November 16, 2021 Re: BICYCLE-TOUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND RELATED LITIGATION CONCERNS (GREAT-44)
Aloha Chair Mike Molina and Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez & Committee Members;
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the cycling community, a local business owner, and local resident passionate about his home. My name is Jeff Robertson and my wife Crystal and I own Maui Sunriders Bike Company in Paia. I have spent a majority of my life dedicated to cycling through coaching which I am a USA Cycling Level 3 coach, an International Mountain Bike Guide/Coach through the BICP, an international Ski Guide, two decades of first responder medical training and an ex-professional athlete in cycling as well as skiing. I have also worked with the State of Colorado to build mountain bike trails in Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs as well as those same communities to help build better infrastructure for cycling.
The Haleakala Downhill mountain bike tour has been in operation for decades and is one of the most popular activities for visitors and locals to do on Maui. Over the course of 21+ years that we have been in business, we have shared this experience with thousands of visitors and locals that have become our ohana, friends, and fellow cyclists. Haleakala is the #2 most sustained road bike climb in the US and #14 in the world. The draw of this mountain to cyclists is very strong and one that has made Maui the cycling destination that it is. The proposed changes would drastically alter this in a negative way and with everything we have been through as a community over the last two years, the effect this would have on the businesses that are currently operating, would be devastating. We are all trying to stay above water after a 8 month closure of the state and tourism. These changes would close the doors for some of the operators which would then have a ripple effect on employee job losses, tax revenue to the county/state, local businesses along the way, and the Maui cycling community. The downhill bike tour and bike rental business is one of the largest activities on the island that generates well over $10 million dollars per year. The referral business that comes from our guides/drivers to local businesses is well over $1 million per year alone from just our company. Combine that with the other 5 operators, and it would be a significant loss to the communities of Kula, Makawao and Paia. Dozens of local businesses have reached out to us once they heard of these possible changes and many are against it for a wide range of reasons as it will have a negative impact on the local community.
We have thousands of reviews, customers and locals that support the self guided bike rides as it eases the stress on the road, the local community, allows for a better flow of traffic with less impact and the groups move through the towns at a faster pace having less of an impact. The most recent study that was performed in 2007 highlighted that self guided tours had less accidents, caused less congestion and named Maui Sunriders as the safest of all tour operators. We are the only bike tour operator that is also a full service bike shop, repair, sales and service. We inspect, clean and maintain our bikes on a daily basis with mechanics that have over 75 years of combined experience and hold some of the highest certifications in the industry. Cycling has always been self guided from the very first day man built the bike. Instead of targeting an industry and trying to suppress it, there are many alternative options to make cycling better on Maui. We have shared some of this information below and would like to be a part of helping this beautiful place be even more bike friendly then it already is.
Collectively, our industry brought in over $4.6 Billion in revenue for Hawai'i and employed over 50,000 workers in 2019. Tourism is a gift to any community when appropriately managed. Focus on balanced use of public resources between patrons and non-patrons of commercial tours are imperative. Additionally, commercial tours enhance the ability to control use. Free "on your own" unsupervised experience- seekers are far more likely to damage, trespass, get injured, and misbehave.
Bicycle Tour businesses are members of our organization, and GREAT-44 threatens the life of these companies as written. The friction between residents (Kula) and the bike tour companies is nothing new. This opportunity has been studied since 1995 by Maui Police, Corporate Council, Kimura International, Inc, National Park, etc.... Always with the same approach to stifle the legally permitted companies.
Prohibiting Unguided tours- Providing rental bikes to visitors and residents is a service provided by a much larger scope of businesses. In essence, this ordinance will prohibit "permitted guided bike tour" companies from conducting these tours. The ability for "Joe Public" to own, lease, rent a bike and ride on our public roadways is legal. There is a demand that is not going away – we need to accommodate this experience more safely, reducing the community tension. The guided tours are the ones that cause the traffic to slow down and the ones we see the most accidents in as people feel pressured or riding too close to each other.
Six Tours Each Day – Eight Customers and two guides, between 9 am and 1 pm (4 hours), each company is allowed only one tour per two hours. These capacity settings equate to an individual Company conducting two times per day (provided their competitors have not booked the available open slots). This is not feasible for any of the businesses to operate. Our groups are also down and through the planned areas well before this time. We strongly encourage those in the Kula community or others to stop by our shop, take a bike ride with us and see our operations first hand.
Below are some insights from the Activities & Attractions Association of Hawaii, Inc.
The proposed "ordinance changes" will refocus the current demand to seek out "on your own" unsupervised alternatives not affiliated with a legally permitted bike tour company.
A3H recommends instead of stifling this sector, accommodate and partner with them. Facilitate uniting all bike enthusiast businesses to adhere to best practices. Build turnouts along the most popular routes. Work with the DOT's Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Program (https://highways.hidot.hawaii.gov/stories/s/h4ss-c6xy) to improve and accommodate this demand. Their plan includes building separate bike paths away from the roads. Study and visit places like Amsterdam or Portland, Oregon, where bicycle riding has infrastructure support. Maui is among the top-rated bike destination in the world. Why not embrace this honor by providing the proper Infrastructure.
Hawaii's economy has suffered more than any other state in the U.S. due to Covid-19 due to our evident dependence on Tourism. Our government and community should be welcoming COVID-Free visitors back and assist these "barely-holding on" businesses as much as possible. Despite arguments to diversify our economy, there is no other export industry more lucrative and supportive of our land, people, and sense of place than Tourism if managed.
Mahalo again for this opportunity to testify and to share our voice. The impact this would have on the local economy, businesses, employees, and visitor industry would be a major financial loss that no business or industry can afford right now. We as a society are just coming out of a two year pandemic that crushed the global economy, the local economy and businesses. At this time we need to be compassionate towards each other, work on solutions and not regulate something because of a dislike. We have reached out to our database of past and current customers and the feedback has been very supportive of the bike tour as many of these people return each year to visit Maui, ride their bikes in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and love to support the local communities along the way. Some have even bought homes and are now part of our community. As you can see this is more than a bike ride and we strongly encourage everyone to work together instead of creating unnecessary restrictions. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions and opportunities to help.
Mahalo for your time and opportunity, Jeff and Crystal Robertson Remy Chvatal John Demoura Luke Arnold Brandon Reidel Danen Achten Rich Chavez Dane Geer Will Hanson Rocco Baricchi Kekoa Ripley Arielle Axelrod Rafael Sedano And a database of thousands of current locals from the State of Hawaii and visitors that have supported our shop over the past 21 years
I hope these thoughts may help with the better purpose of not over regulating “non- Downhill Bicycle businesses” and may further encourage implementation of Bike/Pedestrian facilities.
To: Ethics and Transparency Committee
From: Saman Dias – Chair Maui Bicycling League
Reg. Proposed Legislation to Limit Maui Bicycle Tours
Aloha Ethics and Transparency Committee,
I like to address following issue-
“An alternate option has been suggested: Because Maui’s roads lack the ability
to allow safe commercial bike operations, totally ban commercial Bicycle Tour
and Rental businesses, at least on the slopes of Haleakala.”
