DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
A cyclist looked at traffic Friday while riding in a section of the new cycling lane on King Street between Ward Avenue and Pensacola Street. The 2-mile lane will officially open Dec. 6.
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Cyclists are invited to decorate their bikes and bring them to Thomas Square Park on Saturday for an inaugural ride on the new King Street bike lane.
The theme for the event will be "Ride Aloha," and participants are asked to wear holiday aloha attire. The Honolulu City Lights tree lighting ceremony and Electric Light Parade will take place later in the day, beginning at 6 p.m. at Honolulu Hale.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell, along with representatives from the Department of Transportation Services, city Bike Program and the Hawai‘i Bicycling League will take part in the bike lane celebration, set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ride is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
The celebration will also include music, food trucks, art, free bike repairs and more. Musical entertainment will be provided by Justin Ancheta, Heather Normandale, Maren Metke and Honey of the Heart.
The 2-mile "cycle track" is Oahu’s first protected bike lane. The project was completed by the Department of Facility Maintenance at a cost of less than $100,000 and is a two-year pilot program to test its effectiveness in improving safety and increasing bicycle ridership.
More information on the King Street Protected Bike Lane can be found here.
The Hawai‘i Bicycling League is hosting free instructional classes on the use of the bike lane for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. A Cycle Track Basics and Cycling Skills 101 class will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Bike Shop, 1149 S. King St., and 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 in front of the Fasi Municipal Building.