Debbie Talbot wheels her dozing daughter, Jessica,
along the winding bike path along Kailua Road.
Photo by George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin

They say the meandering asphalt path is dangerous.

The 2-1/2-mile path, built by the city at a cost of $600,000, runs from Hahani street near Kailua town to the Lanikai boat landing.

Smith said he has been nearly hit twice by cars backing out of driveways. He called the bikeway, completed in June, "nice but kinda dangerous."

A petition signed by 23 Kailua residents citing danger and poor planning has prompted City Councilman John Henry Felix and city Transportation Director Charles Swanson to investigate.

Among problems cited:

One section on the Waimanalo side of Kailua Road meanders around electrical poles and fire hydrants, making it difficult to maneuver.

Drivers backing cars out of driveways section cannot see bikers coming down the path.

The path leads to a narrow, heavily traveled bridge across Kaelepulu Stream that bikers are forced to cross to get to Lanikai.

Ken Carlson, chairman of the Transportation Committee of the Kailua Neighborhood Board, said the bikeway running through the beach park is nice and wide, but suddenly dead ends right before the bridge, which he described as "treacherous."

Bikers heading toward Lanikai have to cross the street to ride on the right side of the bridge, then cross the street again to get back on the bike path on the left side of the road, he said.

Civil engineer Edison Kwock of Kwock and Associates, hired by the city to design the path, said the path twists and turns around poles and hydrants because there would be considerable cost involved to move them.

The city is considering widening the bridge at Kaelepulu Stream to accommodate both cars and bikes. But the $5 million project - largely dependent on federal money - has been tabled for lack of funds.

Swanson plans to meet with the neighborhood board Aug. 12 to discuss safety concerns.

Felix, who represents Kailua, did a site inspection with city and neighborhood board members July 12.

He said he thought the meandering route was "rather peculiar."

But the city says it is "better than what it used to be."

Felix said two hearings were held two years ago by the Council Transportation Committee.

But some residents are upset, saying they never got notice of public hearings on the bike paths.