This is confusing this need to be clear all bike operations or slopes of Haleakala. I agree that there should be safety measure for Haleakala downhill.
i.e.
1. higher liability Insurance, 2. safety requirements
Recommendation - Have a guide with all Haleakala downhill tours. I have learned most self-guided tours are very destructive because visitors have no idea what they are doing. Having a guide to each group may help with some of the safety issues. and limiting the group size is a good idea.
However, making all bike shops on island to requiring same rules seems unreasonable. It seems like we are punishing business because of lack of infrastructure. Bike shops have very thin margins. There is very good chance some of them will go out of business enduring this type of burden.
Some of these businesses have been in existence over 23 years. I do not think that it is reasonable to categorize them into the same category. As a community we need to be more business friendly. I believe Maui County needs to take responsibility for lack of infrastructure.
Here are some challenges we have faced on implementation of bike infrastructure on Maui County. In 2015 budget was approved for Northshore greenway took 4years complete.
West Maui Greenway – Budget of 350,000 was approved for p design and plan, DPW spend 400,000 for land that county did not own and went against MBL recommendations today no deliverables and no accountability.
Why are we not making these organizations like DPW accountable? If budget passed and money was spent, then Maui County Council need to make sure that each department is accountable. These funds come from our hard-working community taxpayers. If we do not have accountability measures in place, please implement accountability measures to ensure projects are implemented properly.
Biking have become one of the most popular activities on Maui during COVID pandemic. We need to look at the bigger picture and be more bike friendly and business friendly community and not anti-business community. When developing legislation to “limit Maui Bicycle Tours” please consider these points.
We should be proactive and take advantage of opportunities like bipartisan infrastructure bill-https://bikeleague.org/content/bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-passes-major-funding-better-biking
We have billionaires buying properties on Maui, many are more than happy to invest on Maui and have already funded nonprofits. Anyone thought of reaching out and asking to partner on projects that will help Maui community?
Let’s think outside the box, let’s get business and community involved to create better bike infrastructure on Maui and not punish small business.
There is a win-win solution for everyone. Bike path(s) from Kula down to Paia perhaps along the edge of Maui Pono land. A strip of land leased or purchased. Another path from Kula to Kihei. Not a road, a bike path only. New bike paths would eleviate bike-car traffic, enhance quality of life for residents and provide an outlet for bike tourism. Low environmental impact (no pollution). Perhaps new federal infrastructure monies could aid
Down hill biking had been good for Maui County. Our tourist industry needs it. The county of Maui needs to build safe bike paths . These bike companies pay fees. Lots of fees and registration!!! Build bike paths so that not only downhill bikers but all bikers have safe ways to ride!!!
I am 100% in support of establishing limits and restrictions for commercial bicycle-tour businesses to address public safety, traffic, illegal parking, and related litigation concerns on Maui Island. Without properly designated bike lanes this continues to be an unsafe activity performed by visitors who are out of shape and inexperienced at riding down a mountain at high speeds. Not only does it put the bicyclist at risk but also the lives of those operating vehicles on windy, steep and sometimes slick roads around them. This should be a highly regulated activity if it is allowed to continue.
Aloha Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency (GREAT) Committee.
My name is Aaron “Moose” Reichert. I am writing in my testimony on the proposed ordinance amendment to Maui County Code Chapter 5.22 - Bicycle Tour Business. After reading the draft proposal, I am deeply concerned with the repercussions of how it will impact my small business in Makawao, Krank Cycles. The bike shop centers around the bike community of Maui County and also to anyone, visitors, and Locals that would want to rent or buy a bike to enjoy our beautiful islands.
This proposed ordinance will financially impact my small business which will have negative repercussions to our local community.
One such is the volunteer-based “Maui Bike Mission” program which Krank Cycles offers to the Maui community, gives free bike repair services and distributes refurbished bikes to locals who are in need of transportation. Whether this is for recreational purposes or their main mode and sometimes the only form of transportation, our mission is to give locals the opportunity to have that freedom. This ordinance will add a financial burden to Krank Cycles, which will inhibit us from giving the Maui County community and islands this service and freedom to each person who does not have the means to either purchase a bike or to get repair services done.
The verbiage and specifics on “unguided tours” for “rental operations” affect anyone local or visitor from the freedom of experiencing biking in Maui. Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) S 46-16.3 (2012) states, "Bicycle Tour" includes both guided bicycle tours and unguided bicycle rental operations”. There needs to be further clarification on what is considered an “unguided bicycle rental operations”. According to this proposed ordinance, an "Unguided bicycle tour” means “a bicycle tour that is not led or accompanied by guide throughout the ride, in which transportation to or from the route is provided or arranged by the bicycle tour business”. Does this “bicycle tour business” include bike shops that rent and buy to locals and visitors? Does this include anyone such as locals that ride a bike for recreational purposes or a mode of transportation? They are “unguided”?
In Maui County Code 5.22.010, a "Tour" means “a group organized for the traveling from place to place for enjoyment, pleasure, or sightseeing”. Does this imply that there cannot be more than one person riding “enjoyment, pleasure, or sightseeing” in Maui County? If so, this would infringe on bike clubs and other “groups” and also the local who owns or rents a bike for those reasons which are legal to ride on public roadways. I understand that safety plays a big part in this proposed ordinance, however, the public roadways are not up to safety measures as many other states and counties in our country. Facilitating a way for our public roads to be safe for anyone who wants to ride a bike on our public roads, not just sole bike owners. This could easily be accomplished if there were bike lanes on Maui public roads that have heavy bicycling.
Further, the proposed ordinance in Chapter 5.22.025, “Commercial bicycle tours operating in the Makawao-Pukalani-Kula and Paia-Haiku community plan areas”, section (A) states “it is unlawful for any business to conduct unguided commercial bicycle tours in the Makawao-Pukalani-Kula and Paia-Haiku community plan areas”. Does “unguided commercial bicycle tours” include “unguided” bikers whether local or visitors renting a bike are prohibited from entering those community plan areas? Since HRS 46-16.3 (2012),"Bicycle tour" includes both “guided bicycle tours and unguided bicycle rental operations”. If the Makawao-Pukalani-Kula and Paia-Haiku community plan areas are prohibited, then eventually will other community plans start to be prohibited as well? These are just some of my concerns regarding this proposed ordinance. However, if this moves forward, especially without further clarification on these terms and what the repercussions of this proposed ordinance are, I know there will be a deep impact on the biking community in Maui County. I am pleading with the committee today to reconsider this proposed ordinance and how it will affect our small local bike shops.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
AAron"Moose"Reichert
Owner /Operator
Krank Cycles
Hello - I am a resident of South Maui and have had the opportunity to use the recreational activity of mountain bike riding down Haleakala with specific touring operations. In addition to my own rides, I have had the occasion to refer many families both on and off island to participate in this safe, well organized and truly unique Maui experience. I have paid a premium to arrive at the top of the crater to experience Sunrise and truly enjoyed myself on my self guided tour down the crater. This updated legislation will strip the few touring companies left on island (during a global pandemic) and will negate the ability to maximize this "only on Maui" visitor draw. Please consider the 100's of employees that will risk loosing there job's or, the tax dollars the county will loose when business' are forced to close. If traffic and safety are true concerns, perhaps better enforcement of both riders and drivers is in order. Don't kill an entire industry on Maui simply because a few residents are not able to speed up the highway in there vehicles.
