Dwayne & everyone~

A wonderful letter from bicycle-sister Jocelyn ~  Yes, yes & yes! ~ many more letters like this to the Advertiser, Star-Bulletin, Honolulu Weekly and to City Council!..

Not certain if this letter was already submitted or not? ~ if not, or perhaps in another letter, let the people of Honolulu know who their specific Council representative is by facilitating the following website:

http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us//council/ccl.htm

replete with phone #'s, fax #'s, e-mail addresses...

Keep up the good work ~ let us wake-up an asleep population...

Peace ~Edward/Mo'PoB(More People on Bikes) for a healthier planet Earth and its inhabitants, us!~  

----- Original Message -----
From: "Duane Browning"
Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2004 23:51:28 -0000
To: hawaiibicyclists@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hawaiibicyclists] Letter to the Star-Bulletin

Show your support for bike projects

Are you sick of being stuck in traffic when you only need to go a
short distance to work? Then, once you finally get there, do you have
to search and search for a parking spot? Do you ever have to take
your
kids a quick mile down the road? Do you or your family members have a
history of high blood pressure? If you answered "yes" to any of these
questions, keep in  mind there is something you can do to improve
these conditions -- ride a bike.

For short trips, bicycling can be a quick and easy way to reduce
traffic congestion and eliminate the need for a parking spot. It can
provide inexpensive transportation for those without a driver's
license or moto r vehicle. Providing bicycles for your children can
eliminate trips for you. And bicycling as a form of physical activity
can play a role in preventing and controlling health problems, such
as
hypertension. There is a problem, though -- the lack of safe bicycle
routes.

Who wants to send their child out on a bicycle knowing he or she does
not have a safe route? Why would we want to use a bicycle as a means
of physical activity when there is not a safe area to ride it? For
these reasons, we need to support our City Council's decisions to
continue funding for "Bicycle Projects."

You can support Bicycle Projects by contacting your Council member
and
telling him/her you support Project Number 1979063 of Bill 14, titled
Bicycle Projects.

                               ;                   Jocelyn Pogue
                                                       Honolulu

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Show your support for bike projects

Are you sick of being stuck in traffic when you only need to go a
short distance to work? Then, once you finally get there, do you have
to search and search for a parking spot? Do you ever have to take
your
kids a quick mile down the road? Do you or your family members have a
history of high blood pressure? If you answered "yes" to any of these
questions, keep in  mind there is something you can do to improve
these conditions -- ride a bike.

For short trips, bicycling can be a quick and easy way to reduce
traffic congestion and eliminate the need for a parking spot. It can
provide inexpensive transportation for those without a driver's
license or motor vehicle. Providing bicycles for your children can
eliminate trips for you. And bicycling as a form of physical activity
can play a role in preventing and controlling health problems, such
as
hypertension. There is a problem, though -- the lack of safe bicycle
routes.

Who wants to send their child out on a bicycle knowing he or she does
not have a safe route? Why would we want to use a bicycle as a means
of physical activity when there is not a safe area to ride it? For
these reasons, we need to support our City Council's decisions to
continue funding for "Bicycle Projects."

You can support Bicycle Projects by contacting your Council member
and
  telling him/her you support Project Number 1979063 of Bill 14, titled
Bicycle Projects.

                                                  Jocelyn Pogue
                                                        Honolulu

Well, I finally went, after months of wanting to
go, but never going.

It was certainly different than my usual rides
through Honolulu. We were actually in a lane of
traffic, the whole lane, not just off to one
side.

I've always enjoyed riding with a group of
bicyclists, which is much more fun than riding
alone.

A few problems came-up, though.

First, the group constantly became seperated. The
faster riders often outpacing the slower ones. I
posted a messege in the Critical Mass list
advising that faster riders ride in the back and
slower ones in the front, to moderate the group's
speed.

Second, while the meeting place - the State
Captiol - is convenient, as everyone knows where
it is, the ending point is not. We stopped at
Kaimanu Beach, across from the zoo, to watch the
sunset and then most of us went into a bar to
listen to a friend play guitar there. It's a nice
bar, but way too fancy for my tastes and the food
was too expensive for most of the Massers who
went inside. I was the only one who seemed to be
able to afford to buy his own food and drinks.

