Training athletes should stick to roads with bike lanes
The article in the Oct. 9 West Hawaii Today speaks of illegally parked vehicles causing hazards for bicyclists. I am in agreement with this article and do not mind “sharing-the-road” with bikers, but, with certain safety reservations.
There are many streets and roads in Kailua-Kona that have been equipped with adequate bike lanes. Upper Hualalai Road is not one of them. Anyone concerned about the dangers to bicyclists should consider the hazards to both bikers and drivers when Hualalai Road and Mamalahoa Highway are used for training.
Many athletes insist on using these roads despite the lack of shoulders or any space at all, on either side of the roads. In some areas, there is only 8 to 9 inches before hitting a rock wall, a metal guard rail or a steep unguarded drop-off.
Not only are these athletes endangering themselves when biking on these very curvy, “old” roads, they are also creating a possible disaster for drivers who cannot see them around the many curves, driveways and side roads. Consider also the risk to bicyclists when drivers disregard safety and try to pass them as they slowly pedal up the middle of the road.
There is absolutely no room for bicyclists on Hualalai Road and Mamalahoa Highway since there is clearly no protection for them. Using these road for training purposes presents a disaster-in-the-making for all of us who live here, just one unfortunate occurrence would devastate us all.
I encourage those individuals in charge of the safety of our streets, roads and trail to inform future Ironmen and all athletes regarding this very probable danger and request that they use safer areas where bike lanes are available.
Diane Beckenhauer
Kailua-Kona