My name is Kelli Lundgren. I am a six-year volunteer, ride leader and organizer, and safety and education leader with Maui Bicycling League (MBL), a nonprofit organization, a subsidiary of Hawaii Bicycling League. I oppose this legislation for a few reasons:
One, MBL's monthly rides will be affected/limited/cancelled no matter their ride location on island. We are a nonprofit. Members ride for free. Sometimes our group consists of 3 to 20 riders pre-pandemic, and during the pandemic adhering to social distancing safety rules. It seems we would need a permit to ride as locals, along with guests welcomed to our rides. I oppose this concept as written.
Two: if I am correct, the number of tourist downhill ride operators has been reduced to five from twelve. Problem-solving: Instead of limiting or all-together restricting these rides (I have not ridden on one of these downhill rides), add turn-outs periodically. These five permitted operators could be required to turn out with their groups at each designated asphalted turnout along with the sweep vehicle. Perhaps even suggest that the tour operators pay for the turnout installations. They generate revenue for themselves and the county and state. This adds safety. this adds convenience for upcountry drivers.
Three: our local bike shops are stressed. To reduce the number of bike rentals and bike tours (which would be included in this consideration) would hurt their businesses. We need these shops on our island. We need their support. One shop alone spends hundreds of hours assembling 350 bikes each year to give to wanting children for Christmas. That's just one example of their dedication, their kuleana. Please keep the bike rental opportunities alive for these shops.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Respectfully,
Kelli Lundgren
Maui Bicycling League
I am a senior at Seabury Hall and offer this testimony in response to the proposed Amendment to Maui County Code Chapter 5.22.
I have lived off of Crater Road since I was seven. For more than the past year I have driven to school in the morning alongside bike tours and tourists.
In attending driver’s education, as mandated by the State of Hawaii, there are several principles that apply to the current concerns:
1) Share the road: We are instructed regarding the rights of others to use the roadways and to respect that right. It is no different if the use is by bike tours or by tourist who find it necessary to completely stop in the middle of the highway to take picture of cattle, goats or sheep. The distinct difference is that bike tours have designated areas where they pull over to allow cars to pass.
2) Pass only when safe: There are designated areas where passing is permitted. If it is not permitted you do not pass. In my experience bike tours regularly move to the side allowing for passing when it is safe to do so. If it is not safe to pass then don’t pass.
3) Plan your drive and drive your plan: As a driver I am responsible for making sure that I have allowed time to safely drive my route. There are times when bike tours cannot immediately pull over to allow for passing. However, if that short delay in being able to pass makes me rushed or late arriving at school that is my fault not the fault of the bikes. I did not plan my drive allowing enough time to arrive on time.
While it may be a temporary inconvenience to have to wait behind a bike tour it is no more an issue than being behind the line of cars coming down after viewing sunrise. It appears that the concern is one more of convenience than concern over safety.
This is not a good idea, the bicycle tour industry has safety as its top priority. It was a couple of weeks ago that a new model Toyota Tacoma was totaled killing a cyclist. The problem is vehicles speeding down Haleakala hyway. To put an entire industry out of business is selfish on the behalf of affluent Kula residents who don't want to be inconvenienced by traffic. Even in high season there just is not much traffic in upcountry or Haiku. This has nothing to do with safety, it has to do with council chair Molina curring favor with affluent Kula residents, for his mayoral run next year
When bicyclists travel on narrow, winding roads that are also used by cars and trucks, there is always a potential for disastrous injuries. When the bicyclists are large groups of unsupervised visitors who are unfamiliar with the roads, the normal traffic patterns, and the safety issues posed by their presence, this potential is greatly increased. Maui residents are justifiably frustrated by cyclists who do not keep to the side of the road, do not ride single file, hold up traffic behind them, do not have sufficient cycling experience to navigate properly in traffic, and, when things go wrong, require taxpayer-funded rescue operations and take up our limited medical resources. Limiting the number of bicycle tours and requiring more supervision by employees of licensed tour providers would be a great first step in the direction of better tourism management, something Maui residents have long been begging for. The proposed legislation is a good compromise between the interests of responsible tour operators in continuing their businesses, and the interests of Maui residents generally in being able to use County maintained roads without interference from large numbers of inadequately supervised bike tour operations. Please pass the proposed ordinance rather than (or in addition to) simply urging the Mayor to address the issue. - Sarah Hofstadter, full-time Kihei resident
Having lived on Maui for 30+ years I agree it can be a little frustrating to follow the bikers or the UPS drivers or the garbage or mail vehicle down the road. I have also noticed that what used to take me 15 minutes to drive my son 5 miles to Seabury now take over 25-30 minutes.
The roads are busier. I have noticed a few more unguided tours lately, but nothing like 10-15 years ago when there tours all over the place.
Hawaii has suffered greater employment and small business loss than any other state and Maui has lost the most jobs of all. We cannot all work for Mahi Pono, the county or a hotel. If we want to provide employment for people. We need to support those small businesses more now than ever.
Seems the saying can't we all just get along. Means more now than ever!
Some regulations on times and spacing yes..Banning and or heavy handed political actions that result in the loss of many jobs NO Thanks!
Thank you for allowing testimony on this matter. My name is Guillem Molinas and I live in the Paia-Haiku area. My daughter attends Kalama Intermediate and I drive this area every day.
Personally, I do not believe bike tours, guided or unguided, have a place on the roads. These bikes are not registered and do not contribute taxes to the maintenance of the roadways. There is no space on these roads for bikes and vehicles to coexist. In my experience, bicyclists must be able to pedal a minimum speed of, for example, 20 mph, in order to act as a vehicle on the roadway. The tourists, whether guided or unguided, are slow and inhibit the flow of traffic on the roads.
The unguided tours are more dangerous - one time, a woman lost control of her bike in the gulch area of Makawao Avenue, and fell over on her bike. I was driving slowly and was able to stop in time, but this is really dangerous. The bikers are ill-equipped to be on the roadway. In my experience you must have a license and understand the rules of driving to be on the roadway. With these tours, there are no rules or expectations. The tour companies collect their fees and accept anyone. Further, the helmets that are used block the peripheral vision of the rider. On a motorcycle, the mirrors allow you to see what is happening on either side and behind you. For these bicyclists, they can only see what is directly in front of them unless they turn their head to look to the side. This is so dangerous.
