HomeMy WebLinkAboutBIL 125 Draft 01 2022-2024
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE HAWAI‘I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO COMMERCIAL BICYCLE TOURS.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I:
SECTION 1. Purpose. Chapter 46-16.3, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, enables the County Council to “adopt and provide for enforcement of ordinances regulating commercial bicycle tours on
state and county highways, including but not limited to ordinances relating to the number of tours, the number of bicycles within a tour, scheduling of tours, physical spacing of tours,
rules of the road, health and safety requirements, equipment maintenance, driver and guide qualifications, driver and guide drug testing, accident procedures and reporting, and financial
responsibility requirements.” In the interest of public safety, the purpose of this ordinance is to prohibit the operation of commercial bicycle tours on certain State and County roadways
where limited lines-of-sight, a lack of passable shoulders, and other traffic conditions create unsafe and potentially dangerous circumstances for motorists and bicyclists.
SECTION 2. Chapter 6 of the Hawai‘i County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended) is amended by adding a new article to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
“Article __. Commercial Bicycle Tours.
Section 6-___. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Bicycle” means the same as defined in Chapter 291C-1, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes.
“Business” means the same as defined in Chapter 1 of this Code.
“Commercial bicycle tour” means a tour comprised of a group of persons traveling on bicycles for the purposes of pleasure, recreation, and sightseeing, is operated, conducted, organized,
facilitated, furnished with bicycles, or otherwise provided for by a business. “Commercial bicycle tour” shall include guided bicycle tours and unguided bicycle tours.
“Guided bicycle tour” means a commercial bicycle tour that is accompanied or led by an employee or agent of the business providing the bicycle tour for the duration of the tour.
“Public highway” means the same as defined in Chapter 264, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes.
“Unguided bicycle tour” means a commercial bicycle tour that is not accompanied or led by an employee or agent of the business, including those in which transportation to or from the
route is provided or arranged by the business.
Section 6-___. Applicability.
This article shall apply to all commercial bicycle tours on any public highway, or any designated portion thereof.
Section 6-___. Prohibitions; penalties.
(a) Commercial bicycle tours shall not operate on the following public highways:
Kohala Mountain Road, from the junction at Route 250
and Route 19, to the intersection at Route 250 and Hāwī Road.
Akoni Pule Highway, from the twenty-five mile marker to its terminus at Pololū Valley Lookout.
(b) Any business responsible for a commercial bicycle tour that violates any provision of this article shall be subject to:
(1) A fine of $500 for the first offense; and
(2) A fine not less than $1,000 per bicycle in the commercial bicycle tour committing the violation for any subsequent offense.”
SECTION 3. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions
or applications of the ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
_______________, Hawai‘i
Date of Introduction:
Date of 1st Reading:
Date of 2nd Reading:
Effective Date: