Bicycle Safety Resolution

Having ridden bicycles as a primary mode of transportation for at least 10 years, having been forced of the road many times and nearly killed twice this is a subject that is important to me. I suggest you get as many people as possible to send a version modified for your local situation to your local legislators. There is still time to for your legislators to submit resolutions.

Bicycle Safety Resolution
Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30
WHEREAS, the voters passed City Charter Amendment 8 by approximately 77% in the 2006 general election asking the city to make Honolulu a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city, and
WHEREAS, there are a large number of bicyclists that ride through the Kaneohe neighborhood and surrounding area, and
WHEREAS, many of the roads used by bicyclists and residents are poorly maintained, and
WHEREAS, it is the duty of the state and county to ensure that the roads and paths that are marked as bike routes are safe and well maintained, and
WHEREAS, there has been an increase in area traffic in the Kaneohe neighborhood and the surrounding communities bringing a greater chance of accidents with bicyclists occurring, and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City and County of Honolulu and State of Hawaii to encourage people to exercise, especially children, and
WHEREAS, the year-round good weather makes it possible to commute to work and school by bicycle, thus decreasing the number of cars on the road, and
WHEREAS, the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan states that one of the planning principles is to “encourage . . . bicycle travel, particularly to reach neighborhood destinations such as schools, parks, and convenience stores,” therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board asks the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and its relevant Departments and the State of Hawaii’s Department of Transportation to improve conditions for bicyclists by:

1. Developing new bike paths, routes or bikeways in all communities.
2. Maintaining and improving all existing bike lanes, routes and paths.
3. Placing bike racks in all city, county and state parks.
4. Implementing procedures for the safe placement of residential garbage receptacles and temporary construction signs and equipment so as not to intrude in bike lanes.
5. Enforcing existing parking regulations.
6. Restriping, painting and cleaning the existing bike lanes and routes on all major streets and roads.
7. Regularly trimming trees, bushes and grass and clearing sand and gravel that encroach on bike lanes and shoulders along all major streets and roads.
8. Including input from the bicycling community on ways to improve safety for bicyclists during construction projects and the final design.
9. Maintaining and not paving over traffic sensor loops at intersections in order to allow bicyclists to easily trigger a change in signal lights.
10. Including additional bicycle safety questions in the state driver’s license exam.
11. Continuing funding for the Hawaii Bicycling League’s BikeEd program, which has been educating fourth grade students how to ride bicycles safely since 1988.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Bicycle Safety Resolution be transmitted to: the Governor of the State of Hawaii, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, City Council members, the City Department of Transportation Services, Department of Planning and Permitting, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Facilities Maintenance, all Neighborhood Boards, Hawaii Bicycling League, Senators Hee and Tokuda, and Representatives Chong and Ito.