I am really opposed to bike tours in general, and support any regulation that will result in safer roadways.
Aloha everyone! my name is Kimo Rice
I am a local boy born and raised in the Island's,all of my adult life in haiku. I've been a tour guide for Haleakala Eco tours for the last 14 years, I absolutely love my job, I've never had a job that I've loved until now ! I love working with our visitors, teaching them the culture, and explaining how important it is to leave it better than how you found it, especially here in Hawaii. I also understand how frustrating it is to be behind the guests while they ride bicycles down the mountain, but I've noticed after a thorough bike, and Road demonstration, followed by a thorough safety briefing just before they get on their bikes, that they do very well, and have good road etiquette! if we could get every company on board, with this same thorough bike, and Road demonstration it would be a much happier, and safer place for all of us ! there are dozens of us that love what we do, and it he's our rent and puts food on the table for our families, and to be able to say I love what I do, doesn't happen very often, so I consider myself very lucky to have this job, I haven't been able to sleep at night thinking that this industry may be minimized to 20 bikers a day per company, we can't live on that!! nor could the store owners in Makawao, I've been talking with some of them, and they say the bikers are their bread and butter, and MacLeod would be a ghost town without the bikers coming through.
I would happily love to facilitate a bike, and rode demonstration for all other bike companies so we are all on the same page! thank you for listening, love and Aloha to everyone !
New data released by State epidemiologist Dan Galanis shows that from 2007 – 2016, there were 873 drownings in Hawaiian waters, 690 or 79% were ocean related.
Since Jan. 1, 2017 there have been 15 ocean related deaths and one fresh water cave death in Maui County.
The new data shows that from 2007-2016 there have been 176 ocean drownings in Maui County, that’s 13 more than Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi County combined. On top of that, 25 more deaths occurred in swimming pools, fresh water and/or other bodies of water bringing Maui County’s total number to 201 in that time frame.
The Top 10 Roads for Accidents in Maui
The 2,750 accidents that occurred in Maui County between 2015 and 2018 happened on 485 different roads. A large majority of them, however, took place on just five different roadways. Among those, the heaviest concentrations of accidents were in central Maui, on roads commonly used to access the Kahului Airport and UHMC. There were also significant clusters of accidents up and down Maui’s west coast at popular areas along the Honoapiilani Highway in Wailea, Kihei, Kā’anapali, Lahaina, and Kaunakakai on Moloka’i.
The following are the ten roads in Maui County that saw the most traffic accidents between 2015 to 2018, as well as the number of accidents that involved injuries.
HALEAKALA HWY 128 94
S KIHEI RD 124 102
KAAHUMANU AVE 103 78
LOWER HONOAPIILANI RD 49 32
KUIHELANI HWY 43 35
DAIRY RD 42 35
KAHULUI BEACH RD 41 34
AIRPORT ACCESS RD 40 31
Hawaii 2019 Traffic Fatalities
(preliminary state data) a small 4% even one death is to much. look at the fa
Total Fatalities Unrestrained vehicle occupants Impaired driving
fatalities(drugs &alcohol )Speeding related fatalities Motorcyclist fatalities Driver sage 20 oryounge frfatal crashes Pedestrian fatalities Bicyclist fatalities
108 16 50 52 20 12 37 4
15% 46% 48% 19% 11% 34% bike 4%
I oppose this because it will leave a lot of people without jobs and it might leave them homeless. especially at a time like this with covid-19 going around it makes it even harder to find a job and especially get one. yet you wanna make it even harder for them. i work for bike Maui every time i guide people down the hill i make sure i pull my people off the road so its safe for my clients and for the drivers to get by with out a problem so they don't have to cross over to the on coming lane again i wanna make sure our tourist have a good time not a bad time and also wanna makes sure people can get by with out any issues happening between us
I oppose the Great 44. Haleakala Bike Company was one of the first local businesses to take a chance on my small Maui marketing company (when they could have used a mainland company). If it weren't for them, I would have had great difficulty growing my business and surviving. Currently, we serve over 60 Maui clients and have helped hundreds of local businesses over a decade. My family largely depends on income from services to their bike company in order to survive.
November 16, 2021 Re: BICYCLE-TOUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND RELATED LITIGATION CONCERNS (GREAT-44)
Aloha Chair Mike Molina and Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez & Committee Members;
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the cycling community, a local business owner, and local resident passionate about his home. My name is Jeff Robertson and my wife Crystal and I own Maui Sunriders Bike Company in Paia. I have spent a majority of my life dedicated to cycling through coaching which I am a USA Cycling Level 3 coach, an International Mountain Bike Guide/Coach through the BICP, an international Ski Guide, two decades of first responder medical training and an ex-professional athlete in cycling as well as skiing. I have also worked with the State of Colorado to build mountain bike trails in Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs as well as those same communities to help build better infrastructure for cycling.
The Haleakala Downhill mountain bike tour has been in operation for decades and is one of the most popular activities for visitors and locals to do on Maui. Over the course of 21+ years that we have been in business, we have shared this experience with thousands of visitors and locals that have become our ohana, friends, and fellow cyclists. Haleakala is the #2 most sustained road bike climb in the US and #14 in the world. The draw of this mountain to cyclists is very strong and one that has made Maui the cycling destination that it is. The proposed changes would drastically alter this in a negative way and with everything we have been through as a community over the last two years, the effect this would have on the businesses that are currently operating, would be devastating. We are all trying to stay above water after a 8 month closure of the state and tourism. These changes would close the doors for some of the operators which would then have a ripple effect on employee job losses, tax revenue to the county/state, local businesses along the way, and the Maui cycling community. The downhill bike tour and bike rental business is one of the largest activities on the island that generates well over $10 million dollars per year. The referral business that comes from our guides/drivers to local businesses is well over $1 million per year alone from just our company. Combine that with the other 5 operators, and it would be a significant loss to the communities of Kula, Makawao and Paia. Dozens of local businesses have reached out to us once they heard of these possible changes and many are against it for a wide range of reasons as it will have a negative impact on the local community.
We have thousands of reviews, customers and locals that support the self guided bike rides as it eases the stress on the road, the local community, allows for a better flow of traffic with less impact and the groups move through the towns at a faster pace having less of an impact. The most recent study that was performed in 2007 highlighted that self guided tours had less accidents, caused less congestion and named Maui Sunriders as the safest of all tour operators. We are the only bike tour operator that is also a full service bike shop, repair, sales and service. We inspect, clean and maintain our bikes on a daily basis with mechanics that have over 75 years of combined experience and hold some of the highest certifications in the industry. Cycling has always been self guided from the very first day man built the bike. Instead of targeting an industry and trying to suppress it, there are many alternative options to make cycling better on Maui. We have shared some of this information below and would like to be a part of helping this beautiful place be even more bike friendly then it already is.