I can imagine the frustration the waiter felt,
waiting on people who seemed willing to eat the
free pupus and drink water, but he seemed to
realise that he wouldnt make any tips off of our
group. I ordered a meal and drinks and gave him a
good tip on top of it. If we're going to go
there, we shouldnt look like a bunch of
freeloaders. I think a collection should have
been taken to tip the waiter for the water he
served and be so patient with our group which
took-up, at least two tables.

Waitstaff depend on tips to pay their own bills,
we need to understand that. If we're not going to
order food and tip, we shouldnt go there.

The number of people who showed-up was
disappointing, about a dozen people. Numbers at a
Critical Mass are important. Lack of any public
announcement about the Mass almost ensures a low
turnout.

While bike messengers on the Mainland support
Critical Mass, Honolulu messengers dont seem to.
Various problems in the past have disenchanted
them. I invited everyone from Crosstown Couriers
to go with me and they all declined. The reasons
given to me made sense and I didnt try to
persuade them. If things improve, maybe they will
change their minds.

Sadly, the Hawaii Bicycling League will not
support Critical Mass, however, they will not
condemn it either. Some of the more conservative
members dont like CM's approach to activism. I
understand it, but I dont like it. No HBL
leadership will attend a Critical Mass and that
is a shame.

Granted, this was my first time. I had a good
time, but I understand why people dont attend.
I'll do my best to help things improve.




__________________________________
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Friends.  Fun.  Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger.
http://messenger.yahoo.com/

Everyone~

More thoughts from my brother Migio up in the Bay area...

~Edward/Mo'PoB~

----- Original Message -----
From: Migepilar@...
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 21:09:26 EDT
To: dancingbear@...
Subject: Re: Fw: Re: Budget hearing update ~ vigilante...

Howzit Brada Ed,        LIfe is a "beach" but the struggle must go on!      Sometimes you must change your tactics. I don't really know how much support you have but people power is a must, the masses must embrace this struggle.        To throw out some ideas: Inviting bike leaders from other cities or states for series of mass rallies. Included in the rallies are "celebs" from TVs, movies, sports, bands, etc. who would endorse your struggle. (2) Maybe a little guirrilla warfare. Weekly mass demonstrations on bikes during heavy comute hours and then a concert afterwards. You might of already done this. To succeed you must bring out the people.           But to accomplish this you must have a vehicle, not a car or bike, but fine tuned organization to implement your tactics and strategies. You must do this so you don't burn yourself out. Develop committees to handle outreach, mobization, phone banking, logistics, finance, etc., etc. This is definetely a CHORE, I think thats why they call it a sttruggle.         Anyway, just a few thoughts. I hope it helps. Carry on the struggle.            Your Bud, Mige

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Fellow velo's~

My dear friend of many years, Migio up in the Bay area, has been an activist,
reformist, and "power-to-the-people" person for many years ~ he helps organize
the workers and other activists to really implement reform...

I thought you might appreciate his thoughts about our crusade here...

Peace ~Edward/Mo'PoB (More People on Bikes)~

----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Huls" <dancingbear@...>
Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 03:51:09 -0500
To: Migepilar@...
Subject: Re: CM ~ Critical Mass bike ride tomorrow! ~ a wise man...

My brother Migio~

I am forwarding this message from you, and the one previous, to my
bicycle brothers and sisters here on O'ahu ~ your suggestions are
enlightening and are received in the most appreciative sense ~ I will
move forward on them, guaranteed!...

Your years in recluse, at the monastary in the Bay area, have made
you a wise man my friend...

Your brother in Spirit ~Edward~


----- Original Message -----
From: Migepilar@...

Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 13:34:59 -0400
To: dancingbear@...

Subject: Re: CM ~ Critical Mass bike ride tomorrow!...

> Dear Brada ED, Mobilizing 30 bikers is good, 60 more better. But
to turn these politicians heads you must have hundreds and hundreds.
In San Francisco there's hundreds of bikers on there Critical Mass
Bike Rides.  There must be at least 1,000  bikes on Oahu. The same
can happen There.  Start with a "bring a friend" on a bike
day. Utilize the media, phone bank, bring the people out. Make it
popular, make it the "in thing" to do. "You
haven"t live until you experienced a Critical Mass Bike Ride. Be
there."  There I go again. I really hope you don't mind my
inputs. Easier said than done. More power to You. Your Bud, Mige



--
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My brother Migio~

I am forwarding this message from you, and the one previous, to my bicycle
brothers and sisters here on O'ahu ~ your suggestions are enlightening and are
received in the most appreciative sense ~ I will move forward on them,
guaranteed!...

