HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0679.100 2022-2024 P/Council
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From: Simon Radford
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 7:39 PM .
To: Council Testimony r-
Subject: Bill 125 tesitmony, bicycle restrictions <
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Councillors, 7:I
I am dismayed by the proposed bicycle restrictions in Bill 125,draft 5.
This Bill is a very heavy handed response to a perceived issue of road "safety." In reality, however, it preemptively blames
victim and will do little to improve road safety. Bicyclists are not the problem. Bicyclists do not injure motorists. Drivers
have killed bicyclists all too often.
I believe the real road safety hazards are impatient, inattentive, imperious, and (often) intoxicated drivers.Although .
these drivers are a minority,they cause disproportional havoc and misery.Already in the first half of 2024,there have
been more than twice as many traffic fatalities in Hawaii County as during all of 2023 [*]. News reports indicate the
causes of this carnage have been excessive speed, reckless driving, intoxication, or a combination.
In addition,there are multiple provisions in the proposed Bill that would make fair and just implementation difficult,
leading to possibly capricious enforcement that would do little to improve road safety but would exacerbate social
divisions.
I urge the Council to address road safety by returning to the principles embodied in the County's Vision Zero plan. [**]
I support Councillor Kawgiwada's proposed amendments to Bill 125.
Simon Radford
Hilo
[*] State of Hawaii Traffic Fatalities through June 13, 2024 https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2024/06/Fatality-
Breakdown-by-Counties_10012020-14.pdf
[**]
Hawai`i Island Vision Zero
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/vision-zero
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Ref. To: ) MI
1 Ref. Dote 41:" 1 9 2024