Collectively, our industry brought in over $4.6 Billion in revenue for Hawai'i and employed over 50,000 workers in 2019. Tourism is a gift to any community when appropriately managed. Focus on balanced use of public resources between patrons and non-patrons of commercial tours are imperative. Additionally, commercial tours enhance the ability to control use. Free "on your own" unsupervised experience- seekers are far more likely to damage, trespass, get injured, and misbehave.
Bicycle Tour businesses are members of our organization, and GREAT-44 threatens the life of these companies as written. The friction between residents (Kula) and the bike tour companies is nothing new. This opportunity has been studied since 1995 by Maui Police, Corporate Council, Kimura International, Inc, National Park, etc.... Always with the same approach to stifle the legally permitted companies.
Prohibiting Unguided tours- Providing rental bikes to visitors and residents is a service provided by a much larger scope of businesses. In essence, this ordinance will prohibit "permitted guided bike tour" companies from conducting these tours. The ability for "Joe Public" to own, lease, rent a bike and ride on our public roadways is legal. There is a demand that is not going away – we need to accommodate this experience more safely, reducing the community tension. The guided tours are the ones that cause the traffic to slow down and the ones we see the most accidents in as people feel pressured or riding too close to each other.
Six Tours Each Day – Eight Customers and two guides, between 9 am and 1 pm (4 hours), each company is allowed only one tour per two hours. These capacity settings equate to an individual Company conducting two times per day (provided their competitors have not booked the available open slots). This is not feasible for any of the businesses to operate. Our groups are also down and through the planned areas well before this time. We strongly encourage those in the Kula community or others to stop by our shop, take a bike ride with us and see our operations first hand.
Below are some insights from the Activities & Attractions Association of Hawaii, Inc.
The proposed "ordinance changes" will refocus the current demand to seek out "on your own" unsupervised alternatives not affiliated with a legally permitted bike tour company.
A3H recommends instead of stifling this sector, accommodate and partner with them. Facilitate uniting all bike enthusiast businesses to adhere to best practices. Build turnouts along the most popular routes. Work with the DOT's Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Program (https://highways.hidot.hawaii.gov/stories/s/h4ss-c6xy) to improve and accommodate this demand. Their plan includes building separate bike paths away from the roads. Study and visit places like Amsterdam or Portland, Oregon, where bicycle riding has infrastructure support. Maui is among the top-rated bike destination in the world. Why not embrace this honor by providing the proper Infrastructure.
Hawaii's economy has suffered more than any other state in the U.S. due to Covid-19 due to our evident dependence on Tourism. Our government and community should be welcoming COVID-Free visitors back and assist these "barely-holding on" businesses as much as possible. Despite arguments to diversify our economy, there is no other export industry more lucrative and supportive of our land, people, and sense of place than Tourism if managed.
Mahalo again for this opportunity to testify and to share our voice. The impact this would have on the local economy, businesses, employees, and visitor industry would be a major financial loss that no business or industry can afford right now. We as a society are just coming out of a two year pandemic that crushed the global economy, the local economy and businesses. At this time we need to be compassionate towards each other, work on solutions and not regulate something because of a dislike. We have reached out to our database of past and current customers and the feedback has been very supportive of the bike tour as many of these people return each year to visit Maui, ride their bikes in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and love to support the local communities along the way. Some have even bought homes and are now part of our community. As you can see this is more than a bike ride and we strongly encourage everyone to work together instead of creating unnecessary restrictions. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions and opportunities to help.
Mahalo for your time and opportunity, Jeff and Crystal Robertson Remy Chvatal John Demoura Luke Arnold Brandon Reidel Danen Achten Rich Chavez Dane Geer Will Hanson Rocco Baricchi Kekoa Ripley Arielle Axelrod Rafael Sedano And a database of thousands of current locals from the State of Hawaii and visitors that have supported our shop over the past 21 years
From Lee Chamberlain
Ridesmart Maui
99 Kahana Nui Rd
Lahaina, Hi. 96761
Comments addressing proposed deletion of Maui County Code 5.22, and substituting a revised version 5.23.by the Kula Community Association.
I recognize that the Kula Community has had a long time complaint with the Down Hill Bicycle tour operations. It is sufficient to say that these complaints most notably is due to lack of proper infrastructure implementation as may be derived from the Hawaii Bicycle Plan, AASHTO, and NACTO guidelines. Maui as well as the State of Hawaii over time evolved into a very Car-Centric culture and dependency which has recently been recognized and described in Hawaii’s SB1402. “The legislature found that over the last century, Hawaii's ground transportation was built as a car-centric system, with little attention to alternatives, which has raised the cost of living in the islands, impacted quality of life, and resulted in some of the highest transportation-related fatality rates in the nation”. SB1402 now requires each community or communities, ensure each county plans for and establishes, A contiguous bicycle and pedestrian network connecting commercial business and shopping hubs to residential areas, and to its respective state and county transportation infrastructure, in which intersections with other modes of transportation shall be minimized, which shall be separated and protected from vehicular traffic by physical or natural barriers, or by meaningful distance or elevation;
1) My first comment concerns Maui Counties failure to implement long established plans as in the Hawaii Bike Plan and then require Bicycle rental business, Bicycle tour, and or Bicycle tour business to absolve the County of any responsibility for it’s lack of creating proper infrastructure to meet the publics needs and further support Maui’s small business’s ie bicycle businesses. People need jobs and the bicycle business provides a clean energy business which further follows Hawaii’s Clean Energy Initiative. Maui is a tourist dependent society and Maui government has a requirement to support activities that provide diversity to tourists interests and small business alike. More regulation and or the elimination of business is not the responsible overall solution. I would say implementation of proper infrastructure needs is. I would refer back to SB1402 for further guidance.
2) Although this code is structured around and for the purpose of regulating the Downhill Bicycle business it does not directly say so and with that has carry overs and detrimental consequences to bicycle business’s not engaged in the Downhill Bicycle business. I recommend that 5.23 be written specifically with clarity for regulation of the Downhill Bicycle businesses.
3) Comprehensive liability insurance; Maui County Code 5.22 specifically states dollar amount required coverages. 5.23 does not. Insurance amounts vary dependent on risk and loss statistics which ultimately cost money and make a diffence to business owners. Insurance companies are self policing and set rates accordingly. Does the Downhill Bicycle Business risk assessment equal to for example a bicycle business renting a road bike to a customer to ride the 60 mile north loop or to a customer renting an e-bike to ride down the North Shore Greenway? That should be defined.
4) An annual bicycle license fee, as set forth in the budget ordinance, shall be paid to the director for each tour and rental bicycle. The current fee for registrations for bicycles are; Permanent registration is $15 and $30 for Low speed electric bicycles. Will this annual fee be different and by how much? What happens to the registration if the rental bike is cycled out of the business due to age or damage? Does the annual fee persist?
5) Tour leaders must ensure that each rider is capable of safely operating the bicycle. What is the standard the County is requiring? Do all tour operators need to be individually certified by the county to ensure that safe practices are applied and taught to customers?