Your years in recluse, at the monastary in the Bay area, have made you a wise
man my friend...

Your brother in Spirit ~Edward~


----- Original Message -----
From: Migepilar@...
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 13:34:59 -0400
To: dancingbear@...
Subject: Re: CM ~ Critical Mass bike ride tomorrow!...

> Dear Brada ED, Mobilizing 30 bikers is good, 60 more better. But to turn these
politicians heads you must have hundreds and hundreds. In San Francisco there's
hundreds of bikers on there Critical Mass Bike Rides.  There must be at least
1,000  bikes on Oahu. The same can happen There.  Start with a "bring a friend"
on a bike day. Utilize the media, phone bank, bring the people out. Make it
popular, make it the "in thing" to do. "You haven"t live until you experienced a
Critical Mass Bike Ride. Be there."  There I go again. I really hope you don't
mind my inputs. Easier said than done. More power to You. Your Bud, Mige

--
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John Wendell et al~

Last week I wrote an e-mail to Aaron Hebshi ("One Less Car", CM, & Chairperson UHMBC) ~ it was a simple acknowledgement of Aaron's good work in helping to make bicycling a safer, and more popular, endeavor here in Honolulu ~ and in that message I told Aaron that we must direct our energies to all three projects he listed, the Waialae Ave. bikeway, McCully St., and Young St. bikeways with Young St. being my focus ~ however, the number of unsafe (for bicycling) streets, highways, byways, and thoroughfares runs off the page (Kapahulu, Ala Wai, Ala Moana, Nimitz, Wilder, King St., Beretania, Kam Hwy. N. Shore, Kam Waianae, and on and on and on) ~ once again I question the logic and justness in knowing that Portland, Oregon is rated the #1 bike-friendly city in the country ~ here is a city that is underwater 1/2 the year whilst here in our own beloved Honolulu, we have sunny skies 365 daze a year! ~ what is up with this?!...

Actually, this is a rhetorical question I've posed 'cuz I know, and you know, the answer ~ Honolulu, and all of Hawai'i, is a "car culture", a car mentality ~ I anguish each time I see people jump in their car, right here in my 'hood of Manoa, and drive the 2 blocks to Safeway ~ I am troubled as I sit at a bus-stop, with my bicycle, and do my ongoing, perfunctory random-survey of clusters of 20 cars passing by and keep coming up with an average of 15 of those 20 with a single driver and no one else ~ I am saddened to see the streets becoming more and more log-jammed with cars, with nowhere really to drive, the sick-air, and the "road-rage" that keeps building ~ I am quite nervous to see more and more petite Asian mothers behind the wheels of new, gas-guzzlin' SUV's, barely able to see over the steering wheel, windows rolled-up, radio on, A/C blowin', one hand on the wheel an t'other holding a cell-phone to her ear as she blows by me on my bicycle, brushing my pant-leg as she pushes me and my bicycle into the gutter; and I chasing her down at the next stop-light to question her driver-awareness and she ignoring me ~ and I am stunned that the obesity rate here in Hawai'i has climbed to well over 38%, and that it could be curbed if people would simply leave their cars in the garage (just 2 days a week) and begin riding their bicycles and exercising more ~ damn, it's done in other cities in the world, and very successfully...

And so my message to Aaron, as it turned out, has stimulated alot of rhetoric ~ and by reading all of your views on Young St., I have rediscovered my voice ~ I particulary applaud Jim Carlson and John Wendell's very firm stance while at the same time appreciating John Goody's positive, yet somewhat adulatory posture  ~ and I am reminded of the Young St. Project meeting at the First Chinese Church of Chirst, and during the Q&A afterwards, the young dude in the very back, fit and healthy, a bicyclist asking innocenctly enough, why can't Young St. be a "dedicated" bikeway without any cars! ~ and I think back to 5 yrs. ago when I went into Jeremy Harris' office, with Cheryl Soon in attendance, and asked for the very same thing ~ and 5 yrs. later I see my Young St. vision having been compromised 100 times from its original conceptual design ~ how can I give up all of my own, and other's hard-work and effort, to turn Young St . into something uniquely special and different ~ how can I, we, ignore the wonderful, visionary work done by Tom Papandrew as he went door-to-door, up and down Young St., talking to residents and business owners, and as he drove up and down and filmed video and recorded "difficult" spots along this boulevard, and then went to the drawing board to conceive several different design plans to both beautify and to "calm" Young St. and make it a bicyclist's "safe-harbor" (all of them tossed aside)?!... 

