The following item ran in “Kokua Line” on Oct. 3

Question: Who do I complain to about the tour buses and trolleys that take over the city bus stop at Kapiolani Community College during the Saturday farmers market at KCC? They make it impossible for the city buses to pick up passengers, most of whom are elderly and have a hard time getting to the bus.

Answer: Private buses with permits may use city bus stops outside of Waikiki, but they’re not supposed to linger. Loading or unloading of able-bodied passengers should take three minutes or less per vehicle. Paratransit vehicles carrying disabled passengers are allowed 15 minutes. Based on your complaint, the city will remind private transportation companies of these and other rules.

Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the city’s Department of Transportation Services, explains:

“Tour buses and trolleys are allowed to use city bus stops, excluding bus stops in the Waikiki Special District, roughly bounded by Kapiolani Park, the Ala Wai Canal, and Waikiki Beach. These tour vehicles, however, must display a permit decal on their right front bumper issued by the city’s Licensing Division of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services.

“Since bus stop No. 320, located on Diamond Head Road at Makapuu Avenue (fronting Kapiolani Community College) is not within the Waikiki Special District, permitted tour vehicles are allowed to service the stop along with official city buses. They may not lay over or park within this bus stop, and must commence with active loading and unloading of passengers. These rules are further explained in more detail in the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, Article 15 (Stopping for Loading or Unloading Only), Section 15-15.3, items (a), (c), and (e).

“The tour buses may stay for a maximum of three minutes, no more, per the ordinance. So, if they exceed three minutes, they would be in violation, except if they are boarding an ADA paratransit- eligible passenger, in which case they can stop for up to 15 minutes for active loading or unloading, per Sec. 15-15.1, (b)(4)(A) and (B).

“For all other situations not involving paratransit access, the following applies:

“Sec. 15-15.3, Buses not permitted to stand or park except in officially designated bus stops; (a) The driver of a bus shall not stop, stand or park such bus upon any street at any place within any business district other than at an officially designated bus stop, nor for any purpose or period of time other than when actually engaged in the discharge of passengers or the pickup of passengers then in readiness at the curb. The stopping, standing or parking of such bus shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefore and in no event for more than three minutes.

“The city’s Department of Transportation Services will remind our fellow tour transportation operators of the ordinances in respect to loading at bus stops so we may share these popular locations in the most efficient and convenient way for the benefit of all riders of public and private transportation.”

Read the full ordinance at 808ne.ws/chap15roh.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.