HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0535.001 2008-2010
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BICYCLE SAFETY RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, large numbers of bicyclists commute, exercise, and ride for
recreation throughout Hawaii County; and
WHEREAS, bicycling is an activity with many benefits accruing to
individuals and the community, including:
• Providing a convenient, effective, and alternative form of transportation
that helps reduce traffic congestion and parking requirements;
• Supporting and enhancing physical health in an outdoor environment
through exercise and recreation; and
- Representing an environmentally friendly activity that does not rely on the
consumption of fossil fuels and produces no pollution. Every bicycle on
the road represents one less automobile adding to pollution emissions;
and
WHEREAS, despite the advantage of comfortable year-round weather in
Hawaii, many bicyclists have been discouraged rather than encouraged
from riding because of perceptions that Hawaii's roadways are not a
friendly and safe place to ride; and
WHEREAS, these perceptions are supported by many factors, including
ever increasing numbers of vehicles on Hawaii Island roadways that have
made bicycling riskier and bicycle crashes more likely, and inadequate and
poorly-maintained roadways, bikeways, and bike paths; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii adopted a statewide Complete Streets policy whereby
all roads that will be constructed, reconstructed or maintained will
accommodate all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit
users, and motorists except in the case of excessive cost, safety,
sparseness of population and existing prohibitions of certain road users;
BE IT RESOLVED by the County of Hawaii that it supports efforts by the
state, city, and other stakeholders to improve bicycle safety in
the County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council urges the Department of
Public Works and Department of Parks and Recreation to continue all
efforts to improve conditions for safe bicycling, including but not limited to:
1. Developing new bike paths, bikeways, and bike routes within and
connecting Hawaii Island communities;
2. Maintaining and improving all existing bike paths, bikeways, and bike
routes on Hawaii Island, including re-striping roadways, improving signage
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placement, regularly trimming trees and bushes, and ensuring barrier-free
and clean riding areas;
3. Implementing construction procedures that consider the needs of
bicyclists, including seeking input from the bicycling community on major
roadway projects; placing construction signs, equipment, and opala bins
outside of bicycling areas; providing detour bike lanes as necessary; and
ensuring that traffic loop sensors can be triggered by bicyclists and are
maintained when repaving roadways;
4. Enforcing existing traffic and parking laws;
5. Installing bicycle racks in all state and county parks;
6. Enhancing motorist education by emphasizing bicycle safety knowledge
as part of the application process to successfully obtain and renew a
vehicle driver's license;
7. Continuing support for and funding of PATH Bike Ed" program, which
teaches Hawaii Island fourth-graders to safely ride bicycles;
8. Support and Island Wide Safe Routes to School Task Force that will
work to remove barriers to walking and bicycling to school; and
9. Enhancing bicyclist education by emphasizing bicycle safety knowledge
at the point of sale as part of the process of obtaining a bicycle license;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted
to the governor; the Hawaii Senate President; the Hawaii Speaker of the
House of Representatives; the director of the state department of
transportation; the mayor; the managing director; the directors of planning,
public works, parks and recreation; and the executive director of PATH PO
Box 62 Kailua-Kona Hawaii, 96745.