The present design plan does nothing more than to give us some painted bike-lanes ~ no center-meridian, no calming devices at intersections, no one-way traffic, no "restricted usage" to residents and patrons of busnesses only (and certainly not as a car thoroughfare) ~ I want, and have always wanted, Young St. to be "bicyclists first and motorists second" ('cuz the damn motorists have got their Beretania and King Sts. with 4 & 5 wide-open lanes going one-way ~ the present design-plan does not bring-in my original vision of a "Greenway" with more trees and plants nor does it entertain the "burying" of overhead, eyesore, electrical and phone lines to returning Young St. to a people-friendly and family-neighborhood of earlier times...

John Wendell makes it very clear that this design plan is basically unsafe and is a travesty ~ I really don't want to "suck-up" to anyone any longer ~ I really want to have Young St. be a statement, a reminder that in 1897, the first "paved" roadways were a result of the outcry of bicyclists who were tired of falling into potholes and thrown by rocks and erosions in dirt roads ~ it was us who first claimed the smooth-running of our bicycle tires over a paved-highway and not the automobile! ~ it's very important to remember this and to reclaim our legacy and stop kowtowing to the "altar of the automobile" ~ this will take numbers and a collective voice from the community ~ I have been reminded that I don't want just a litle bit at first, "table-scraps" ~ I want the whole enchilada!...

Yi Ge Xin ~ Edward/ Mo'PoB (More People on Bikes) ~ One Less Car ~                

----- Original Message -----
From: "John P. Wendell"
Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 16:21:50 -1000
To: "'John Goody'" ,"'Devin Oihi'" ,"'Jeff McNeill'" ,"'Aaron Joseph Hebshi'"
Subject: RE: Making Honolulu bike-friendly ~ you are the Man...

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Huls" <dancingbear@...>
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 23:21:08 -0500
To:
hebshi@...,adoriakante@...,alexnberra@...,andywins@...\
r.com,"Ann Kobayashi"<akobayashi@...>,"Brian
Hann"<bhann@...>,b_madigan@...,"Bruce
Miller"<bmiller@...>,bunjamin@...,cwade@...,csayers@...\
lulu.hi.us,running_n_being@...,"Chuck
Priest"<dkr@...>,charles_rc@...,"Colleen
Knudsen"<cknudsen@...>,"Dancetta"<dancetta@...>,cheever\
hawaii@...,risingsonn@...,debbievegas@...,drt888@...,devin\
oishi@...,dmaupinsrf@...,dougthacker@...,dutcheroo@...,"Dwa\
yne"<ddb1965@...>,ecocomm@...,edecoursey@...,Thundrc\
lub@...,"Glenn Ohigashi"<ohigashi@...>,graygrisham@...
Subject: Critical Mass bike ride tomorrow, Friday the 30th!...

