I would like to voice my support for more regulation on the downhill bike industry, specifically the unguided tours. I live on Crater Rd (Haleakala Hwy) in Kula and cannot emphasize enough how dangerous it is for all of us who have to use our roads, bikers and drivers alike. I am a bike rider myself but am always very cautious as our Upcountry roads are not built to accommodate recreational bike riding for large groups of people. There are just too many inexperienced bikers having to deal with cars, trucks, obsticles like trash cans, severe terrain, changing weather conditions and fatigue. These all are factors that can contribute to an accident waiting to happen and they do! Several times a week I encounter drivers swerving around bikers into my lane creating life threatening situations, or bikers stopping in the middle of the road to sightsee, with no thought of a car possiblly being behind them, and I could go on.....
I would also like to voice my concern that no downhill biker has a bike equipped with a rear view mirror. This is insanity and I believe contributes to the many accidents that occurr.
I am asking, when reviewing the proposed bill, please consider how the lack of regulation has negatively affected our lives Upcountry and constantly endangers all of us.
Aloha Committee Members,
I would like to voice my support for more regulation on the downhill bike industry, specifically the unguided tours. I live on Crater Rd (Haleakala Hwy) in Kula and cannot emphasize enough how dangerous it is for all of us who have to use our roads, bikers and drivers alike. I am a bike rider myself but am always very cautious as our Upcountry roads are not built to accommodate recreational bike riding for large groups of people. There are just too many inexperienced bikers having to deal with cars, trucks, obsticles like trash cans, severe terrain, changing weather conditions and fatigue. These all are factors that can contribute to an accident waiting to happen and they do! Several times a week I encounter drivers swerving around bikers into my lane creating life threatening situations, or bikers stopping in the middle of the road to sightsee, with no thought of a car possiblly being behind them, and I could go on.....
I would also like to voice my concern that no downhill biker has a bike equipped with a rear view mirror. This is insanity and I believe contributes to the many accidents that occurr.
I am asking, when reviewing the proposed bill, please consider how the lack of regulation has negatively affected our lives Upcountry and constantly endangers all of us.
Mahalo,
Frank B. Shaner
email - rci@maui.net