Hawaii Bicycling League

2017 Advocacy Year in Review & Looking Forward

As 2017 comes to a close, we have some big accomplishments to celebrate. We also have a year of strong advocacy that puts us in a good place for 2018 to be even better. But much, much more advocacy is going to be needed to ensure that we build a Hawai’i where everyone feels safe and comfortable to hop on a bike. – Daniel Alexander, Advocacy, Planning, & Communication Director, daniel@hbl.org, 808-735-5756

Bikeways, Bikeways, Bikeways

2017 was a big year in expanding our bikeway network. 8.9 miles of new bike lanes were implemented on Oahu. The advocacy of HBL and hundreds of advocates supported the realization of new bike lanes in Nānākuli, Kunia, Salt Lake,  Kaka‘ako, McCully/Mōʻiliʻili, Mililani, and Iwilei!

2017 new protected, buffered, and conventional bike lanes:

  • McCully St – 0.5 miles of bike lanes
  • Nanakuli Ave – 1.4 miles of climbing bike lane
  • Haleakala Ave – 1.4 miles of climbing bike lane
  • South St – 0.4 miles of protected bike lanes and 0.2 miles of conventional bike lanes
  • Ala Napunani St – 1.2 miles of buffered bike lanes
  • Iwilei Rd – 0.5 miles of buffered and conventional bike lanes
  • Pacific St – 0.2 miles of bike lanes
  • Kupuohi St – 0.6 miles of buffered and 0.2 of conventional bike lanes
  • Kupuna Loop – 1.8 miles of bike lanes
  • Ainamakua Dr – 0.5 miles of bike lanes

And the bike lanes are filling up! The City’s bike counts on South Street show a 381% increase with the protected bike lane in just a few short months! It went from 55 (before) to 265 (after) bicyclists in an average 12 hour period (6:30a-6:30p).

But Where Do I Park My Bike???

Every bike trip must to come an end and that’s where quality bike parking is needed. Unfortunately, not all businesses have seen the light on the importance of providing bike parking to serve customers arriving by bike. The new bike parking ordinance will solve this for future development – it requires that short and long-term bike parking be provided in any new commercial, office, and apartment buildings. We also launched on Bike Parking Advocates program to get to all does existing businesses to put in bike parking.

Go Biki!!!

The launch of Honolulu’s new public bikeshare system Biki with 1,000 bikes and 100 stations spread across the year between Chinatown and Kapahulu. With over 2,000 rides everyday Biki is spreading the awesomeness of cycling to thousands. The non-profit organization Bikeshare Hawaii is behind Biki and they are looking towards a summer 2018 expansion.

Planning for Bikeways & Complete Streets

Throughout 2017 the strong turn-out of advocates at bikeway and Complete Streets public meetings has set the stage for big bikeway implementation in 2018. A giant Thank You to everyone that showed up and spoke up at one or more of these project meetings! Click on the names below to read more about each project.

  • Downtown/Chinatown – The City is going to be repaving many of the streets in Downtown and Chinatown and in accordance with our Complete Streets law they will making improvements to the streets to make them safely accommodate walking and biking, not just driving. The big items for biking are a Bishop St 2-way protected bike lanes, Queen St bike lanes, and one-way bike lanes on Richards St and Bethel St. Implementation is a ways off at 2019-2020.
  • ‘Aiea – The City is planning a “road diet” transformation of Kaonohi St that will change the road from 2 lanes in each direction to 1 lane in each direction, a center left turn lane, and bike lanes. This will be implemented with the resurfacing of the street in the coming months.
  • Date St – A “road diet” on Date St will create bike lanes extending west from the end of the bike path at the Manoa/Palolo Stream Bridge. The road diet will also improve pedestrian safety at several heavily used unsignalized crosswalks. This big connection will be implemented with the street resurfacing.
  • Waipahu – Waipahu is set to get a lot more bicycle-friendly with bike lanes on three important streets – Leoku St, Waipahu St, and Paiwa St.
  • Honolulu Urban Core – Still time to get involved on this one – click here to comment online. This Complete Streets implementation covers some of the biggest and most important streets in Urban Honolulu and provides the opportunity to transform Honolulu into a truly bike-friendly city. Some of the big items moving forward – Pensacola St protected bike lanes, King Street protected bike lanes extensions, Punchbowl St protected bike lanes, and Ward Ave protected bike lanes.
  • Nu’uanu/Liliha – The City is looking at Complete Streets bicycle and pedestrian improvements to Liliha St and Nuunau Ave. The planning and community engagement process is still underway, so get involved if you care about it!

Budget – Following the Money

The City passed a strong budget with $8M for bikeways and Complete Streets. With $2.76M in the bikeway fund, this will allow for implementation of several bikeways. The budget also includes a major Complete Streets transformation of Papipi Rd in Ewa Beach.