> Fellow velocipedists/anarchists~
>
> Tomorrow, Friday April 30th ~ please ride down and meet us on the steps of the
State Capitol Bldg. (Beretania St. side) @ 5:00 p. ~ it is the last Friday of
the month and we want to have this be the best-ever attendance of this new
year's CM's...
>
> We will hang-out 'til about 5:20 at which time we will rev-up our engines (our
Hearts and internal-organs) and head on out for a very easy, en masse ride,
claiming "our lane" as we meander thru downtown Honolulu, hook back and travel
Diamond head along either King or Young St., and then cut down thru Waik's
(either Kalakaua, McCully, or University/Date/Kapahulu), and finish at Kai'mana
Beach (Natatorium) ~ whilst there we will take-in the "rotational-closure of the
day" (Buckminster Fuller Compliance-BFC), and then lock-up our bikes and hele-on
in to the New Otani Kai'mana Beach Hotel for a round of (or several rounds of)
Kona Longboards and listen to the lyrical strummings of our very own Chris
Sayers who's been performing in the bar for the last several years on Friday and
Saturday nites ~ Chris is a much better guitar virtuoso than he is a
bicycle-racer (I know 'cuz I watched him, from behind, as he pulled-out,
somewhat laboriously, from our Bicycle/Breakfast yesterday m
  orning!) ~ Chris, your the Man!...
>
> Could be one of the highlights of your lives ~ why not show up for this CM! ~
squirt some Bull-Shot in your chain, pump-up your tires to the appropriate
p.s.i., and go down The Bike Shop and have Layne and Scott install a new bell on
your handle-bars (the best option I've got on my bike!)...
>
> Please Aaron and Duane, forward this to your e-mail lists ~ specifically
Aaron, the list of "newbies" we enrolled into our league of champions this past
"Earth Day", and who all said they would love to ride on this CM ~ and please
gimme' those names and e-maill addresses at tomorrow's CM so that I can add them
to my address list...
>
> Yours in the Spirit of Bicycling ~Edward/ Mo'PoB (More People on Bikes) ~ One
Less Car ~
> --
> ___________________________________________________________
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> http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm
>

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Duane~

Very cool ~ doing work out of passion, rather than for the paycheck, is a rare occurrence in these daze ~ I applaud you ~ this will make you more of a "road warrior"...

~Edward/ Mo'PoB~

----- Original Message -----
From: "Duane Browning"
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2004 04:19:32 -0000
To: hawaiibicyclists@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hawaiibicyclists] My First Week As A Bike Messenger...

Ever since I saw the movie "Quicksilver", I've been curious about
bike messengers. I never really thought about doing the job myself,
until recently.

I called Crosstown Couriers in January, asking about a job there and
spoke to Chris. At the time, they were short of riders and let me
know when to come in for an interview. I told him that my working
there would be dependant upon my current work schedule, as my
employer seemed about to start cutting my hours down to the bone. I
needed to make extra money to keep my bills paid, I enjoy bicycling,
and I wanted to have a job I liked, rather than just one that I
worked for the money. I wanted to have a job that I enjoyed, for a
change.

Well, my boss didnt cut my hours, he increased them! It seems all the
stuff I heard about hours getting cut was just a rumor. I called
Chris to let him know.

Weeks passed and I decided to to give Crosstown another shot. I have
plenty of hours at my job and make enough to live on, but I needed a
change. I wanted to have some fun, while still making some money. I
figured that Crosstown would be a good part-time job, after all.

I called Chris and went in for an interview on Thursday. We chatted
for a bit and then he sent me on my first delivery run. No short
trip, though. I was to make a pick-up in town and take the package
all the way to the airport! Not a bad workout.

Fighting traffic, potholes, stop signals and assorted other stuff may
not seem like the most fun you can have on your first day on the job,
but I really enjoyed the ride. I made a second delivery in the Kalihi
area, too.

When I got back, strangely enough, I was actually in a good mood from
it all. I can honestly say that I had a real good time on it. Sure,
it was difficult and I nearly lost it on some gravel a few times, but
it was the most fun I've had in a long time. I did the same run the
next day and it was still fun the second time around.

Chris told me they give that run to new riders too see how serious
they are about working there. If they come back to work the next day,
they'll probably last awhile.

I still have to learn the city better than I do, the shortest routes
to take from Point A to Point B, but Chris says I may good time on
the runs he's given me, so I guess I'm not doing too badly for my
first two days.

So, still much to learn, but its going pretty well, I think.
Eventually, I'll get more deliveries to make and I'll make more money.

So far, so good.



Please join and support the Hawai'i Bi cycling League.

You can visit their website at http://www.hbl.org

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Ever since I saw the movie "Quicksilver", I've been curious about
bike messengers. I never really thought about doing the job myself,
until recently.

I called Crosstown Couriers in January, asking about a job there and
spoke to Chris. At the time, they were short of riders and let me
know when to come in for an interview. I told him that my working
there would be dependant upon my current work schedule, as my
employer seemed about to start cutting my hours down to the bone. I
needed to make extra money to keep my bills paid, I enjoy bicycling,
and I wanted to have a job I liked, rather than just one that I
worked for the money. I wanted to have a job that I enjoyed, for a
change.

