GREAT-15(1) Reso 22-183 APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSION ON HEALING SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESSNESS (RESOLUTION 22-183, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF CHARLEEN "NAOMI" CROZIER) (GREAT-15(1))
A Bill for an Ordinance Amending Chapter 5.22, Maui Code related to Bicycle
Tour Businesses (GREAT-44)
Petition to Regulate Bike Tours on Maui:
My name is William Campbell, I am the owner of Maui Easy Riders. I started my
business in 2010 after working for three other guided bike tour companies. I have been
safely conducting guided bike tours on Haleakala for 15 years, I have guided thousands
of trips from the summit and the 6500 ft level all the way to Paia Town, and I have
never once had to call an ambulance because of an accident. I am pleading my case,
and point of view with you to amend the Great 44 so that it offers a solution to the
current problem, instead of ending what can be fixed without trying to regulate it in a
safe manner.
Bike tour safety, attempts at regulating bike tours, and the effect bike tours have on
traffic have all been largely ignored until now. A better way to put it, is that less than the
bare minimum has been done to implement change from those that are ultimately
responsible for doing so, literally for decades. I believe that I am the leading expert in
this field because of my track record, my daily involvement on bike tours, my many
years of experience, and my willingness to compromise on how I conduct my bike
tours through my permitted business.
With all due respect, I have to add that I have attempted, on multiple occasions, to
contact Mike Molina with my thoughts and suggestions on this topic. None of my phone
calls, nor the email I sent to him have been returned. I am including the email that I
sent to his office on Monday, March 7th. As you can clearly see from that email, and
from these proposed amendments/regulations, that I am sincerely trying to offer my
expertise, and compromise in a way that is beneficial to the valid concerns at hand.
I am clearly offering a way to make guided bike tour companies operate in a safe and
responsible manner for many years to come.
The Solutions and Why they Will Work:
• Do not allow any unguided bike tours to operate. This type of tour is obviously what
is garnering the vast majority of complaints from local residents concerning traffic. I
know this because I have been listening to testimonies on the Great 44 and I have
been on the road seeing it with my own eyes for the past 15 years. Allowing unguided
808.344.9489 BILLY@MAUIEASYRIDERS.COM
Page 2 of 3
tours to operate along with guided bike tours as a part of any bill is continuing to turn
a blind eye to those that have created the problems we’re dealing with right now. The
vast majority of bike accidents occur on unguided tours in the Haleakala Downhill
Industry. I know this because I witness these accidents on a regular basis.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to a ratio of 1 guide per 2 guests on all guided tours.
This will make all guided tours easy to manage for the guide. This will also make all
guided tours a non-issue for traffic concerns because traffic will not have to contend
with large groups of up to 14 bike riders (including the guide) which is what we are
currently dealing with.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to operate “without” a van following behind the group,
having the van ahead of the group at all times, parked, and not blocking traffic in any
way. Van Drivers and Bike Tour Guides can still communicate safely and always know
where each other are on the roadways with 2 way radios. This will create an
environment where traffic is never waiting behind a bike tour, or a bike van that is
blocking traffic for the participants.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to operate in a manner that the group (one guide and 2
participants) never be larger than a total of 3 riders. Bike Tour Companies can hire
more guides, create more jobs and show the community that they are willing to
operate safely and with respect to local traffic concerns. Bike Tours can be spaced
out, staggered so that they never bunch up together.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to only operate during the hours of 9am - 1pm, 6 days
per week, with no bike tours operating on Wednesdays. School lets out early on
Wednesdays, this eliminates any time issues associated with that day. As a guide and
business owner I can say with 100% certainty that the days with the least amount of
traffic are Saturdays and Sundays.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to require that all participants be at least 16 years of
age. This is the age in which most teens learn to drive, learn the rules of the road,
learn how to become aware of traffic and traffic laws.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to require that all participants consider themselves to
be experienced bike riders, and 100% confident they can complete the ride safely
after knowing everything they need to know. This will create an environment that is
void of inexperienced riders.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to have detailed information on their websites
concerning all aspects of the ride in which they will be taking part. This will eliminate
those participants who do not realize what they have signed up for.