Leeward Bikeway

The Leeward Bikeway will be transformative for thousands in Leeward Oahu and it’s been one of our key advocacy focuses. After a big push to build a 1,000+ list of supporters and formal support from all 7 neighborhood boards in the area, we’ve made clear the strong community support for the Leeward Bikeway. As 2017 comes to an end, it brings both good and bad news. Good – the Phase I section is nearing reality and has minimal hurdles left to becoming a reality. Bad – the Phase II section is being deferred. We’re not giving up on the need for the FULL Leeward Bikeway as soon as possible and will be pushing even harder in coming year. Click here to read more.

We Need You Involved!

As busy as 2017 was, 2018 will be even busier.  It’s a lot but showing up to meetings and speak up in support of bikes is what is pushing great things forward – every project needs to go before the community and needs support. Make sure you’re on the Bike Advocates list so you get the latest when support is needed and how to take action and make a difference.

O’ahu Bike Plan Update

The O’ahu Bike Plan guides the development of a connected, safe bikeway network all over O’ahu. It’s being updated for the first time since 2012. This is a crucial opportunity to make sure the plan has everything in it to guide us to a truly bicycle friendly O’ahu.

There are 3 big ways for you to get involved and shape the O’ahu Bike Plan Update:
  1. Input your comments at the online map.
  2. Take the online survey.
  3. Last, but most important! Show up to the public workshop in your area of O’ahu. 
    1. Windward – TUE 1/16/18 6:00-8:00pm at Kailua Recreation Center (map)
    2. Central/North Shore – THU 1/18/18 6:00-8:00pm at Wahiawa District Park (map)
    3. Honolulu – THU 1/25/18 6:00-8:00pm at Neil Blaisdell Center, Hawaii Suites (map)
    4. Leeward – TUE 1/30/18 6:00-8:00pm at Kapolei Hale, Conference Room A & B (map)

Let’s Make These Projects a Reality

Some big items are moving towards realization, but we’re going your help pushing to make these a reality:

  • Pensacola Street protected bike lanes – This still has to go before the Makiki Neighborhood Board, likely in January or February, and we’ll need as many supporters out as we can get.
  • Date Street bike lanes – This isn’t final and might need another big turn-out of support.
  • Ward Avenue protected bike lanes – The Urban Core Complete Streets project has this moving forward but it’s got to go before the Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Board before the it’s final.

And there will be more!

Complete Streets Implementation Plans Moving Forward Around the Island

In advance of planned resurfacings the City is going to be doing Complete Streets planning for a large number of streets covering areas in Kailua, Kalihi, Kāneʻohe, Nu’uanu/Liliha, Pearl City, UH Mānoa area, and Waikīkī. Collectively, these projects and the many streets included in the them provide the opportunity to transform our island into a much more bicycle friendly community. Get involved in your neighborhood!

Let’s Make 3 Feet the Law

We’re going to build on last year’s advocacy to have a big at the state legislature bring 3 Feet Safe Passing into law. We’ve been working with Honolulu Police Department and Hawaii Department of Transportation to get their support and it’s looking positive. But we are going to need a lot of support in testimony, calls, and emails. Make sure you’re on the Bike Advocates list so you get the latest when support is needed and how to take action and make a difference.

December Advocacy Happenings

It’s the holidays, but some big bike items are still moving! The City formally launched the Oahu Bike Plan Update website. Pensacola protected bike lane is going before the neighborhood boards. Our Neighborhood Advocacy Meetings are hitting town neighborhoods. A Complete Streets proposal for Nuuanu Ave and Liliha St is going before the community. And still time to comment (online) on the Honolulu Urban Core Complete Streets projects.

Read on for full details and Get Involved!

Oahu Bike Plan Update – Website Live

The City is updating the Oahu Bike Plan. The plan guides the development of our bikeway network and the update will include a prioritized list of projects to build a connected, safe bikeway network all over Oahu. The City launched the plan update website with a survey and cool map to seek comments. So please take a few minutes to drop some comments on the map.

Click here to view the website and comment.

Next Up – Pensacola Protected Bike Lane

The City is working towards Pensacola St as the next protected bike lane. It’ll serve as a crucial connection linking makai towards Ala Moana and mauka into Makiki. A big step in the process is going before the neighborhood boards. Please come out to support!
* Kakaako/Ala Moana Neighborhood Board – 11/28 TUE 7:00pm @ Makiki Christian Church (829 Pensacola St)
* Makiki Neighborhood Board – 12/21 6:30pm @ Makiki District Park (1527 Keeaumoku St)

Neighborhood Advocacy Meetings

We’re meeting in every neighborhood. In coming weeks we’ll be meeting in just about every town neighborhood (full schedule). The objective is to develop a list of neighborhood priorities, making sure these are considered in the bike plan update, and getting people involved from every neighborhood. Get involved in your neighborhood!