Well, my boss didnt cut my hours, he increased them! It seems all the
stuff I heard about hours getting cut was just a rumor. I called
Chris to let him know.

Weeks passed and I decided to to give Crosstown another shot. I have
plenty of hours at my job and make enough to live on, but I needed a
change. I wanted to have some fun, while still making some money. I
figured that Crosstown would be a good part-time job, after all.

I called Chris and went in for an interview on Thursday. We chatted
for a bit and then he sent me on my first delivery run. No short
trip, though. I was to make a pick-up in town and take the package
all the way to the airport! Not a bad workout.

Fighting traffic, potholes, stop signals and assorted other stuff may
not seem like the most fun you can have on your first day on the job,
but I really enjoyed the ride. I made a second delivery in the Kalihi
area, too.

When I got back, strangely enough, I was actually in a good mood from
it all. I can honestly say that I had a real good time on it. Sure,
it was difficult and I nearly lost it on some gravel a few times, but
it was the most fun I've had in a long time. I did the same run the
next day and it was still fun the second time around.

Chris told me they give that run to new riders too see how serious
they are about working there. If they come back to work the next day,
they'll probably last awhile.

I still have to learn the city better than I do, the shortest routes
to take from Point A to Point B, but Chris says I may good time on
the runs he's given me, so I guess I'm not doing too badly for my
first two days.

So, still much to learn, but its going pretty well, I think.
Eventually, I'll get more deliveries to make and I'll make more money.

So far, so good.

Well, that problem has been mostly corected. On the other side of Ala
Moana, going toward Waikiki, the road is littered with potholes.

The problem begins from the Downtown area and continues to Atkinson
Drive. Nasty riding.


--- In hawaiibicyclists@yahoogroups.com, "The Phantom" <ddb1965@y...>
wrote:
> Riding along Ala Moana Blvd, coming out of Waikiki, I crossed the
Ala
> Wai and found lots of loose gravel on the road. It continues until
> the Atkinson intersection.
>
> Be careful.

It has happened to many of us: we lock-up our bike, go do something
and come back to find one, or both, of our wheels have been stolen
from our bike.

Mostly, this is due to the rather common practise of locking our bike
frame to the bikerack, while negelcting to properly secure the
wheels. I think many of us have seen the remains of a bicycle locked
to a bikerack, with both tires stolen

Often we are faced with some choices if we want to avoid this:

1) remove the front wheel and thread the Kryptonite U-lock through
the front and rear wheels to secure it to the bikerack, while making
sure to thread the U-Lock through a part of the frame. This is a
common solution.

2) rely on a coil lock to thread through both wheels and the frame to
secure it. Coil locks - even the Kryptonite coil lock - are not as
strong as a U-lock. They can be cut rather easily. The Kryptonite
coil lock simply takes a little longer. If you leave your bike for
extended periods of time a potential bike thief will have a better
chance to steal your bike and/or wheels.

3) Remove the front wheel, secure the rear wheel and frame to the
bikerack and carry your front wheel with you. A bit of an
inconvenience, but better than having to carry your bike home, minus
the front wheel.

4) Carry two U-Locks, one for each wheel. U-locks, while the best
protection around, are heavy. Carrying two adds more weight to
whatever it is you're carrying, already.

During a recent visit to the Bikefactory, I discovered a new option,
but it only works for bicycles with the Quick Release wheels: the
Kryptonite Spindle Lock System. It comes in a set of three spindles,
one to replace each of the Quick Release spindle on each of your
wheels and one to replace the Quick Release on your seatpost, if you
have that kind of seat on your bike.

Simply remove your Quick Release spindles and install the Kryptonite
spindles, tightening them with the special key that comes with the
set. Kryptonite claims that the only way to remove a properly
installed wheel from the frame is with the key. You cant do it by
hand or with a regular wrench. So, you need only to carry one U-Lock
to secure the bike to the bikerack, since neither wheel can be
removed without the spindle key, which only you will have.

Even if, somehow, your whole bike gets stolen, the thief wont be able
to ride it after the first time either tire gets a flat due to a
puncture, since they wont be able to change the tube. They wont be
able to take the tire off the frame since they wont have the key.
They will have to cut the rim off the bike to remove it.

