(9/13/19) Hawaii Bicycling League and Blue Zones Project Wahiawa put forward this California Ave Solutions Meeting Report with detailed recommendations on how to make California Ave safer for everyone. 

In 2015 and 2017, two people were killed while walking on a short section of California Avenue. Additionally, California Ave has a documented history of pedestrian, bicycle, and motorist crashes and injuries in recent years. The two deaths and clear need for improved traffic safety brought Hawaii Bicycling League and Blue Zones Project – Wahiawa to organize a Solutions Meetings on June 24, 2019 to discuss and pursue solutions to make the street safer for walking and everyone.

Based on the input from the 36 people that participated in the Solutions Meeting, the City’s 2015 study “Honolulu Complete Streets Implementation Study Location Report – California Avenue from Kamehameha Highway to Wahiawa District Park”, research on safety issues, and safe streets best practices, Hawaii Bicycling League and Blue Zones Projects are proposing several big solutions to make California Ave safe for everyone: 

• Implement the changes proposed in the California Honolulu Complete Streets Implementation Study Location Report. Specific items in this plan that would drastically improve pedestrian safety and should be advanced include:
  • Implement a Road Diet – transitioning the street from four to three vehicular lanes with one thru lane in each direction and center left turn lane. This treatment is known to drastically reduce speeding and eliminates “multiple treat” risks at pedestrian crossing, both dramatically improving pedestrian safety, as well as the safety of all road users.
  • Implement Pedestrian Crossing Islands – This provides a refuge for pedestrians to stop at in the middle of the road and allows them to give their attention to approaching drivers from one direction at a time. The results are dramatically improved pedestrian safety.
  • Implement Roundabouts at select intersections – The 2015 City study proposes Roundabouts at the California Ave intersections with Lehua St/Muliwai St and North Canes St. Roundabouts dramatically improve safety at intersections by reducing speeds through intersections, eliminating the dangers associated with left turns, and reducing the points of potential conflict.
• Increase enforcement focused on speeding, failure to yield at crosswalks, running red lights, and other pedestrian safety related violations. Including through pursuing legislation for automated camera enforcement that will allow for 24-7 enforcement in critical areas.
• Increase education on safe driving, walking, and bicycling

The above are some of the most promising solutions to improve pedestrian safety and general traffic safety on California Avenue. In addition to these, many others were discussed and are detailed in the California Avenue Solutions Meeting Report.

All of these solutions require action by a variety of parties, whether it be supporting changes as a community member, enforcing laws as an HPD officer, funding improvements as an elected official, or designing and implementing street changes as a transportation official. Please take action to make these changes a reality so we can achieve a safer California Ave and Wahiawa where everyone can choose to walk, bike, take the bus, or drive.  Email Daniel@hbl.org to get involved! 

Click here for California Avenue Solutions Meeting Report

Biki has changed Honolulu – it’s gotten thousands of new people cycling and made bicycles a part of our public transportation system. This is all possible because of City support for the non-profit Bikeshare Hawaii. Resolution 19-204 aims to abandon the City’s support for public bikeshare and to start charging Biki for stations of City land.

Join HBL in saying that Biki is an important part of our transportation system & deserves City support!

Testify by Tuesday September 3rd

1. Go to www.honolulu.gov/ccl-testimony-form.html?view=form
2. Select — Council/PH Committee – Council/Public Hearing;  Agenda Item – Resolution 19-204;  Your position on the matter – OPPOSE;  Representing – Self;  Written testimony – speak in your own words, those are the most powerful. Feel free to use the points below as a guide.
3. Submit

***Step up your impact by coming out to testify at the hearing in person. It’s at Honolulu Hale (530 S King St) this WED 9/4/19 10:00am.***

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Why Oppose Resolution 19-204

Bikeshare is Public Transportation & Public Transportation Warrants Public Support
HBL strongly supported the establishment of public bikeshare, as it would make cycling part of Oahu’s public transportation system and get many more people biking. Now, someone without a bike (or without their bike with them) can easily choose to bike and this is getting more people on two-wheels.