6) Waivers; Since the County requires certain elements in the waiver, does the county provide approved waivers from County Council? How do the waivers differ from Downhill Bicycle Business and perhaps a regular bike shop renting cruiser bikes?
7) Requirements to Report Accidents and Injuries. How is this done and to what agency is this report submitted? What is the degree of injury to be reported? Urgent care, ambulance or what? Is there a further requirement the treating facility file a report also?
8) Safety Inspection; Bicycles in commercial operations require daily maintance. How many bicycle maintenance training hours has the mechanic completed and does he/she have a Professional Bicycle Mechanic© Certification?
9) Inspection of permit; Requires display of business name, PUC license, permit number, permit expiration date, and telephone contact information. These are annual permits and licenses. Doe these permits and licenses differ from a Downhill Bicycle Operation to a regular bike shop and a shop maintenance van for example?
There is also another thing in the proposal I would like to address which is “ A description and map of the areas, locations, or routes to be utilized by the bicycle tour business”. Considering that Maui roads have never been designed and built for alternative transportation means and do not comply with NACTO and ASSHTO guidelines for such.
1)How does the County approve routes for bike tours that are not in compliance with National Guidelines?
2) Will the County make a priority to improve the roads to meet the guidelines if they see the submitted utilized routes to operate tours are out of compliance or just prohibit their use? What is the outcome if they prohibit the use? What is the alternative?
3) Are you aware of Hawaii’s “Three Foot Law?” See https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB2215_.HTM.
Many lane widths and shoulders don’t provide enough room for motorists to comply with this law.
4) Please read this article subject ‘”Three Foot Passing Law” in Maui Now. https://mauinow.com/2019/10/21/noodle-ride-reminds-drivers-how-to-pass-cyclists/. I organized and cut all the noodles on this ride. Please review the comments section of this article. Over 80 comments last I looked..
5) Any thoughts about County having no responsibility for making a bike friendly community???? Again SB1402.
I hope these thoughts may help with the better purpose of not over regulating “non- Downhill Bicycle businesses” and may further encourage implementation of Bike/Pedestrian facilities.
Date: November 16, 2021
To: Ethics and Transparency Committee
From: Saman Dias – Chair Maui Bicycling League
Reg. Proposed Legislation to Limit Maui Bicycle Tours
Aloha Ethics and Transparency Committee,
I like to address following issue-
“An alternate option has been suggested: Because Maui’s roads lack the ability
to allow safe commercial bike operations, totally ban commercial Bicycle Tour
and Rental businesses, at least on the slopes of Haleakala.”
This is confusing this need to be clear all bike operations or slopes of Haleakala. I agree that there should be safety measure for Haleakala downhill.
i.e.
1. higher liability Insurance, 2. safety requirements
Recommendation - Have a guide with all Haleakala downhill tours. I have learned most self-guided tours are very destructive because visitors have no idea what they are doing. Having a guide to each group may help with some of the safety issues. and limiting the group size is a good idea.
However, making all bike shops on island to requiring same rules seems unreasonable. It seems like we are punishing business because of lack of infrastructure. Bike shops have very thin margins. There is very good chance some of them will go out of business enduring this type of burden.
Some of these businesses have been in existence over 23 years. I do not think that it is reasonable to categorize them into the same category. As a community we need to be more business friendly. I believe Maui County needs to take responsibility for lack of infrastructure.
Here are some challenges we have faced on implementation of bike infrastructure on Maui County. In 2015 budget was approved for Northshore greenway took 4years complete.
West Maui Greenway – Budget of 350,000 was approved for p design and plan, DPW spend 400,000 for land that county did not own and went against MBL recommendations today no deliverables and no accountability.
Why are we not making these organizations like DPW accountable? If budget passed and money was spent, then Maui County Council need to make sure that each department is accountable. These funds come from our hard-working community taxpayers. If we do not have accountability measures in place, please implement accountability measures to ensure projects are implemented properly.
Biking have become one of the most popular activities on Maui during COVID pandemic. We need to look at the bigger picture and be more bike friendly and business friendly community and not anti-business community. When developing legislation to “limit Maui Bicycle Tours” please consider these points.
We should be proactive and take advantage of opportunities like bipartisan infrastructure bill-https://bikeleague.org/content/bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-passes-major-funding-better-biking
We have billionaires buying properties on Maui, many are more than happy to invest on Maui and have already funded nonprofits. Anyone thought of reaching out and asking to partner on projects that will help Maui community?
Let’s think outside the box, let’s get business and community involved to create better bike infrastructure on Maui and not punish small business.
Mahalo!
Your sincerely
Saman Dias
Chair Maui Bicycling League
There is a win-win solution for everyone. Bike path(s) from Kula down to Paia perhaps along the edge of Maui Pono land. A strip of land leased or purchased. Another path from Kula to Kihei. Not a road, a bike path only. New bike paths would eleviate bike-car traffic, enhance quality of life for residents and provide an outlet for bike tourism. Low environmental impact (no pollution). Perhaps new federal infrastructure monies could aid
Down hill biking had been good for Maui County. Our tourist industry needs it. The county of Maui needs to build safe bike paths . These bike companies pay fees. Lots of fees and registration!!! Build bike paths so that not only downhill bikers but all bikers have safe ways to ride!!!
I am 100% in support of establishing limits and restrictions for commercial bicycle-tour businesses to address public safety, traffic, illegal parking, and related litigation concerns on Maui Island. Without properly designated bike lanes this continues to be an unsafe activity performed by visitors who are out of shape and inexperienced at riding down a mountain at high speeds. Not only does it put the bicyclist at risk but also the lives of those operating vehicles on windy, steep and sometimes slick roads around them. This should be a highly regulated activity if it is allowed to continue.
Aloha Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency (GREAT) Committee.
My name is Aaron “Moose” Reichert. I am writing in my testimony on the proposed ordinance amendment to Maui County Code Chapter 5.22 - Bicycle Tour Business. After reading the draft proposal, I am deeply concerned with the repercussions of how it will impact my small business in Makawao, Krank Cycles. The bike shop centers around the bike community of Maui County and also to anyone, visitors, and Locals that would want to rent or buy a bike to enjoy our beautiful islands.
This proposed ordinance will financially impact my small business which will have negative repercussions to our local community.
One such is the volunteer-based “Maui Bike Mission” program which Krank Cycles offers to the Maui community, gives free bike repair services and distributes refurbished bikes to locals who are in need of transportation. Whether this is for recreational purposes or their main mode and sometimes the only form of transportation, our mission is to give locals the opportunity to have that freedom. This ordinance will add a financial burden to Krank Cycles, which will inhibit us from giving the Maui County community and islands this service and freedom to each person who does not have the means to either purchase a bike or to get repair services done.