If you want to check it out for yourself, go to the Bikefactory on
Ala Moana Blvd and ask the staff about it. Unfortunately, the Bike
Shop doesnt stock them and I dont know who else does.

I installed the Krypto-spindles and have had no problems. The wheels
spin as well as they did before I installed them.

You may never have to deal with a stolen wheel again.

Riding along Ala Moana Blvd, coming out of Waikiki, I crossed the Ala
Wai and found lots of loose gravel on the road. It continues until
the Atkinson intersection.

Be careful.

I received this message from Critical Mass and I will up[date our
calendar accordingly.

Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 23:52:00 -0000
From: "ajhebshi" <ajhebshi@...>
To: "The Phantom" <ddb1965@...>
Subject: Re: Apologies to All Members, (re: Critical Mass)


Critical Mass is alive and well!  My name is Aaron Hebshi, I am one
of the coordinators of our monthly ride.  Last year, CM changed times
and locations, but we've been having great rides since last February
or so.  Come join us the last Friday of every month (I think we're
rained out today, though).  Meet 5pm at the State Capitol on
Beretania - we ride at 5:15.

Aaron

Apparently, Critical Mass rides are no longer occurring anymore.

I listed the events acting on the best information I had at the time,
which today I discovered was inaccurate.

I wanted to let everyone know this and to extend my sincere apologies
for passing on inaccurate information. I promise to be more careful
in the future.

I did a little research, using the book "Mountain Biking the Hawaiian
Islands (Second Edition)" by John Alford.

There are no mountain bike rides of the length you described, the
longest is about 10 miles.

There are numerous trails, though.

You can contact the following bike clubs on Kauai:

Kauai Bicycling Association
3215 Kuhio Highway #7
Lihu'e, HI 96766

Kauai Bicycle Club
5052 Kuhio Highway
Hanalei, HI 96714

From another YahooGroup for bicyclists in Hawaii. (Post edited)

An Oahu consulting company has been hired to work on a "circulation
plan" for Puna, and there's some kind of citizens' advisory committee
also, chaired by Bonnie Goddell I think.

It is crucial that cyclists and pedestrians get involved in this
committee and process and incessantly insist that cyclist and
pedestrian access, rights-of-way, safety and related issues are
integrated into the design.

If anyone has more info on the who/where/how to participate for this
committee please post it!

mahalo,
John S.

Got this from another YahooGroup for bicyclists in Hawaii:

Aloha,

I am visiting Kauai next month and am looking for information on
good rides and even bicycle clubs that have regular rides that I
could join.  I am looking for 30-70mi rides. It seems strange to me
that there aren't a lot of whole lot of bicycle riders in Hawaii or
available information about routes because Hawaii has a great
climate and terrain for riding.

Mahalo,

Alan

View the updated calendar of HBL events at this link.

http://www.hbl.org/calendar.html

I attended the meeting yesterday, though I arrived a bit late,
getting there at about 6pm.

The meeting was well-attended by people on both sides of the issue
and I think a lot of good points were made.

It was brought-out that the City still needs to do more research on
the impact that their current plan would have as well as finding
alternative parking for people who currently use Young Street.

It was stated by some one who opposed the bikeway that, since so few
bicyclists use Young Street now, there is no need for a bikeway. Lack
of use showing lack of need. What I feel this person missed was that,
if there was a bikeway on Young Street, bicyclists would be more
likely to use Young Street and you will see fewer bikes on South King
and Beretania. Those other streets are crowded with cars and trucks
and not the best places to ride your bike.

This morning, I decided to try Young Street for myself, to see if it
was a better alternative route for me to use on my way home, instead
of my usual path on Kapiolani. I was pleasantly saurprised to find
out that, even without a bikepath, Young Street is the best way for
me to travel from the Ala Moana area back into Waikiki. With a
bikepath, I sincerely believe that you will see more bicycles on
Young Street than use it now.

Another point that was brought-up was that the residents and business
owners on Young Street have many other concerns, beyond the bikeway
being proposed, including crime, water drainage, lighting, etc. I got
the feeling that many feel ignored by the City government.

Once a bikepath is established, the residents will have another group
of people on their side: bicycle riders. If we begin to use Young
Street as a regular bikeway, then we will also have a stake in the
well-being of the area. We can add our voice to theirs to have
improvements done for that area. I doubt many people who drive their
cars and motorcycles through Young Street spend a great deal of time
worrying about it. What's good for Young Street will become, with a
bikepath, what is good for bicycle riders. It will be in the best
interests of bicyclists to work for the good of Young Street.

