Extra scrutiny would stall bikeways, advocates say

Cycling enthusiasts are opposing a bill aimed at providing greater public and City Council scrutiny of planned city bikeways, maintaining it would only delay putting in place badly needed bike lanes and other accommodations.

Introduced by Councilman Trevor Ozawa, Bill 68 would require that a city administration planning a new bikeway first go to the Council for approval of a public infrastructure map symbol. PIM symbols are required of major government facilities including corporation yards, desalination plants, fire or police stations, municipal golf courses and parks.

The bill was given first reading approval by the Council Wednesday and was sent to the Zoning and Planning Committee.

Ozawa said he introduced the bill to improve government transparency as the city makes decisions about some 700 miles of planned bikeways.

After the hearing, Ozawa told reporters he supports more bicycle lanes on the island but contends that they are significant parts of the island’s infrastructure that need to be better vetted by all segments of a community including affected neighbors.

Obtaining a PIM symbol requires a resolution, which can be passed by the Council within a month, he said.

Right now, the Council has no say over bikeways, but the administration has held hearings so the public can provide input.

In December, the city opened its first cycle track, exclusively for bicyclists, along two miles of South King Street between Alapai and Isenberg streets. While lauded by cyclists, some motorists have argued that the loss of a lane has worsened traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

A proposal introduced by Mayor Kirk Caldwell in August for a second cycle track, running mauka along South Street, has also generated mixed reaction. It is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

Five people testified Wednesday, raising concerns about the bill or voicing their opposition, while more than 50 others who oppose the measure submitted written testimony.

Daniel Alexander, advocacy director for the nonprofit Hawaii Bicycling League, told Council members the bill’s call to put bike lanes and bike-related improvement projects before the Council would impede development of already approved islandwide bicycling and “Complete Streets” programs.

Mark Garrity, the city deputy transportation services director, also voiced concerns about Ozawa’s bill. “The public infrastructure map normally has only major infrastructure projects on it,” Garrity said. “We do have some concerns about the precedent that this might be setting.”

Bicycling advocate Natalie Iwasa also testified against the bill, arguing that there were multiple hearings for the public to offer input prior to the adoption of Oahu bike plans in 2012 and 1999, as well as public hearings for both the King and South street bike paths.

“There are over 350 bicycle projects in the bike plan,” Iwasa said. “Can you imagine having 350 or so resolutions that you need to go through to put a PIM symbol on the map? It is very inefficient, especially when it is unnecessary.”