808.344.9489 BILLY@MAUIEASYRIDERS.COM
Page 3 of 3
• Regulate all guided bike tours to use the shoulder space when it is safe to do so. This
will eliminate the current problem of bikers being in the road when cars are behind
them.
What will happen if the county votes to ban all guided bike tours conducting
tours on the path they have been taking since 1983:
• Visitors to Maui will still find a way to bike down Haleakala on the current route that
is on the chopping block, and they will do it without a guide, or with a guide that is
operating an illegal business. There are already going to be bikers on the roadways, if
they are in a group of 3 or less (including the guide) and obviously with a guide, this
will be a direct result of the county taking action to regulate the industry in a safe and
responsible manner. The majority of visitors will buy and use the services that they
know are permitted and legal, we should not create a pathway to a rogue and illegal
industry when there is a solution that will work.
• The void will be filled by illegal tour operators if the county votes to ban the current
route. If guided bike tours are permitted to conduct tours in a safe manner they will
be able to report illegal tours on a daily basis because it will be in their best interests
to do so. This will force illegal tour operators get permits and conduct safe tours as
regulated by the county. If there are no regulations it will create a different type of
chaos on the roadways, possibly much worse than what the current climate offers.
• The companies that have shown they are unwilling to compromise, and unwilling to
be truthful about their operations will hire lawyers and bring lawsuits against the
county. This will cost the county money to defend their decision to shut down the
current route. Instead of banning the tour routes altogether the county has an
opportunity to regulate them in a way that will make them safer and let traffic flow
unimpeded. The goal should be to create a set of regulations for all guided bike tours
to follow if they wish to continue to use the same bike routes they have always used.
I ask and plead that you amend the ordinance so that it is solution based for everyone
involved. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
With Aloha,
William Campbell
Maui Easy Riders
A Bill for an Ordinance Amending Chapter 5.22, Maui Code related to Bicycle
Tour Businesses (GREAT-44)
Petition to Regulate Bike Tours on Maui:
My name is William Campbell, I am the owner of Maui Easy Riders. I started my
business in 2010 after working for three other guided bike tour companies. I have been
safely conducting guided bike tours on Haleakala for 15 years, I have guided thousands
of trips from the summit and the 6500 ft level all the way to Paia Town, and I have
never once had to call an ambulance because of an accident. I am pleading my case,
and point of view with you to amend the Great 44 so that it offers a solution to the
current problem, instead of ending what can be fixed without trying to regulate it in a
safe manner.
Bike tour safety, attempts at regulating bike tours, and the effect bike tours have on
traffic have all been largely ignored until now. A better way to put it, is that less than the
bare minimum has been done to implement change from those that are ultimately
responsible for doing so, literally for decades. I believe that I am the leading expert in
this field because of my track record, my daily involvement on bike tours, my many
years of experience, and my willingness to compromise on how I conduct my bike
tours through my permitted business.
With all due respect, I have to add that I have attempted, on multiple occasions, to
contact Mike Molina with my thoughts and suggestions on this topic. None of my phone
calls, nor the email I sent to him have been returned. I am including the email that I
sent to his office on Monday, March 7th. As you can clearly see from that email, and
from these proposed amendments/regulations, that I am sincerely trying to offer my
expertise, and compromise in a way that is beneficial to the valid concerns at hand.
I am clearly offering a way to make guided bike tour companies operate in a safe and
responsible manner for many years to come.