The verbiage and specifics on “unguided tours” for “rental operations” affect anyone local or visitor from the freedom of experiencing biking in Maui. Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) S 46-16.3 (2012) states, "Bicycle Tour" includes both guided bicycle tours and unguided bicycle rental operations”. There needs to be further clarification on what is considered an “unguided bicycle rental operations”. According to this proposed ordinance, an "Unguided bicycle tour” means “a bicycle tour that is not led or accompanied by guide throughout the ride, in which transportation to or from the route is provided or arranged by the bicycle tour business”. Does this “bicycle tour business” include bike shops that rent and buy to locals and visitors? Does this include anyone such as locals that ride a bike for recreational purposes or a mode of transportation? They are “unguided”?
In Maui County Code 5.22.010, a "Tour" means “a group organized for the traveling from place to place for enjoyment, pleasure, or sightseeing”. Does this imply that there cannot be more than one person riding “enjoyment, pleasure, or sightseeing” in Maui County? If so, this would infringe on bike clubs and other “groups” and also the local who owns or rents a bike for those reasons which are legal to ride on public roadways. I understand that safety plays a big part in this proposed ordinance, however, the public roadways are not up to safety measures as many other states and counties in our country. Facilitating a way for our public roads to be safe for anyone who wants to ride a bike on our public roads, not just sole bike owners. This could easily be accomplished if there were bike lanes on Maui public roads that have heavy bicycling.
Further, the proposed ordinance in Chapter 5.22.025, “Commercial bicycle tours operating in the Makawao-Pukalani-Kula and Paia-Haiku community plan areas”, section (A) states “it is unlawful for any business to conduct unguided commercial bicycle tours in the Makawao-Pukalani-Kula and Paia-Haiku community plan areas”. Does “unguided commercial bicycle tours” include “unguided” bikers whether local or visitors renting a bike are prohibited from entering those community plan areas? Since HRS 46-16.3 (2012),"Bicycle tour" includes both “guided bicycle tours and unguided bicycle rental operations”. If the Makawao-Pukalani-Kula and Paia-Haiku community plan areas are prohibited, then eventually will other community plans start to be prohibited as well? These are just some of my concerns regarding this proposed ordinance. However, if this moves forward, especially without further clarification on these terms and what the repercussions of this proposed ordinance are, I know there will be a deep impact on the biking community in Maui County. I am pleading with the committee today to reconsider this proposed ordinance and how it will affect our small local bike shops.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
AAron"Moose"Reichert
Owner /Operator
Krank Cycles
Hello - I am a resident of South Maui and have had the opportunity to use the recreational activity of mountain bike riding down Haleakala with specific touring operations. In addition to my own rides, I have had the occasion to refer many families both on and off island to participate in this safe, well organized and truly unique Maui experience. I have paid a premium to arrive at the top of the crater to experience Sunrise and truly enjoyed myself on my self guided tour down the crater. This updated legislation will strip the few touring companies left on island (during a global pandemic) and will negate the ability to maximize this "only on Maui" visitor draw. Please consider the 100's of employees that will risk loosing there job's or, the tax dollars the county will loose when business' are forced to close. If traffic and safety are true concerns, perhaps better enforcement of both riders and drivers is in order. Don't kill an entire industry on Maui simply because a few residents are not able to speed up the highway in there vehicles.
Mahalo for your consideration.
- JY
Aloha.
My name is Kelli Lundgren. I am a six-year volunteer, ride leader and organizer, and safety and education leader with Maui Bicycling League (MBL), a nonprofit organization, a subsidiary of Hawaii Bicycling League. I oppose this legislation for a few reasons:
One, MBL's monthly rides will be affected/limited/cancelled no matter their ride location on island. We are a nonprofit. Members ride for free. Sometimes our group consists of 3 to 20 riders pre-pandemic, and during the pandemic adhering to social distancing safety rules. It seems we would need a permit to ride as locals, along with guests welcomed to our rides. I oppose this concept as written.
Two: if I am correct, the number of tourist downhill ride operators has been reduced to five from twelve. Problem-solving: Instead of limiting or all-together restricting these rides (I have not ridden on one of these downhill rides), add turn-outs periodically. These five permitted operators could be required to turn out with their groups at each designated asphalted turnout along with the sweep vehicle. Perhaps even suggest that the tour operators pay for the turnout installations. They generate revenue for themselves and the county and state. This adds safety. this adds convenience for upcountry drivers.
Three: our local bike shops are stressed. To reduce the number of bike rentals and bike tours (which would be included in this consideration) would hurt their businesses. We need these shops on our island. We need their support. One shop alone spends hundreds of hours assembling 350 bikes each year to give to wanting children for Christmas. That's just one example of their dedication, their kuleana. Please keep the bike rental opportunities alive for these shops.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Respectfully,
Kelli Lundgren
Maui Bicycling League
I am a senior at Seabury Hall and offer this testimony in response to the proposed Amendment to Maui County Code Chapter 5.22.
I have lived off of Crater Road since I was seven. For more than the past year I have driven to school in the morning alongside bike tours and tourists.
In attending driver’s education, as mandated by the State of Hawaii, there are several principles that apply to the current concerns:
1) Share the road: We are instructed regarding the rights of others to use the roadways and to respect that right. It is no different if the use is by bike tours or by tourist who find it necessary to completely stop in the middle of the highway to take picture of cattle, goats or sheep. The distinct difference is that bike tours have designated areas where they pull over to allow cars to pass.
2) Pass only when safe: There are designated areas where passing is permitted. If it is not permitted you do not pass. In my experience bike tours regularly move to the side allowing for passing when it is safe to do so. If it is not safe to pass then don’t pass.
3) Plan your drive and drive your plan: As a driver I am responsible for making sure that I have allowed time to safely drive my route. There are times when bike tours cannot immediately pull over to allow for passing. However, if that short delay in being able to pass makes me rushed or late arriving at school that is my fault not the fault of the bikes. I did not plan my drive allowing enough time to arrive on time.
While it may be a temporary inconvenience to have to wait behind a bike tour it is no more an issue than being behind the line of cars coming down after viewing sunrise. It appears that the concern is one more of convenience than concern over safety.
This is not a good idea, the bicycle tour industry has safety as its top priority. It was a couple of weeks ago that a new model Toyota Tacoma was totaled killing a cyclist. The problem is vehicles speeding down Haleakala hyway. To put an entire industry out of business is selfish on the behalf of affluent Kula residents who don't want to be inconvenienced by traffic. Even in high season there just is not much traffic in upcountry or Haiku. This has nothing to do with safety, it has to do with council chair Molina curring favor with affluent Kula residents, for his mayoral run next year
When bicyclists travel on narrow, winding roads that are also used by cars and trucks, there is always a potential for disastrous injuries. When the bicyclists are large groups of unsupervised visitors who are unfamiliar with the roads, the normal traffic patterns, and the safety issues posed by their presence, this potential is greatly increased. Maui residents are justifiably frustrated by cyclists who do not keep to the side of the road, do not ride single file, hold up traffic behind them, do not have sufficient cycling experience to navigate properly in traffic, and, when things go wrong, require taxpayer-funded rescue operations and take up our limited medical resources. Limiting the number of bicycle tours and requiring more supervision by employees of licensed tour providers would be a great first step in the direction of better tourism management, something Maui residents have long been begging for. The proposed legislation is a good compromise between the interests of responsible tour operators in continuing their businesses, and the interests of Maui residents generally in being able to use County maintained roads without interference from large numbers of inadequately supervised bike tour operations. Please pass the proposed ordinance rather than (or in addition to) simply urging the Mayor to address the issue. - Sarah Hofstadter, full-time Kihei resident
I was the person who commented before. I do not support the additional regulations as written. They need amending to work for all involved
Having lived on Maui for 30+ years I agree it can be a little frustrating to follow the bikers or the UPS drivers or the garbage or mail vehicle down the road. I have also noticed that what used to take me 15 minutes to drive my son 5 miles to Seabury now take over 25-30 minutes.
