New bike lanes endanger bicyclists
When one hears of a new bike lane being established, there is anticipation that the result will provide the presumed goal of safer conditions for cyclists. Sadly, in Kona, such projects by the powers-that-be — state or county, depending on location — often fail to meet this basic objective. The most notable of these are the infamous “killer bike lanes” on Queen Kaahumanu Highway between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street.
The yield sign recently placed where right turns occur off Makala to the northbound highway should improve safety for cyclists given that motorists will now pause to check for cyclists — and other traffic — prior to highway entry. Unfortunately, a new quarter-mile-long bike lane has been created north of this intersection. It will require cyclists to travel a few scant feet to the right of tour buses and container trucks often traveling 45 mph. Considering there is still a perfectly good paved shoulder that place cyclists farther from high speed motor vehicles, this lane produces an overall reduction in cyclist safety. It is an attempt at a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. Bike lanes should be established only when they provide improved, not reduced, safety to cyclists.
Also, the complete elimination of the merge lane as part of this infrastructure change is not necessary. The purpose of merge lanes is to allow vehicles a safe, smooth entry to the main flow of relatively high-speed traffic and they can easily remain without placing cyclists at risk. All that’s needed is crossing zones to give cyclists well-marked access to the right hand shoulder after they pass through an intersection.
I’ve bicycled the mainland U.S. from Atlantic to Pacific, as well as the streets of New York and Chicago. I’ve also traveled this stretch of Queen Kaahumanu Highway multiple times every week, either on bicycle or in my car, for the past seven years. As such, I would suggest that all merge lane entries to the highway remain but with a yield sign placed before entry to the straight merge section. Additionally, there would be a sign to “yield to crossing cyclists” and a well marked and painted “bike crossing zone” established in the lane for about a 20-yard stretch just past the yield sign. There are presently many of these “bike crossing zones” that, to my experience, work well and safely for both cyclists and motor vehicles. But the addition of signage to inform motor vehicle drivers they need to yield to crossing cyclists would improve cyclist safety in these areas at minimal cost.
My hope is that local cycling groups — Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii, Hawaii Cycling Club and Coffee Talk Riders — will begin to take a stand against infrastructure changes that, while surely well-intended, fail to produce safer conditions for cyclists. Secondly, I would request that before spending taxpayer dollars on such projects, the powers-that-be seek out and attend to get input from those who, literally, have “skin in the game” — the local cycling community.
Eugene Schmitz
Kailua-Kona