Bicycles ridden at night must have lights and reflectors

Question: I was just curious with the news of the increase in bicyclist deaths. Are lights and reflectors required, especially at night? If not, why not? I have lived in the University Avenue/ Kapiolani Boulevard area for 40 years and have seen so many close calls with bicyclists that don’t have any lights or reflectors at night, while wearing dark clothing to boot.

Answer: Yes, they are. Per Hawaii Revised Statutes 291C-147 (808ne.ws/seebike), bicycles used any time from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise must have a headlamp on the front that emits a white light visible for at least 500 feet. The lamp can be attached to the rider’s left arm or left leg, rather than to the bicycle itself, as long as it meets the visibility requirements.

The law also says that any bicycle used during that time period “shall be equipped with reflective material at least 4 square inches in size and of sufficient size and reflectivity to be visible from both sides for 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle, or, in lieu of such reflective material, with a lighted lamp visible from both sides from a distance of at least 500 feet.”

Another clause specifies that every bike have a red reflector of at least 4 square inches that is visible for 600 feet to the rear.

Bicycles may have more lights or reflectors than are required by law.

As reported Nov. 16, five bicyclists have died in Hawaii this year, up from zero at this time last year.

Q: My vehicle registration was stolen. Can I replace it online? I called the Division of Motor Vehicles, but after 15 minutes on hold, I hung up.

A: No. “The requester must come in with the application form, as replacing a stolen registration cannot be done online. There is no charge for the replacement,” said Sheri Kajiwara, the city’s director of customer services.

You can fill out and print the form ahead of time; it’s at 808ne.ws/REGREP.

Q: Tell people to be careful where they set up for the Christmas parade. Last year I couldn’t see a thing.

A: The city has a page about the celebration on its website, honolulu.gov. Click on the Honolulu City Lights icon for information about the Dec. 2 kickoff — the Electric Light Parade along King Street and the tree-lighting ceremony at Honolulu Hale — as well as about revelry throughout next month.

There are links to the parade route and traffic advisory, which go into detail about road closures, parking and the like. In general, “you may not be able to see the marching bands and vehicles if you are situated past Honolulu Hale between Alapai and Kawaiahao streets,” the city warns. “Vehicle units will be parked in this area and the bands will stop performing in this general area to disembark to their buses.”

The parade travels along King Street from River Street to Kawaiahao Street; it begins at River and King at 6 p.m.

The city says the parade route is less crowded in Chinatown and downtown from River Street to Fort Street Mall. It is most crowded in front of Honolulu Hale, where throngs gather to view the parade and tree-lighting afterward. Folks also fill the sidewalks on both sides of King Street between Bishop and Punchbowl streets. But resist the urge to move farther past Honolulu Hale toward Alapai Street, because you’ll end up not seeing all of the parade, as the vehicles stack up.

Q: How long can you wait in the cellphone lot at the airport?

A: Sixty minutes, according to the Honolulu airport’s website. “The driver must stay inside their vehicle while waiting. Unattended vehicles will be cited and towed. No commercial vehicles are permitted,” it says.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.