Just as with TheBus, public transportation is a public benefit that needs public investment. Public bikeshare is no different. From Washington DC to Minneapolis to San Francisco, docked public bikeshare systems rely on public support. Just like we don’t charge TheBus for bus stops, we shouldn’t charge Biki for stations. And if you think dockless bikeshare private companies would be glad to swoop in to provide a great public bikeshare system, think again – the private dockless bikeshare industry has collapsed across the US and the cities that relied on it have been left with NO bikeshare.
 
Charging Biki will Result in Less Public Bikeshare
In October, Bikeshare Hawaii expanded Biki by 30 stations and 300 bikes to service UH Manoa, KCC, Makiki, and Iwilei. The expansion brought public bikeshare to thousands of additional residents and connected key resident destinations including Hawaii’s largest university. Bikeshare Hawaii spent over $450,000 to make the expansion possible. If the City charges Bikeshare Hawaii for space for stations, that means less or NO money to expand and spread the benefits of public bikeshare. This could put a halt to all future expansions. HBL wants to see the benefits of public bikeshare spread to communities like Kalihi, Kaimuki, and eventually beyond to Kapolei and throughout the island – BUT we’re going to need public support to get there. 
 
Treating Public Bikeshare Like a Business Will Push Bikeshare Hawaii to Act Like a Business, Which Will be Bad for Residents
Imagine if Biki only serviced Waikiki and was nothing but a tourist amenity – that’s what bikeshare would look like if it were just a business. Fortunately, Biki is run by the non-profit Bikeshare Hawaii, whose mission it is to bring public bikeshare and grow bicycling to residents and visitors. This means Biki does things that a normal business wouldn’t do. A normal business would focus on the highest demand areas where tourists happily pay the $4.00 walk up rate, as this is where the profits would be greatest. Instead, Biki also services our neighborhoods like McCully/Moiliili and Makiki and important destinations for residents like UH Manoa and office places where most Biki users are on the $15/month unlimited ride plan and the profits are minimal to non-existent. We need the City to continue to partner with Biki to ensure that public bikeshare benefits the people of Oahu.
 

by HBL Member, Anthony Chang

After a 14 year break, I started bicycling again in May. The most challenging aspect so far has not been relearning how to ride a bike or even the challenges that come with navigating the roads of Oahu… its been a finding a helmet that will fit my size Extra Large eastern shaped head. I found out many helmets are built for western shaped heads, which tend to be more oval, going from forehead to back of head circumference wise, versus Asian heads, which tend to be more sphere like,  closer to perfect circles. This might not be a problem if you have a smaller head, but unfortunately measurement wise, my head has a 62cm circumference, 63cm so its not too tight, putting me into Extra Large helmet size range. As a commuter bicyclist and someone who just likes to be color coordinated, I wanted to get helmets that would match my various collared shirts and t-shirts, so I wanted to get multiple but without spending a lot of money. Since I’ve tried and purchased 3 helmets (brand, model name), Giant Compel, Giro Bronte, and Specialized Align. All three helmets look great and have 20+ vents to help your head breathe. My least favorite is the Giant Compel. It can squeeze the temple if not adjusted, making it uncomfortable, especially for longer rides, probably built more for western shaped heads. To date I have only worn it for 10 minute or less bike rides. The nice part, besides the way it looks, it has an option to add a light to back of the helmet (around $35), which attaches via magnet. It has 4 different modes of on, a fast strobe, slower strobe, or constantly on and only needs to be recharged after 3 to 4 hours of use I’ve been told the light dims over time. Locally, the Giant Compel can be bought at McCully Bike for around $30 + tax.

My second favorite is the Giro Bronte. It’s very comfortable to wear. While the chin strap is very soft, the clips slide off it too often for my liking. Locally, the Giro Bronte can be bought at McCully Bike for around $35 + tax. You can get a MIPS option online for $45-$50.

