Kalihi-Waikiki bus route goes around the clock to help workers

Retrieved from HawaiiNewsNow.com

Published: Wednesday, December 4th 2017, 3:18 pm HST
By Avijah Scarbrough

With a bustling economy, Honolulu has developed into a 24-hour city, and one of the city's most popular bus routes will reflect that change.

Just in time for the holidays, TheBus Route 2 from School Street to Waikiki will start running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

And so far, the response has been positive. "It's better, because everyone in the community can go to work, even if they have the night shift," says Kalihi resident Vince Raquino.

"That would be a blessing," says passenger Cesar Shinider. "It's going to be better for people to get to where they want to go."

Route 2 is one of the busiest in the nation and serves one of the more populated areas of urban Honolulu. There are over 93,000 residents and 103,000 jobs represented within a quarter-mile of the route's bus stops.

This is great news for people who work the graveyard shift, including Raquino's father, who depends on the bus to get to work. "This is good for them, because my dad actually has to get to work around 10," he said, "so he has to get the bus around then."

Much of Waikiki's workforce that caters to tourism lives near neighborhoods served by TheBus route, including Kalihi, Chinatown, Downtown, Makiki, Pawa'a and Kapahulu.

Route 2's extended hours will also benefit those who like to play late into the night. Jordan Wong said "it sounds awesome to me. If you go out partying and get drunk, you can just take the bus instead of driving home drunk." "Sometimes, you know, when you're out with friends and you want to have some fun and leave late, hey," added Shinider.

For more information, visit www.thebus.org.

Biki partners with Lyft, offers First Friday discount

Retrieved from HawaiiNewsNow.com

Published: Wednesday, November 30th 2017, 12:45 pm HST
By Star-Advertiser staff

Biki, Honolulu’s bike-share program, has partnered with Lyft to offer discounts to new ride-hailing customers, with a special promotion for First Friday in Chinatown on Friday.

New Lyft users who download the company’s app get $5 off each of their first four rides with the code “BIKILYFT.” In addition, Lyft has agreed to donate $10 to Bikeshare Hawaii, the non-profit managing Biki, for every new user that signs up using the code.

“In many instances, Biki is a great way to get from place to place,” said Lori McCarney, CEO of Bikeshare Hawaii in a statement. “But, we also recognized that there are times when riders will want to Biki somewhere and have another way to get back. That’s why we are delighted to be partnering with Lyft to offer Biki users a convenient option for their return trips. This partnership is a win-win for both Biki and Lyft.”

Riders who plan to attend the First Friday gallery walk in Chinatown also receive a 20 percent discount on a Lyft ride home with the code “BIKIFIRSTFRIDAY,” which will only apply to rides to and from a one-mile-radius of the Arts at Marks Garage at 1159 Nuuanu Ave. The discount will be available from 5 a.m. tomorrow until 3 a.m. Saturday.

Biki relocated its station from the corner of Maunakea and King streets to the corner of Pauahi Street and Nuuanu Avenue by the Arts at Marks Garage earlier this month following the city’s removal of a bulbout at the former site. Local shop owners near the Maunakea stop had complained that the bulbout and Biki station had resulted in a drop in revenue.

“We also want to remind Biki members that drinking and riding don’t mix,” McCarney said. “If you choose to Biki to a bar or party and celebrate the holiday season with a few adult beverages, we recommend catching a Lyft ride home. Since you used Biki to get there, you won’t have to worry about leaving your car or personal bike behind, and will be able to return safely with Lyft.”

City looks for ways to ease parking crunch in Honolulu

Retrieved from KHON2.com

Published: Wednesday, July 5th 2017, 12:11 pm HST
By KHON2's Web Staff

A new report from the City and County of Honolulu looks into the city’s parking crunch.

While the city controls nearly 10,000 parking stalls with user fees, the study notes what most of us already know: parking is a scarce and coveted commodity.

Throw in a low hourly turnover of spaces and you’ve got:

• Cruising, or driving in circles looking for an empty spot, which increases traffic congestion, and
• Conflicts when spillover parking by commuters who work or live nearby take up spaces in a neighborhood.

To clear up conflicts, earlier this year, the city rolled out its parking permit program in Kalihi Valley. Those who live in the area get a set amount of parking passes for themselves and their guests. Any cars parked without a permit could be towed.

It worked. The city says the new system kept 30 percent of on-street parking open and available.

But what about business areas, like Waikiki and downtown Honolulu?

According to the report, a quick survey of Waikiki found 100-percent of on-street metered parking spaces occupied.

That leads us to what’s call the 85-percent rule. Traffic engineers generally recommend that one in seven on-street parking spaces be vacant at all times, serving as a benchmark of acceptable parking availability.

So how can we free up space?

The city’s got part one done, which is raising prices. The report says people are willing to pay more as long as on-street parking is available.

Other options on the to-do list:

• Extend metered parking hours, for example, offering metered hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., instead of 6 p.m.
• Install more smart meters, which give drivers more options to pay and help keep tabs on which cars have run out of time.

Fees to run the meters are roughly $10,000 a month, but the city says smart meters have helped raise revenue by 25 percent.

Check the bottom of the original KHON2 article for more findings from the report, as well as charts including rates and time limits of Surface Parking Lots and Off-Street Parking Garages.

Downtown, Chinatown streets to get major safety overhaul

Retrieved from HawaiiNewsNow.com

Published: Wednesday, February 8th 2017, 2:06 pm HST
By Jim Mendoza, Reporter

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - City officials are planning big changes for several major thoroughfares in Downtown Honolulu, including modifications to pedestrian crossings and bicycle lanes in the city center and Chinatown areas.

Between the next two to four years, the city plans to install a protected bicycle lane on the Diamond Head-side of Bishop Street, removing that lane from vehicle traffic. The new bicycle lane will extend the length of Bishop Street and be separated from the roadway by a concrete curb. 

"It's going to be on the Diamond Head side. We'll be pushing all traffic toward the Ewa side," said Mike Packard, the City's Complete Streets Coordinator. 

The lane will run the length of the street, taking away the left lane from motorists, but Packard believes the traffic flow won't be severely affected because the right lane will be kept clear. Delivery vehicles will have a loading space outside the bike lane.

"I work downtown part-time. I use my bike as part of my job, so it would make me feel a lot more secure," bicycle rider Jonathan Holshue said. 

Also on the drawing board are modifications to two busy pedestrian crossings. Intersections at Bishop Street and King Street, as well as King Street and Alakea Street, will be converted to all-way crossings, which should reduce the time motorists have to wait at red lights.

“The hope is that we can reduce delays for both vehicles and pedestrians,” Packard said.

The city will also modify some street corners in Chinatown, extending the curb to make them safer for pedestrians.

“It shortens the distance that pedestrians have to cross, while being exposed to vehicle traffic,” Packard said.

The city is holding a series of “lunch and learn” meetings this month to familiarize people with the Complete Streets plan and get feedback. An expo is scheduled for March 15. 

The cost of the work is still to be determined. The plan is to make enhancements while the City works on repavement projects planned for downtown.