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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: February 2, 2016 Re: Comm. No. 644/Res. No. 379-16 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 9:04 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 379-16, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 379-16, transmitted by Finance Director Deanna S. Sako, via Comm. No. 644 <br /> dated January 14, 2016, authorizes the Department of Research and Development to award funds to the <br /> People's Advocacy for Trails Hawai`i (PATH). <br /> Funds in the amount of$250,000 would be used by PATH to develop, implement, and manage the <br /> Bike Share pilot program. <br /> Research and Development Director Kawehi Inaba; and PATH's Executive Director, Tina Clothier, <br /> came forward to address the members of the Committee. <br /> Ms. Inaba explained that Hawai`i County is the first in the State to implement this program. She <br /> stated that bikes will be located at the Old Airport, Hale Halawai, and near the Kailua Pier for the <br /> kama'ainas and visitors to use for transportation and exercise. She mentioned that Utah, Chicago, <br /> and New York have this program, and further added that West Hawaii is the best location because <br /> of its existing infrastructure. <br /> Ms. Clothier gave an overview of the program and said that this program would provide the users <br /> options to pay by the hour or with monthly/yearly memberships. <br /> Several Council Members voiced separate concerns regarding the restricted areas of travel for the <br /> bikes, the possible theft of the bikes, safety aspects of bicycling without dedicated bike lanes, and <br /> self-sustainability of the program. <br /> Ms. Clothier responded that riders will be advised at the time of renting that they may bike-ride as <br /> far as Kahalu'u. She stated that there is a low risk for the theft of these bikes because they are <br /> equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System), and said that a credit card must be used to rent <br /> the bikes. <br /> In regards to the program's sustainability, she stated that bike share operations in other visitor <br /> destinations are able to sustain 80 percent of their operations, with the remaining 20 percent from <br /> advertisements. <br /> FC Report No.: 48 <br />