HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0679.064 2022-2024-p Goand I
15i11 1:215
Calm. (7M
From: Toby Olney
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2024 1:54 PM
To: Council Testimony
L_e7
C
Subject: Testimony in opposition of Bill 125
As a 20+-year resident of the Big Island and avid cyclist, I'm asserting my opposition to Bill 12,4�ivhich
seeks to prohibit bicycle tours in North Hawaii.
I ride my bicycle with friends on West Hawaii roads 3 days a week, always on the shoulder when one is
available, which is most of the time. I also use my bicycle to perform property inspections for my
appraisal business, especially during high traffic times. If enough of us got out of our cars and onto
bicycles, we would substantially reduce our worsening traffic problems.
support a vision of Hawaii where we encourage cycling activities, provide a safe and mutually respectful
environment between cars and bicycles, facilitate better health and fitness of our residents and visitors
through active lifestyles, lower health care costs, protect the environment by burning fewer fossil fuels,
decrease wear and tear on our roads, and generally promote a spirit of Aloha and inclusion rather than
punitive NIMBYism and animosity.
I've ridden Akoni Pule highway and Kohala mountain road many times over the last two decades. Akoni
Pule highway has a bike lane for almost its entire length. And I've never been on Kohala mountain road
where a motorist has had to wait more than a few seconds to safely pass me and/or my cycling group. I
can guarantee that I've slowed down traffic much more by driving my car at the speed limit on these
roads than by riding my bicycle on any given day.
This is not to say that cyclists should not be held accountable. We already have laws that govern the use
of bicycles. Specifically FIRS 291 C-145. If commercial bicycle tour participants (or any cyclists for that
matter) fail to adhere to these laws, we have a mechanism in place to enforce those laws, and warn or
cite participants or tour operators. Enforce those laws. That's appropriate.
It's not appropriate for us as a community to prohibit cyclists from the roads that we pay for with our tax
money. It's not pono to force more people into cars and sedentary lifestyles that increase the cost of
road maintenance, health care, pollution, and climate change.
Which brings me to my next point: December 16, 2023, itwas announced that the counties of Maui,
Hawaii, and Honolulu will receive $18M in federal funding for safer roads and sidewalks for pedestrians
and cyclists. Instead of figuring out ways to prohibit taxpayers from using our shared resources in
healthier, more environmentally friendly ways, why not spend that money to improve those resources to
provide a better, safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly shared use experience for everyone?
Specific questions for Ms. Evans and Ms. Villegas:
1. What studies have you read examining communities designed to encourage cycling and walking vs.
those that more heavilyfavor personal automobiles?
Comm. Ro.
Ret.1b:
Ret Date
2. What research have you done to determine the role an active lifestyle plays in lowering healthcare
costs, improving economic output, decreasing obesity, heart disease, and cancer rates, increasing life
expectancy, and increasing happiness? Have you read this
study: httpsa/w cbi ih. ov/ mc! r 'c es C 05 6 7L? How much does casual cycling
decrease your mortality risk from all causes?
3. is your proposal to prohibit bicycle tours in North Hawaii likely to beget more cycling prohibitions on
other Hawaii county roads?
Aloha,
Tobias Olney
Hawaiia-Appraisa.La
808 825-1859 mobile