Question: There is a traffic roundabout makai of Salt Lake Elementary School where the city bus has to run over curbs and often stop and back up to continue through. The city engineers made a mistake designing that one. Is there a law against a bus backing up in an intersection?

Answer: You’ve no doubt noticed that both the route of the buses and the roundabout curbs were modified last month.

This was done at the request of the Salt Lake community and based on numerous discussions, said Wayne Yoshioka, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.

The new route directs town-bound buses to turn right from Likini Street to Ala Ilima Street.

Previously, the buses just continued through on Likini Street at that intersection. However, drivers found it difficult to make the right turn from Likini to Ala Ilima without climbing the curbs of the roundabout, Yoshioka said.

To accommodate the buses, it was decided the curbs would be modified. Temporarily, the buses were directed to enter from Likini Street, circle the roundabout and exit onto Ala Ilima.

Some bus operators found it difficult to execute this maneuver without stopping and backing up midway through the roundabout, Yoshioka said. "While there is no law against backing up, we discourage our bus operators from doing so."

Since the modifications were completed Sept. 24, that’s no longer a problem.

Question: My family and I frequently go to Maunalani Park at the top of Wilhelmina Rise. A blue sign clearly states, "No Drinking, No Campfires, No Pets," etc. But, on multiple occasions I have seen dog owners bring their dogs (up to 10) to run, unleashed, in the grassy field where other families and children play. Most owners pick up after their dogs, but some just leave the poop. While picking up poop is helpful, remnants remain and it is highly unsanitary. The dogs also urinate on trees all over the park. I am not a dog hater, but there are designated "dog parks" for them to roam freely. I also worry for the safety of all children while dogs are allowed off leash. Who can we call to remind these people that the park is primarily meant for people and not their pets?

Answer: The Honolulu Police Department enforces the rules in city parks, although by the time it can respond, the violators may be long gone, noted Lester Chang, director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

Parks officials also are concerned about people bringing their dogs to people-only parks.

The problem is that no one from the Parks Department is stationed at Maunalani, where maintenance is done by a roving crew, Chang said.

"If we were there, I would ask the staff to go out and remind people" that dogs are not allowed, he said. Because parks employees have no enforcement authority, they would not be able to cite anyone.

Chang asks dog owners to be considerate of other park users and to take their pets to a dog park. In the Maunalani area, the closest off-leash dog parks are at the Hawaiian Humane Society, 2700 Waialae Ave.; the Bark Park at Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue in Kaimuki; and the Hawaii Kai Dog Park, at the makai end of the Hawaii Kai Park & Ride.

For other dog-friendly parks, see www.hawaiianhumane.org/dog_friendly_parks.html.

MAHALO

To the person who found my wallet in the Kapiolani Park parking lot on Sunday and to the Royal Hawaiian Band member who drove to my house to return it. — Nancy Nott