When I posted a picture of us on social media in front of the Tommy Waters campaign sign on our fence, I wanted to be thorough and explain why we support him over the incumbent Trevor Ozawa. It was such a long write-up that I realized it’s worth sharing here…
Category Archives: Cycling
Synergy We Need: Biki and Beeline
One of the biggest drawbacks with bikeshare apps in every city we’ve been to is the lack of real time information while you’re riding. Sure, the apps update in real time, but there’s no way for you to know if the station you’re heading to has an open dock without stopping to look at your phone. However, there is a way to fix the problem using a fun little gadget called Beeline.
Helping Balance Biki – And Sometimes Not
After experiencing multiple bike share programs in various cities, we couldn’t wait to get one in Honolulu. Once Biki launched, we figured the least we could do (besides use it) was to help rebalance in our own little way, maybe walk an extra block or two to pick up at a full station or drop off at an empty one. However, I eventually realized we might be hurting myself long-term doing that–and now I don’t feel guilty for taking the last bike.
Biki Expansion–Er, Relocation (for now)
Biki has been talking about expanding for a while now. This morning I thought I saw the first sign of it (a new station) but it turns out it was just a relocation of an existing one. Still, they relocated it to a decent location.
Recycled (into) Bike Racks
Many organizations understand that it’s easier to get around a city on a bike than in a car and that accommodating people who bike is good for business. (Strangely enough, we tend to frequent those businesses.) Some even go the extra mile and install their own bike racks.
Synergy in City Projects
A proposal before the Honolulu City Council about neighborhood parking is the missing piece needed to allay one of the biggest concerns about a proposed pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Ala Wai canal.
NWS Honolulu a Bicycle Friendly Business
National Weather Service Honolulu and Central Pacific Hurricane Center being presented a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Business Award. From left, Bob Ballard, John Bravender, Chris Brenchley, Daniel Alexander (HBL), and Matt Foster. (May 18, 2017)
Earlier this month, National Weather Service Honolulu and Central Pacific Hurricane Center received a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly BusinessSM award from the League of American Bicyclists. We are the first BFB in Hawaii, and even received a special mention in the League’s national press release since they now have businesses in all 50 states. Hawaii Bicycling League presented the award at our office during Bike to Work Week.
The BFB designation is a great recognition of an office culture that encourages active commuting, but is it part of a larger plan? It actually ties into an idea that’s been percolating for a while concerning bicycles and emergency preparedness. Continue reading
Why I Want Bikeshare…
…Even When I Ride My Own Bike
I just read the “Our Year In Review” message that Bikeshare Hawaii sent out yesterday and it got me thinking. We’ve enjoyed the benefits of bikeshare systems in many different cities during our travels and know that it will be a great thing for visitors to Honolulu. However, what about our residents? I already have a couple bikes that I use to get around town; is there a benefit to me? The answer is most definitely yes.
McCully Street Bike Lanes
At the beginning of the month, the City and County Department of Transportation Services gave a presentation at the McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board meeting concerning their plan to install bike lanes along McCully Street. (The minutes will be available here.) This is a plan that has been discussed for a while, going back at least to January. Most news stories highlighted the removal of parking spots, such as Hawaii News Now (“McCully Street to get bike lanes, lose parking“) or the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (“McCully Street bike lanes to eliminate up to 30 parking spots“) [You may notice in the Star-Advertiser URL that their original headline read “up to 80 parking spots”; the headline was corrected but not the sharable link.]
What’s unfortunate about these stories is that they missed an important aspect–that parking along McCully Street is unsafe and that the City and County would consider removing it whether or not bike lanes were added. Continue reading
Life In The Slow Lane
I recently had a new experience that opened my eyes to the way novice cyclists must feel when they first start out. Traffic can be scary, especially when it’s fast moving and you’re in the middle of it.
Honolulu has several nice bike paths and many roads with bike lanes. However, they are completely disjointed, with a couple miles here or there and stretches of unfriendly roads in between. I normally can hold my own keeping up with traffic through these stretches (a fast Schwinn Paramount as a commuter certainly helps). However, a couple things came together this fall that put me in the slow lane.