Click here for more info and the full list of meetings.

Complete Streets for Liliha and Nuuanu – 12/12 6pm

The City is considering some big Complete Streets changes to Nuuanu Avenue and Liliha Street. The changes offer the opportunity to create safer streets for biking and walking and make give people in the neighborhood real and safe transportation options. Get involved by coming out to the City’s public meeting focused on the project Tuesday December 12th 6:00-8:00pm at Mae Mae Elementary School (319 Wyllie St).

Click for more information.

Honolulu Urban Core Complete Streets – Comment Online Now

As you’ve hopefully already heard from me, the City is in the planning process for big bike improvements on some of Honolulu’s most important thoroughfares – Kapiolani, Ward, King (extension on each end), and many others. It’s the opportunity to transform Honolulu into a truly bicycle friendly city. The City has completed all the public meetings, but is still seeking comments online. Please take a moment to tell them why these streets need to be more bike friendly.

Click here for the project website and to comment.

 

Updated – Ala Wai bike/pedestrian bridge

Action Alert – Tuesday November 14 7:00pm at Waikiki Community Center (310 Paoakalani Ave) the City will be presenting on the Ala Wai bicycle/pedestrian bridge to the Waikiki Neighborhood Board.

Connecting Our Neighborhoods

Ala Wai Bike/Pedestrian Bridge

The City has begun the (long) process towards building a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the Ala Wai Canal linking Waikiki and the neighborhoods just mauka. The bridge has the opportunity to create a much needed safe and protected bicycling and walking connection that will also make trips shorter – leading to more biking and walking. The project is at the beginning and will need strong support for us to achieve it’s completion. Read on for more details.

Ala Wai bridge – what’s being considered

The City Department of Transportation Services has begun a feasibility study for a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the Ala Wai Canal somewhere between Ala Moana Blvd and the Manoa/Palolo Stream. While bicycle and pedestrian safety and connectivity is the City’s main focus, the study will consider the possibility of bridge that also carries cars (this would of course require a much larger, more expensive bridge).

Map from project funding application – shows bridge study area and additional bike/ped improvement areas along Ala Wai Blvd and McCully St.

Ala Wai bridge – why it’s important

Waikiki isn’t just Hawaii’s tourism hub, it’s also one of Hawaii’s largest employment centers and home to some 32,000 residents. Creating safer, more direct walking and biking connection between Waikiki and mauka neighborhoods (McCully/Moiliili, Manoa, Makiki) will have a giant impact in making biking and walking a real transportation option for the thousands of work, school, shopping, and other trips between these neighborhoods. Only one of the existing three bridges into Waikiki (McCully bridge) has bike lanes and all three bridges have high records of bike and pedestrian crashes and injuries. Creating a bicycle and pedestrian bridge would have the highest level of safety for walking and biking. In addition to safety, a bridge can dramatically reduce travel distances – for example, a bridge at University Ave would reduce the travel distance between central Waikiki and UH Manoa by nearly one-mile making people far more likely to bike.

Ala Wai bridge – what you can do to support

We need support at multiple points, through what’s going to be a multi-year process. For one, come out Thursday October 5 6:30pm to Washington Middle School cafeteria (1633 South King St) to support at McCully/Moiliili Neighborhood Board presentation. Next, click here to get on our Bike Advocates email list. There will be more public meetings and need for support! But with determined and organized support, we can make sure the bridge happens!

 

Envision it. We can make it a reality!

 

Previous post

This was first posted in late September in response to the project presentation before the McCully/Moiliili Neighborhood Board on October 5th. We’ve updated it for the upcoming Waikiki NB meeting. The McCully/Moiliili meeting went quite well – with a majority of testifiers in support. The truth is this is going to be a long journey with lots of meetings. But it’ll be worth it! So please make sure you’re on our Bike Advocacy Team to make sure you’re getting the latest emails on how to be involved. Because we’re going to need a LOT of support along the way! 

Tantalus Cleanup

Tantalus Clean-Up – May 13, 2017 (Sun)

Tantalus is a beautiful mountain known for it’s mesmerizingly lush switchbacks and beautiful views of Honolulu. It’s a favourite climb for many cyclists because of it’s so dang pretty and nature-y! Show your love by keeping Tantalus clean and giving back to the ‘āina by coming out on May 13th (Sat) for a clean-up and free lunch! We’ll be there from 8am-12pm with the Tantalus Community Association (they do this clean-up every quarter!).

Please RSVP by Friday (5/13, 4:00PM) if you plan to come out to Carley, so she can make sure they have enough supplies and (free) lunch for everyone! 

