The Hawaii Legislator is at the midpoint in the 2019 session. Any bill that is still alive has cleared all its committee hearings and is on to votes before the full House or Senate March 1 and 5 (this step is largely procedural), and then the bill is on to the other chamber.

So far it’s been a busy legislative session. Some of the key items HBL is working on are Vision Zero, red light enforcement cameras, electric bikes, electric foot scooters, and protecting the Civic Center Path. Read on for full details. And most importantly, please get involved! Make sure you’re on our Advocacy Team email list to get the latest.

And a giant mahalo to everyone that submitting testimony and stood up to support bicycling and safe streets!

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Vision Zero

Vision Zero is a bold statement that we can and must put safety first. Beyond a statement, Vision Zero must be a policy and program with specific actions to achieve the bold vision.  There are two Vision Zero bills still moving that would adopt Vision Zero – HB757 and SB565. Check out this (dated) advocacy alert for more details.

Red Light Enforcement Cameras

As part of our Safe Streets for All advocacy we are pushing for red light enforcement cameras that will make our intersections (the most dangerous parts of our streets) considerably safer for everyone. SB663 would allow the counties to implement red light enforcement cameras and is still moving. Check out this (dated) advocacy alert for more details.

Electric Bikes

Currently electric bicycles are in a legal limbo in Hawaii. Technically they can’t be registered (though it seems to be happening). HB812 and SB1078 would both adopt the federal definition of the low-speed electric bicycle (max 20mph and 750 watts) into Hawaii law.

Electric Foot Scooters

You remember the brief flash in May 2018 where the company Lime launched electric foot scooters around Honolulu and then they were quickly swept up as the City determined that they were illegal vehicles (falling into the class of mopeds but without appropriate safety features to be a legal moped)??? Lime is back and pushing to make electric foot scooters legal in state law. One of the bills, originally sought to simply add electric foot scooters to the definition of bicycles and we were successful in pushing back that 1. they aren’t bicycles!, and 2. they should be regulated separately. We’re continuing to be involved in the conversation and have supported the DOT in their request that the state legislation be “enabling legislation” whereby the counties would need to first adopt an ordinance on where and how the scooters can operate before being allowed. HB754 and SB665 are the two electric foot scooter bills moving.

Protecting (and improving!) the Civic Center Path

Ban bikes from riding on the Civic Center Path that runs between Iolani Palace and the Capitol??? In spite of the fact that this is a crucial part of our bikeway network serving countless bicyclists, that is exactly what HB857 in its original form would have done. This bill brought up more advocates to testify than any other bill – for one hearing alone 94 written testimony and 22 in person testimony! Fortunately, our voices were heard and the bill went from terrible to great – the current draft deletes the ban and instead provides funding to create a separate bicycle path between Punchbowl St and Richards St. Check out this (updated) advocacy alert for more details.

Other Bills on Importance

There are a number of other bills we’re tracking and testifying on. SB1287 would add the Lei of Parks to the Hawaii State Plan and fund a staff to work on implementing it. HB1487 would create a pilot project for create a linear park with a multi-use that provides shoreline protection in Honolulu’s urban core. SB739 would require employers that provide subsidized parking to offer employees the cash instead, so that they can choose the best commute option. HB756 would have the DOT adopt new rules for setting speed limits that prioritize safety. Note this is only bills that are still alive.

Action Alert Update! (3/15/19)

Let’s Improve the Civic Center Path!

HB857 HD2 as amended, thanks to an outpouring of support the Civic Center Path, will provide for the widening of the Civic Center Path between Richard Street and Punchbowl Street. This is a big turn-around from the bills original language that would have banned bicycling on this important route.

HB857 HD2 is scheduled for a hearing 3/18/19 Monday 2:05pm. Please join us in supporting an improved path! Testify by this Sunday 3/17.

How to Submit Testimony

1. Click here to create an account Hawaii legislator (it only takes a second)
2. Click here for HB857 HD2
3. Select “Submit Testimony”
4. Write your testimony (it doesn’t need to be long) – Thank You for Improving this Important Path!

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Good News Update! (2/28/19)

Good news! HB857, which would ban bicycling on a section of the Civic Center Path, was amended to delete the ban and instead provide funding to widen the makai side path to provide a separate place to bicycle between Punchbowl St and Richards St (see below). Thank you to the 94 of you that submitted written testimony and the 22 that came out to testify in person – your voices were definitely heard!
In terms of process, HB857 is on its way to clearing the House. It then has to make it through the Senate before becoming law. Make sure you’re on the Advocacy Team email HBL.org/AdvocacyTeam to get the latest.

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Old post (see updates above)

Protect the Civic Center Path

Ban bikes from riding on the Civic Center Path that runs between Iolani Palace and the Capitol??? In spite of the fact that this is a crucial part of our bikeway network serving countless bicyclists, that is exactly what HB857 would do.

HB857 – Bicycle and motor scooter traffic prohibited; state capitol area. No person shall operate a bicycle or motor scooter within the state capitol area, specifically the area of Honolulu bounded by Richards, Beretania, Punchbowl, and King Streets that includes the grounds of the Hawaii state capitol and lolani Palace, and the main branch of the Hawaii state library.

HB857 is scheduled for a hearing 2/26/19 Tuesday 2:05pm. Please submit opposing testimony by Monday 2/25! Better yet, come out in person to have more impact.

How to Submit Testimony

1. Click here to create an account Hawaii legislator (it only takes a second)
2. Click here for HB857
3. Select “Submit Testimony”
4. Write your testimony (it doesn’t need to be long) – But ban! Improve it!

Why HB857 is a bad idea

• The Civic Center Path is the primary bikeway that connects Downtown with everything east of Downtown
  • 88 – that is the number of bicyclists using the path in one-hour (we did a count 2/8/19 7:45-8:45am)
• Prohibiting bicycling on the Civic Center Path would do two things:
  • 1. Force people to bike on King St and Beretania St on these sections that have NO bike lanes and a history of safety issues (in the last 10 years the 1-block of King St and Beretania St had 6 and 1 serious bicycle injuries, respectively)
  • 2. Lead to fewer people bicycling = more driving, more congestion, more pollution, more parking problems, etc
• The Oahu Bike Plan includes widening the Civic Center Path as a priority 1 project – the path should be improved, not eliminated for use (see OBP map below).
• We need more safe places for people to bike, not less!

Thank you for being involved! Please get on our Bike Advocacy Team Email List to make sure you receive the latest updates on how to support a bicycle friendly Hawaii.

Pushing to Make it Better

We’ll be urging that the path be improved. Simply adding 6-feet to the existing path (as was done on the Civic Center Path between Punchbowl St and Alapai St) would make work much better for walking and bicycling! And Hawaii Department of Transportation agrees – in the 2/8 hearing they said the path should be improved. Join us in saying – Don’t Ban It! Improve It!

Update from 2/8 hearing

The Transportation Committee passed HB857 at their 2/8/19 hearing. Thank you to the 41 of you that submitted testimony in opposition – this was definitely heard. While acknowledging the testimony in opposition and concern, the committee elected to move the bill forward to “continue the conversation”. Despite the fact that no bike-pedestrian injuries have been recorded on this section of the Civic Center Path, committee members said that had heard of close calls and that they’d like to see safety improvements. HBL, Hawaii DOT, and many others testified that if the desire is to make the path more comfortable for walking and biking that the solution is to widen it (for which there is ample space). We’ll be working hard to make sure this bill doesn’t advance as written and instead encouraging action to widen/improve the path. Please make sure you’re on our Bike Advocacy Team email list to get the latest on when testimony is needed.