|
Kokua Line
June Watanabe
|
More officers to aid safety for next race
Question: Why didn't the International Triathlon Union World Championship have barricades along Kalanianaole Highway? I witnessed a bicyclist hitting a car across Calvary By the Sea Church. The poor lady driver had the green light and probably didn't even know a race was on. A police officer was on the corner, but one officer trying to manage a busy intersection is not enough. There also was only one traffic cone and it wasn't even in the intersection.
Answer: Police and city officials don't believe "barricades" were needed, but after critiquing the race, they agree more officers and more traffic cones should be required the next time the race comes to Honolulu. They also believe the route should be changed.
Before any event on city streets, representatives of the Honolulu Police Department and Department of Transportation Services, which issues permits, will "ride the course" to determine safety measures.
Every event is unique, even those with similar routes, and varies according to who's participating, the number of participants and what they're doing, said Ty Fukumitsu, a traffic engineer with DTS.
About 165 police officers were stationed along the Triathlon course, said HPD Maj. Thomas Nitta. "It's an evolving event," he added, noting the Triathlon was held last year and in April.
After Sunday's event, it was decided a few more officers probably were needed "and actually, we're looking at trying to modify the route so we don't go through Kalanianaole Highway," Nitta said. The problem is that the current route is "so spread out" along the length of Kalanianaole, where the biking portion of the race takes place.
Meanwhile, Fukumitsu said, more traffic cones placed closer together also would be required the next time, although there is no application yet for a repeat.
During the Honolulu Marathon, which attracts "tens of thousands" of runners, the makai half of Kalanianaole is closed. During the Triathlon, which had just under 1,900 participants, the lane closest to the curb in each direction of Kalanianaole was closed.
Fukumitsu said only cones are required for the races and are considered sufficient. A-frame barricades were set up during the Triathlon, but only to prohibit parking, he said.
He acknowledged Triathlon bicyclists were traveling fast at speeds of 35 to 40 mph, but said they had the bike lane and one traffic lane in each direction to use.
Although no barricades are required, the Marathon does set up 2,125 A-frame barricades with flashers at intersections as an extra layer of safety, said spokesman Pat Bigold.
The Marathon, at its own expense, also pays for 343 police officers, 3,750 traffic cones, 2,350 "No Parking" A-frame signs, 130 traffic signs, 450 delineators, 18 arrow boards and eight electronic message boards on trailers.
"We do a whole lot of things the city and state don't require because there's so much potential for problems," Bigold said.
See the
Columnists section for some past articles.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com