Maunakea Street Biki station relocated in Chinatown
Bikeshare Hawaii announced that its crew moved the Biki station on Maunakea and N. King street to an intersection fronting the Arts at Marks Garage in Chinatown this morning.
The move comes after resistance from shop owners along Maunakea Street to the installation of bulbouts, or extended curbs, in the neighborhood, as well as the Biki station within it at its former location.
Tony Nguyen, whose family owns Lin’s Lei Shop on Maunakea Street, had complained that business dropped due to the bulbouts and station because customers could no longer make a quick stop to buy a lei.
“The city was moving the bulbout and requested that we relocate the Biki Stop as well,” said Lori McCarney, Bikeshare Hawaii’s executive director in a press release. “We received the permit for the new location at Pauahi Street and Nuuanu Avenue yesterday, and we moved the station this morning. We work very closely with the city on the location of our stations, and only install Biki Stops where permitted.”
City spokesman Andrew Pereira said representatives of Arts at Marks were “extremely supportive” of the relocation.
The new Biki station is within a bulbout at the intersection of Pauahi Steet and Nuuanu Avenue in front of the Arts at Marks Garage. Sandra Pohl, owner of Louis Pohl Gallery on the ground floor of the garage, said she thought the Biki bikes were good for the neighborhood.
McCarney added that she looked forward to working with the neighborhood board on bringing more visitors to the area and that Chinatown “will most definitely be a consideration for expansion in 2018.”