Bike lanes to ease What a difference a bike lane will make: Soon Liz Ryan won't have to bike three blocks out of her way to avoid exiting freeway traffic to get from Kaimuki to Kahala.
East Oahu travel
Paths in Kahala and Kaimuki
are being built to increase safetyBy Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.comThe special events coordinator for the Hawaii Bicycling League looks forward to work on the Kaimuki bike lane as well as another short section near Kealaolu Avenue farther east.
That work is scheduled to begin Sept. 4, said Dean Harvest, information specialist with the state Department of Transportation.
Vince Llorin, the Department of Transportation's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, said the two projects are a small part of the Honolulu Bicycle Master Plan's "Bike-Friendly Route No. 1."
It would connect the Kalanianaole bike lane from Hawaii Kai to Aiea through the downtown area.
In Kaimuki, the lane will be installed along Waialae Avenue from 17th Avenue to 21st Avenue. In Kahala, the lane will extend the existing path on Kealaolu to help cyclists merge onto Kalanianaole Highway.
The two projects will cost a total of $1,645,145 for design and construction.Chris Sayers, city bicycle coordinator, said the Waialae project is the first of about 20 other segments included in Route No. 1 to be constructed. In the design stage now are several gateway paths along the Pearl Harbor Bike Path, he said.
Ryan said the lanes will provide a beneficial service and encourage more people to ride bikes.
"There are quite a few Hawaii Kai commuters who go downtown daily. It will be a huge help for them (when they return home)," she said.
Khalil Spencer, past president of the bicycling league, has biked from his home in Hawaii Kai to the University of Hawaii where he works for the past 10 years.
He agreed it was "very intimidating" trying to cross over to the right shoulder of Waialae Avenue through the traffic merging off the freeway.
Lt. Abner De Lima, watch lieutenant in charge of the district for the past 10 years, said he can't recall any accidents involving bikes on Waialae and hasn't seen any occur where the bike lane will be built.
"I haven't seen any bike rider dare to do that (merge into traffic). The vehicles alone are dangerous already," De Lima said.
Spencer said the Kealaolu extension would serve as a connector route for cyclists coming from Kapiolani Park to East Oahu via Kalanianaole Highway.
The original plan was to build lanes on both sides of Kealaolu, he said, but residents objected to the widening of the road, and the compromise was to install only one eastbound lane on the side closest to the Waialae Country Club golf course a few years ago.
The lane currently ends just before the road curves right to merge with Waialae as it leads onto Kalanianaole. The lane extension will occur at this point.
Llorin said the Route No. 1 is a coordinated effort between the city and state because the route would traverse land owned by both governments. There will be no additional acquisition of property for the bike paths.
"The reason for the break in project limits between 21st Avenue (near Times Super Market) and Kealaolu Avenue is because the roadway could not be widened under the viaduct (to accommodate bicycle lanes) due to existing structures, i.e. columns for the viaduct," Llorin said.
"For this area, experienced bicyclists are encouraged to use the roadway and recreational bicyclists are to walk their bikes on the sidewalk," as riding on sidewalks is illegal."