The Solutions and Why they Will Work:
• Do not allow any unguided bike tours to operate. This type of tour is obviously what
is garnering the vast majority of complaints from local residents concerning traffic. I
know this because I have been listening to testimonies on the Great 44 and I have
been on the road seeing it with my own eyes for the past 15 years. Allowing unguided
808.344.9489 BILLY@MAUIEASYRIDERS.COM
Page 2 of 3
tours to operate along with guided bike tours as a part of any bill is continuing to turn
a blind eye to those that have created the problems we’re dealing with right now. The
vast majority of bike accidents occur on unguided tours in the Haleakala Downhill
Industry. I know this because I witness these accidents on a regular basis.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to a ratio of 1 guide per 2 guests on all guided tours.
This will make all guided tours easy to manage for the guide. This will also make all
guided tours a non-issue for traffic concerns because traffic will not have to contend
with large groups of up to 14 bike riders (including the guide) which is what we are
currently dealing with.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to operate “without” a van following behind the group,
having the van ahead of the group at all times, parked, and not blocking traffic in any
way. Van Drivers and Bike Tour Guides can still communicate safely and always know
where each other are on the roadways with 2 way radios. This will create an
environment where traffic is never waiting behind a bike tour, or a bike van that is
blocking traffic for the participants.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to operate in a manner that the group (one guide and 2
participants) never be larger than a total of 3 riders. Bike Tour Companies can hire
more guides, create more jobs and show the community that they are willing to
operate safely and with respect to local traffic concerns. Bike Tours can be spaced
out, staggered so that they never bunch up together.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to only operate during the hours of 9am - 1pm, 6 days
per week, with no bike tours operating on Wednesdays. School lets out early on
Wednesdays, this eliminates any time issues associated with that day. As a guide and
business owner I can say with 100% certainty that the days with the least amount of
traffic are Saturdays and Sundays.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to require that all participants be at least 16 years of
age. This is the age in which most teens learn to drive, learn the rules of the road,
learn how to become aware of traffic and traffic laws.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to require that all participants consider themselves to
be experienced bike riders, and 100% confident they can complete the ride safely
after knowing everything they need to know. This will create an environment that is
void of inexperienced riders.
• Regulate all guided bike tours to have detailed information on their websites
concerning all aspects of the ride in which they will be taking part. This will eliminate
those participants who do not realize what they have signed up for.
808.344.9489 BILLY@MAUIEASYRIDERS.COM
Page 3 of 3
• Regulate all guided bike tours to use the shoulder space when it is safe to do so. This
will eliminate the current problem of bikers being in the road when cars are behind
them.
What will happen if the county votes to ban all guided bike tours conducting
tours on the path they have been taking since 1983:
• Visitors to Maui will still find a way to bike down Haleakala on the current route that
is on the chopping block, and they will do it without a guide, or with a guide that is
operating an illegal business. There are already going to be bikers on the roadways, if
they are in a group of 3 or less (including the guide) and obviously with a guide, this
will be a direct result of the county taking action to regulate the industry in a safe and
responsible manner. The majority of visitors will buy and use the services that they
know are permitted and legal, we should not create a pathway to a rogue and illegal
industry when there is a solution that will work.
• The void will be filled by illegal tour operators if the county votes to ban the current
route. If guided bike tours are permitted to conduct tours in a safe manner they will
be able to report illegal tours on a daily basis because it will be in their best interests
to do so. This will force illegal tour operators get permits and conduct safe tours as
regulated by the county. If there are no regulations it will create a different type of
chaos on the roadways, possibly much worse than what the current climate offers.
• The companies that have shown they are unwilling to compromise, and unwilling to
be truthful about their operations will hire lawyers and bring lawsuits against the
county. This will cost the county money to defend their decision to shut down the
current route. Instead of banning the tour routes altogether the county has an
opportunity to regulate them in a way that will make them safer and let traffic flow
unimpeded. The goal should be to create a set of regulations for all guided bike tours
to follow if they wish to continue to use the same bike routes they have always used.
I ask and plead that you amend the ordinance so that it is solution based for everyone
involved. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
With Aloha,
William Campbell
Maui Easy Riders