The roads are busier. I have noticed a few more unguided tours lately, but nothing like 10-15 years ago when there tours all over the place.
Hawaii has suffered greater employment and small business loss than any other state and Maui has lost the most jobs of all. We cannot all work for Mahi Pono, the county or a hotel. If we want to provide employment for people. We need to support those small businesses more now than ever.
Seems the saying can't we all just get along. Means more now than ever!
Some regulations on times and spacing yes..Banning and or heavy handed political actions that result in the loss of many jobs NO Thanks!
Thank you for allowing testimony on this matter. My name is Guillem Molinas and I live in the Paia-Haiku area. My daughter attends Kalama Intermediate and I drive this area every day.
Personally, I do not believe bike tours, guided or unguided, have a place on the roads. These bikes are not registered and do not contribute taxes to the maintenance of the roadways. There is no space on these roads for bikes and vehicles to coexist. In my experience, bicyclists must be able to pedal a minimum speed of, for example, 20 mph, in order to act as a vehicle on the roadway. The tourists, whether guided or unguided, are slow and inhibit the flow of traffic on the roads.
The unguided tours are more dangerous - one time, a woman lost control of her bike in the gulch area of Makawao Avenue, and fell over on her bike. I was driving slowly and was able to stop in time, but this is really dangerous. The bikers are ill-equipped to be on the roadway. In my experience you must have a license and understand the rules of driving to be on the roadway. With these tours, there are no rules or expectations. The tour companies collect their fees and accept anyone. Further, the helmets that are used block the peripheral vision of the rider. On a motorcycle, the mirrors allow you to see what is happening on either side and behind you. For these bicyclists, they can only see what is directly in front of them unless they turn their head to look to the side. This is so dangerous.
I am really opposed to bike tours in general, and support any regulation that will result in safer roadways.
Regards,
Guillem
Aloha everyone! my name is Kimo Rice
I am a local boy born and raised in the Island's,all of my adult life in haiku. I've been a tour guide for Haleakala Eco tours for the last 14 years, I absolutely love my job, I've never had a job that I've loved until now ! I love working with our visitors, teaching them the culture, and explaining how important it is to leave it better than how you found it, especially here in Hawaii. I also understand how frustrating it is to be behind the guests while they ride bicycles down the mountain, but I've noticed after a thorough bike, and Road demonstration, followed by a thorough safety briefing just before they get on their bikes, that they do very well, and have good road etiquette! if we could get every company on board, with this same thorough bike, and Road demonstration it would be a much happier, and safer place for all of us ! there are dozens of us that love what we do, and it he's our rent and puts food on the table for our families, and to be able to say I love what I do, doesn't happen very often, so I consider myself very lucky to have this job, I haven't been able to sleep at night thinking that this industry may be minimized to 20 bikers a day per company, we can't live on that!! nor could the store owners in Makawao, I've been talking with some of them, and they say the bikers are their bread and butter, and MacLeod would be a ghost town without the bikers coming through.
I would happily love to facilitate a bike, and rode demonstration for all other bike companies so we are all on the same page! thank you for listening, love and Aloha to everyone !
Dan Galanis. PC: Health Department
New data released by State epidemiologist Dan Galanis shows that from 2007 – 2016, there were 873 drownings in Hawaiian waters, 690 or 79% were ocean related.
Since Jan. 1, 2017 there have been 15 ocean related deaths and one fresh water cave death in Maui County.
The new data shows that from 2007-2016 there have been 176 ocean drownings in Maui County, that’s 13 more than Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi County combined. On top of that, 25 more deaths occurred in swimming pools, fresh water and/or other bodies of water bringing Maui County’s total number to 201 in that time frame.
The Top 10 Roads for Accidents in Maui
The 2,750 accidents that occurred in Maui County between 2015 and 2018 happened on 485 different roads. A large majority of them, however, took place on just five different roadways. Among those, the heaviest concentrations of accidents were in central Maui, on roads commonly used to access the Kahului Airport and UHMC. There were also significant clusters of accidents up and down Maui’s west coast at popular areas along the Honoapiilani Highway in Wailea, Kihei, Kā’anapali, Lahaina, and Kaunakakai on Moloka’i.
The following are the ten roads in Maui County that saw the most traffic accidents between 2015 to 2018, as well as the number of accidents that involved injuries.
HALEAKALA HWY 128 94
S KIHEI RD 124 102
KAAHUMANU AVE 103 78
LOWER HONOAPIILANI RD 49 32
KUIHELANI HWY 43 35
DAIRY RD 42 35
KAHULUI BEACH RD 41 34
AIRPORT ACCESS RD 40 31
Hawaii 2019 Traffic Fatalities
(preliminary state data) a small 4% even one death is to much. look at the fa
Total Fatalities Unrestrained vehicle occupants Impaired driving
fatalities(drugs &alcohol )Speeding related fatalities Motorcyclist fatalities Driver sage 20 oryounge frfatal crashes Pedestrian fatalities Bicyclist fatalities
108 16 50 52 20 12 37 4
15% 46% 48% 19% 11% 34% bike 4%
Ironic that MPD is currently running a much needed campaign to cite motorists for speeding. To all concerned residents: PRACTICE ALOHA.."TRY WAIT."
I oppose this because it will leave a lot of people without jobs and it might leave them homeless. especially at a time like this with covid-19 going around it makes it even harder to find a job and especially get one. yet you wanna make it even harder for them. i work for bike Maui every time i guide people down the hill i make sure i pull my people off the road so its safe for my clients and for the drivers to get by with out a problem so they don't have to cross over to the on coming lane again i wanna make sure our tourist have a good time not a bad time and also wanna makes sure people can get by with out any issues happening between us
I oppose the Great 44. Haleakala Bike Company was one of the first local businesses to take a chance on my small Maui marketing company (when they could have used a mainland company). If it weren't for them, I would have had great difficulty growing my business and surviving. Currently, we serve over 60 Maui clients and have helped hundreds of local businesses over a decade. My family largely depends on income from services to their bike company in order to survive.