RSVP to Carley:

 

 

Here’s something from the Tantalus Community Association Chair person: “We have a beautification day on the mountain once a quarter which is for 4 hours.  We weed whack to clear site lines, work on beautifying corners, and pick up litter and illegally dumped items to keep the mountain looking good for all of those who recreate on it and those of us who live there for all of us to enjoy Tantalus‘ natural beauty.  We coordinate with the C&C who comes with their large dump truck & front end loader to pick up the illegally dumped items that we’ve pulled up.  After we’ve all put in our 4 hours, we meet for a home-cooked lunch at the park.

…
Volunteers get a free lunch (and a T shirt if the T shirts come in time) and the satisfaction of cleaning up the mountain on which bicyclists ride every week.  Our next work day is Saturday, May 13th 8:00 – 12:00with lunch at Pu’u Ualaka’a.”
Email Malia with any questions at Malia@HBL.org or call 808-735-5756.

May Advocacy Matters – Waianae, Makiki, Aiea, and the Leeward Bikeway

Given  May is Bike Month, it’s fitting we have a full advocacy calendar.  From Waianae to Makiki, HBL is pushing for more bikeways and safer streets for all.  Get involved!

Solution Meetings in Waianae and Makiki

HBL is organizing two Safe Streets Solutions Meetings this May in response to tragedies. The meetings bring together the community, government agencies, and elected officials to discuss engineering, education, and enforcement solutions to make our streets safer for people that bike and walk.  

  • May 8, Monday 10:00am – Solutions Meeting at Waianae Valley Rd./Niihau St.
    • This Solutions Meeting is in response to the tragic death of Stanley Simon on Janury 9, 2017.  Mr. Simon was riding bicycling turning from Niihau St onto Waianae Valley Rd when he was struck by motor vehicle and killed.
  • May 9, Tuesday 10:00am – Solutions Meeting at Piikoi St./Kinau St.
    • This solutions meeting is in response to critical injury of women bicycling that was struck by a car at Piikoi St/Kinau St intersection the night of March 1.

All that want safer streets are welcome to participate. Find out more https://www.hbl.org/solutionsmeetings/

 

Bringing people together to seek solutions for safer streets for all.

 

Complete Streets on Kaonohi St

Monday May 8 7:30pm, the City Department of Transportation Services will present to the Aiea Neighborhood Board a proposal to “right size” (or “road diet”) Kaonohi Street mauka of Moanalua Road. The right sizing will change the street from 2 lanes in each direction, to one lane in each direction, a center left turn lane, and bike lanes.  This will not only create a dedicated space for bicycling, but will make a safer street for all by reducing speeding, reducing pedestrian crossing distance, and making left turns much safer.  The Federal Highway Administration urges the use of right sizings, because studies have concluded that they reduce collisions and injuries by 19-47% for all users.  According to Department of Health numbers in the period between 2010-2014, in the proposed right sizing section of Kaonohi St there were 15 motorist, 9 pedestrian, and 1 bicyclist crash that required ambulance response. Let’s reduce this! What about traffic? At the level of traffic on Kaonohi (about 9,400 car trips per day), the right sizing transformation shouldn’t create any congestion, just less speeding.  And what about parking?  No parking needs to be removed.  The Kaonohi St is truly a win-win Complete Streets project that will create a safer and more pleasant street for all.

If you live in or care about the neighborhood served by Kaonohi St, please come Monday May 8 7:30pm Aiea Public Library Program Rm (99-374 Pohai Pl) to the Aiea Neighborhood Board to support the Complete Streets project! 

 

It worked in Kailua on Keolu Drive. Now let’s make Kaonohi the right size!

Waianae NB supports Leeward Bikeway and Waianae extension

On May 2, the Waianae Neighborhood Board unanimously voted to support the Leeward Bikeway and a “walking and biking path along the Waianae Coast.”  They become the 7th Neighborhood Board to formally support the Leeward Bikeway and joined their fellow Waianae Coast board – Nanakuli NB – in endorsing an extension beyond the planned terminus of the Leeward Bikeway at Lualualei Naval Road to continue and extend along the entire Waianae Coast.  The need for a safe walking and biking alternative to Farrington Highway along the Waianae Coast couldn’t be stronger – since 2016 six pedestrians and one bicyclist have been killed on this section of highway. A separated multi-use path could have prevented this tragedies. This sentiment was very strong at the Solutions Meetings HBL held for Aitnes Kenan on April 15.  Aitnes was bicycling on the shoulder of Farrington Hwy around Maili Point when he was struck by motorist. If Waianae Coast Path existed, Aitnes probably would have been using it and would be alive today.

Solutions Meeting for Aitnes Kenan. If the Waianae Coast Path existed, Aitnes Kenan would likely be alive today.
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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.