June 2019 Advocacy Happenings

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!