HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0679.098 2022-2024 P/Counci t
Bill f�5
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HAWAPI ` ADDRESS PHONE EMAIL
BICYCLING y 3442 Wai'alae Ave.,Suite 1 808-735-5756 bicycle@HBL.org
{■ EAGUE Honolulu,HI 96816
June 17,2024 mac?
Official Testimony Bill 125, Draft 5- Relating to Commercial Bicycle Tours
To the Hawaii County Council ~-
BILL COMMENTS,SUPPORT for PROPOSED NEW AMENDMENT
r. -_-
Aloha Chair Kimball and members of the Hawaii County Council,
The Hawaii Bicycling League has been opposed to Bill No 125 because, since first introduction and
through various amendments, the draft legislation has never cited any data to support the premise that
commercial bicycle tours threaten public safety. Across the State of Hawaii, people riding bicycles have
the same rights to the road as people driving vehicles.
Roadways are shared public infrastructure. In furtherance of this common understanding and supported
by transportation experts at the Federal and State levels, since 2019, the County of Hawaii has been
committed to Hawaii Island's Vision Zero Action Plan'. In 2022, the Mayor, Director of Public Works,
Planning Director of the Planning Department, and the Administrator of the Mass Transit Agency of the
County of Hawaii affirmed that Complete Streets2 policy is a best practice for achieving a wide range of
public safety goals. Together, these measures also address transportation equity and build on the
County of Hawaii Transit and Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plana.
The new proposed amendment of Bill No. 125 introduced by Council Member Kagiwada pivots away -
from the unproven and unsound premise that commercial bicycle tours threaten public safety or that
prohibiting certain groups of cyclists from certain county or state roads would have any measurable
positive impact on public safety.
Complete Streets policy and Vision Zero goals are grounded in data outcomes measured by the US
Department of Transportation and the Hawaii Department of Transportation and affirmed in state law.
Further, bicycle tourism aligns with the goals and objectives of Hawaii Island's Destination
Management Action Plan (DMAP)4. This is because bicycling and bicycle tourism is a sustainable and
regenerative practice that minimizes impacts on our environment and provides unique experiences that
strengthen Hawaii Island's product offerings. Specifically, Action 1.1 of the DMAP calls for cohesive
infrastructure planning to address community and industry needs, such as incorporating plans to widen
bike paths in tandem with other necessary road repairs.
Please reconsider earlier votes and adopt this new compromise measure, or forgo this bill altogether.
Respectfully,
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Travis Counsel) ► •
Comm. N..
Executive Director Ref. To: ) 1(I1Ul1 1
Ref. Date JUN 1 9 2024
About Hawaii Bicycling League
Hawai'i Bicycling League (HBL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1975 with a mission to enable more
people to ride bicycles for health, recreation, and transportation through advocacy, education, and
events. HBL advocates for increased and safer biking facilities, along with legislation to improve safety
for all vulnerable users to continuously evolve our community into a better place for biking, rolling, and
walking. HBL educates people of all ages and abilities to improve their cycling safety and comfort, and
educates motorists about laws and how to reduce crashes with vulnerable users. HBL's BikeEd Hawaii
program has taught bike safety to more than 100,000 4th graders since 1989. Signature events
organized by HBL include the annual Honolulu Century Ride and the Haleiwa Metric Century, among
others and numerous weekly group rides. HBL is funded by grants, donations, memberships, and
proceeds from events. Complete information is available at www.hbl.org.
Reference Links:
1 - https://heyzine.com/flip-book/e77130ed2e .html
2-
https://records.hawaiicountv.gov/weblink/1/edoc/120608/Complete%20Streets%20Policv%20Pledge%20%206.1
3.22.pdf
3-https://heleonmasterplan.com/wp-content/uploads/201 8/08/1 8081 3-FINAL-FULL-REPORT-reduced.pdf
4-https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7040/hta-hawaii-island-action-plan.pdf