My favorite has been the Specialized Align. I felt it was the most comfortable helmet, even before I read it was signed after a version that was released in Japan. The chin strap stays in place, with the clips never moving. The back of the helmet has three reflector strips, so light should reflect if shined on the back of your head. I just also like the way they look the bests, from the side the more triangular shape evokes speed. Locally you can purchase these at the Bike Shop for $40, with MIPS option at the
store or online for $60 each. 

 

*This article was prepared by Anthony Chang in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the Hawaii Bicycling League.

With Bike Month behind us that also means that the public comment period for the Draft Oahu Bike Plan Update has closed and the plan should be moving towards finalization shortly.  And now, June has some big things in store for advocacy. Please get involved! 

Let’s Get Vision Zero & the Red Light Safety Cameras signed into Law

HB757 and SB663 are both still awaiting Governor signature. While we haven’t received any indication that we should be concerned, we’re eager for them to be signed into Law. So please join HBL in requesting that Governor Ige sign them into law by submitting a short note via the Governor’s website here – Submit Comments on Legislation.

HB757 – makes Vision Zero – a goal of zero traffic fatalities backed up with action – the policy of the State and require counties to adopt Vision Zero. The bill also assigns the State Highway Safety Council with coming up with an Action Plan – engineering, enforcement, and education actions to achieve Vision Zero. 

SB663 establishes a Red Light Safety Camera Committee to study the potential use of Red Light Safety Cameras to save lives on Hawaii’s roads and requires the committee to report to the legislature on recommendations by December 2019. 

Solutions Meetings in Kalihi and Wahiawa

HBL is convening Solutions Meetings on North King Street and California Avenue to push forward actions to make the streets safer. The 

June 6th Thursday 3:00-4:00pm – North King St and Kaili St (Kalihi)

• Solutions Meeting in response to where a 69 year old bicyclist, Victorio Padilla was killed on 10/4/17

June 24th Monday 2:30-4:30pm – California Ave near North Cane St (Wahiawa)

• • Double Solutions Meeting in response to two pedestrian fatalities on a short section of California Ave – 81 year old pedestrian, Jose C. Malapit, was killed on 4/1/15 and 57 year old pedestrian, Millard Clifton Jr., was killed on 12/1/17

The Solutions Meetings bring together government agencies, elected officials, and community members to discuss and push forward engineering, education, and enforcement solutions to make the streets safer. All who are interested in a safer street are welcome to join. More details at HBL.org/SolutionsMeeting.

Waialua Bike Path Extension Final Meeting

HBL and Waialua community members, lead by Frank Kimtich, have been pushing for an extension of the existing bike path to extend up Goodale Ave and the project is at its final community meeting before the North Shore Neighborhood Board on June 25 Tuesday 7:00pm. 

Bike Lane Progress

It’s great to see projects progress, but nothing as great as seeing them on the ground!

Changes on the Ground – After literally years of advocacy, the Hawaii DOT has filled the Ainakoa Ave gap creating a continuous bike lane on Kalanianaole Hwy for those headed east towards Honolulu.

Under Construction – The City is repaving McCully St and will be connecting the bike lane gap between King St and Algaroba St. Unfortunately, the repaving project won’t connect the Kapiolani Blvd to Lime St bike lane gap – so we’re going to have to keep pushing for this! 

Coming Soon – A bit further out – Pensacola St and Ward Ave protected bike lane projects both took major steps towards reality. Pensacola St PBL has been put out to bid and will be constructed by the end of 2019. Ward Ave PBL plans have been finalized and will be going out to bid in the coming months. The two projects will expand our bikeway network and better connect Makiki and Kakaako.  Click here for more information on Pensacola St and Ward Ave project at the City’s website.

 

Mahalo to all the advocates that pushed hard for these important changes! If you’re not already, get on our Bike Advocacy Team email list to make sure you get the latest!