is essential.
  • Safe Streets Must to be the Priority – Complete Streets means that we safely accommodate everyone including people who bike. There is no safe mauka/makai bikeway anywhere near Pensacola St and the statistics show alarming danger for those currently biking. While the bikeway will take away 30 parking spaces, there are 634 parking spaces within a block. Our streets are overwhelming dedicated to cars; it’s time we convert some of this space to safely accommodate bicycling.
  • People Want to Bike – It’s good for health, the pocketbook, the environment, and it’s fun! We need to build the bikeway network so people can feel safe bicycling!
  • Lastly, there are options for parking – The bikeway proposal includes the removal of total of 30 parking spots over it’s 1.1-mile length. This includes 6 parking spots in the business area between Beretania and King. We spoke with most (11) of the businesses along this stretch and came up with some constructive ideas to help with street parking options for customers arriving by car. These include: converting a couple parking spaces to 10-minute only parking for stop-no-go customers, changing the parking from 2-hour to 1-hour max to discourage people going to Kaiser from using the street parking (there’s an amply large parking structure at Kaiser), and meter the parking on nearby Young St so it’ll be more available for those going to businesses. We also heard there’s a need for bike parking on the street.

Get Involved!!!