Question: The bus stop benches and trash bin at King and Maunakea streets were removed some months ago. I presume this was to discourage some people from sleeping at the bus stop. It’s hard on the many seniors waiting 20 minutes or more for any bus to show up on weekends and after 11 a.m. weekdays after shopping. Is the city planning on replacing the benches? If yes, when?
Answer: Yes, new seating should be installed within the next two to four weeks, said Mike Formby, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.
It won’t be a traditional long, flat concrete bench, but rather what is known as the Simme-Seat design (see photo) that provides seating for two or more people (depending on the configuration), with handles or a pole separating the seats. This design obviously is less conducive to stretching out.
The old bench and garbage can were removed in response to safety and hygiene concerns expressed by community members and bus passengers, said Formby.
There is a bank ATM directly across from where the old bench used to be located. “DTS received complaints from individuals using the adjacent ATM that certain individuals were sitting on the bus stop bench (facing the ATM) and watching ATM customers transact business. Some would ask the ATM customers for cash as they walked away from the ATM,” Formby said. “We also had complaints of non-transit riders occupying the bench for extended periods. As for the trash can, we received numerous complaints regarding the trash receptacle being used by area tenants and trash being piled up all around the trash can to the point that it became a nuisance (odors, flies, etc.) for pedestrians and those transit riders using the bench.”
In response to those concerns, the city removed the bench and trash can. “We apologize to the transit riders for the temporary inconvenience,” Formby said.
DTS has now procured Simme-Seats, and one or more will be installed at the bus stop further away from the ATM, he said. “We chose these over the toadstools as the height is better for seniors while sitting down and standing up and they do have a hand-rail to assist the elderly,” said Formby, who noted that the dark green seats have arrived on the island and should be installed within the next two to four weeks.
You can read more about the Simme-Seat design at the company’s website, simmeseat.com.
A new trash can also will be installed near the bus stop at some point, although the city has not decided exactly where, he said.
HPD community survey
The Honolulu Police Department is conducting an online survey that takes a few minutes to complete. It gauges community sentiment about the impression of police officers, safety of neighborhoods and other security issues. You can find a link to the survey at 808ne.ws/hpdsurvey. The link will be active through Sept. 30, and, as the department says on its website, “Your feedback is important as we examine and evaluate our performance as a law enforcement agency.”
Auwe
Auwe to the dog owners who do not pick up the dog droppings. The dog owners should be more responsible to pick up the droppings. But to those dog owners who do pick them up: Good job, and keep it up. — A reader
E Kala Mai
My apologies for blocking traffic as I attempted to make a left turn yesterday in Kakaako. Many motorists were left waiting through a green light because I tried to turn after what I had expected to be a car traveling straight. Instead, without signaling its intent, that car suddenly tried to make a left turn practically right into me! I should not have moved out into traffic prematurely, assuming that the other car would continue past me, but it would have been nice if that car had used its blinker so I would have known it was going to turn. At any rate, I am sorry for the rush-hour inconvenience and grateful to have avoided a fender-bender. — A motorist
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