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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
City will field any
complaints on bus decalsQuestion: Why is the city gluing a rainbow decal onto the windows of new buses, blocking the view? Instead of the perfectly nice yellow stripes they had before, they have a rainbow design on the new buses which goes right over the windows. If you're sitting next to one of these decals, your view straight out is blocked about 50 percent. But if you're sitting a row or two or three behind the decals, it looks like there's grease all over the window and you can't see anything. A lot of people are trying to see where they need to get off, but you can't even see the street signs, much less the scenery. All the bus riders I've talked to dislike these decals.
Answer: If you and other passengers don't like how the new look of TheBuses obscures the view, you should voice your displeasure to the city Department of Transportation Services.
Before we pitched your question to bus officials, they had only received one complaint about the "appliques," according to Transportation Director Cheryl Soon.
She indicated public input would be taken into consideration in deciding whether to continue the use of the appliques. However, she maintained that "from the inside, the decal appears to be a darker tint but is not obstructive to viewing."
She said the film over the window "is designed to provide maximum viewing outside without compromising the colors in the film" and that the appliques are the result of the city's "desire to give the buses an updated look, which would be more reflective of Hawaii."
The appliques, which cost $5,000 each for the original application or replacement, are affixed locally after a bus is delivered to Hawaii. So far, 112 of the city's 525 buses sport the appliques, Soon said.
Q: I've been saving a lot of matches because my sister on the mainland collects them. But now, because of 9/11, I can't send them over. Do you know of anyone -- a group or collector -- who might want them?
A: If interested, call "Kokua Line" at 529-4773 and leave a message.
We will pass on the names of the first two callers to the person making the offer. If you do not get a call back, that means the matches have been taken.
Mahalo
To a brave citizen and Emergency Medical Services workers for stepping in to assist the victim of an apparent mugging or domestic violence about 6:15 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at School and Liliha streets. A man was dragging a woman by her purse. As she yelled, "Leave me alone, leave me alone," a lone driver in a white late-model compact car stopped and intervened. Unarmed, without any protection and without being too confrontational, he was able to separate the couple. An Emergency Medical Services vehicle coincidentally came alongside the scene and took the woman in. A bystander gestured to the attendant to call police. Seeing that the woman was safe, the good Samaritan returned to his unattended vehicle. I have kept any identifying information confidential to protect the innocent, the victim and the good Samaritan. We need more citizens in our community who are willing to chance 'em. -- John Q. Public
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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