Question: Last year, I wrote Kokua Line regarding the removal of afternoon "no parking" signs from the makai side of South King Street (see is.gd/qRYvCg). The response was that it was a six-month experiment regarding a possible bike lane. The signs basically were removed "overnight," yet here we are two months after the study concluded and the signs have not been reinstalled. Can you please find out why, and when they will be replaced?
Answer: A request to reinstate the "no parking" signs has been made, but no timeline on when that will happen was immediately available.
More significant, the study results have bolstered the Caldwell administration’s plan to begin installing a protected bike lane on South King Street later this year.
That means one lane of traffic will be dedicated to bikers, although it’s likely to be on the mauka, not makai, side of the street.
The traffic study, originally scheduled for June through November, was extended through January to capture both the December holiday traffic and the January return-to-school traffic, said Michael Formby, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.
The goal was to show the effects, if any, of eliminating one active lane of travel on South King between Alapai Street and University Avenue.
"The study results indicated no significant change in travel times after removal of the parking restriction during the p.m. peak hours on the makai side," Formby said. "Travel times generally varied between six and 11 minutes both before and after the parking removal."
With the study results in, DTS has put in a request to the city Department of Facility Maintenance to reinstall the makai afternoon peak hour parking restrictions, he said. It will depend on Facility Maintenance’s workload as to when that will be done.
Although the parking restrictions on the makai side of South King Street were removed during the study period, Formby said the protected bike lane will likely be on the mauka side.
That’s because DTS wants to avoid conflicts with city buses, which travel in the makai lanes.
"We have been studying this issue, and one-way streets can have bike lanes on either side, normally determined by which side offers reduced conflicts," Formby explained.
"If at all possible, we would like to complete installation (of the bike lane) in 2014," Formby said. "The goal is to create a safe environment for bicyclists to use this major corridor between downtown Honolulu and the university area."
DTS currently is working on a "community engagement process" and on design. The hope is to take details of the plan to the community in April, Formby said.
Question: I have been taking an out-of-state houseguest to various tourist attractions and was surprised that her handicapped-parking placard was not honored in terms of free parking at either Hanauma Bay or Diamond Head State Monument. The Diamond Head parking receipt clearly states, "State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks." Why is the state charging when the handicap placard is presented?
Answer: Because there are attendants at those lots.
State law allows anyone with a valid disabled parking placard to park for free in any metered stall for a maximum 21/2 hours or the maximum time on the meter, whichever is longer.
There is no law that requires parking to be free to the disabled in lots with an attendant.
MAHALO
To an honest and proactive guy at the Pro Bowl last month. I was sitting in the stands enjoying the game when a fellow fan pointed to my feet and asked, "Is that your wallet?" Indeed, somehow it had jumped out of my pocket and was poised to create a humongous problem if it had been left behind. I’ve thanked this kind person a zillion times in my head since then, every time I carefully stick my wallet w-a-y down in my pocket. There is still good in the world! Aloha and thanks again. — Karin, Kapiolani
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.