Just thought I'd share my views.

If you want to have a look at the current Bike Plan Hawai'i, go to
this link
http://www.state.hi.us/dot/highways/bike/bikeplan/index.htm
you will need Adobe Acrobat to view it, though, since it is on a pdf.
file.

Due to the constuction of the new Wal-Mart, the portion of Keeaumoku
Street on that side is very dangerous for bike-riding.

The portion going in the opposite direction - from Kapiolani to South
King - isnt nearly as bad.

The section going in the direction from Rycroft to Kapiolani has
numerous problems, including metal plates on the road and lots of
loose gravel, especially the section by Makaloa intersection.

Be careful when using this street, especially at night and/or in
rainy conditions.

Unfortunately, I dont see the problem clearing-up until the
construction is completed.

I sent letters to the Advertiser, Star-Bulletin and the Weekly last
week. Only the Advertiser ran the letter, though. I'm hoping the
other will publish it and we can get more membership.

I also let the Hawai'i Bicycling League (HBL) about the group and
they were happy about its founding and will publish an advertisement
for it in their newsletter.

Basiclly, this Group was started so that bicyclists can have a place
to share info about bicycling in Hawai'i. However it relates to
bicycling, that's what its here for.

If you know a stretch of road where the conditions are unsafe for
bicycling, let us know. HBL will be involved in the Group sometime
next week and I will forward all information about unsafe roads to
them until they pick-up a membership here themselves. You can also
report road hazards directly to the HBL through their website.

If you know a good place for bike trail riding, please share the
info. Maybe we can start organising some bike events through the
Group.

As for future plans, I'll let some of the bike shops in town know
about the Group, if they dont already. Bike shop occasionally have
events of the own and it would be nice to have a place where all
these events can be listed.

The worst thing about buying a bicycle, or any other vehicle, is that
you constantly have to worry about it being stolen.

Myth: "My bike is old and ugly. No one will want to steal it."
Reality: Any bike that is capable of being ridden is a target of
potential thieves. They will either ride the bike themselves, sell it
to some one else, strip it for parts or just joyride for a while
before they discard it somewhere. At my old apartment building, we
used to constantly find old bikes that had simply been discarded.

Myth: "Locks aren't all that important. I save a bunch of money by
just using a padlock and a chain from the hardware store."
Reality: Actually, those are the easiest kinds of locks for thieves
to cut. Some thieves actually do carry bolt cutters around, looking
for a bike locked with a simple chain or cheap coil-type lock. It
only takes a few seconds to snip through them and steal a bike.

Myth: "Bike thieves aren't organised, the way car thieves are."
Reality: Some are just punks who steal bikes, others do have an
organisation among themselves. There are bike "chop shops" where
stolen bikes are stipped for parts, repainted and sold. Typically, a
bike chop shop is run out of some one's home, since they don't need
as much space or equipment as a car chop shop does. The ones I've
heard about are often connected with drug dealers.

Myth: "I don't need to register my bike. If it gets stolen, I'll
never get it back anyway, so what's the point?"
Reality: There is always a chance, however slim, that you will get it
back. If the thief is riding it themselves or sold it to some one who
is riding it, or if the bike was discarded and found, the police can
run a check on the bike's serial number and they will discover who
the real owner is. If you don't register the bike, the police will
have no way to find-out who you are. You have nothing to lose by
registering your bicycle.

Myth: "Any lock can be cut, given enough time, so why bother?"
Reality: A thief relies on various things to steal a bike, or
anything else. One of these things is: time. If they have enough time
to steal you bike, they will. If you buy a Kryponite lock, the sturdy
construction of the lock will prevent most thefts, since they are so
difficult to cut. A thief would rather steal something that can be
stolen quickly, rather than expend the amount of time it will take to
cut a Kryptonite lock. I recommend either the U-Lock or the various
New York chains that they produce. There is even an insurance policy
where Kryptonite will pay you money if some one does defeat their
lock. Go to this link to view their products
http://www.kryptonitelock.com

Young Street bikeway makes sense for all

The lack of bicycle lanes in Honolulu and Waikiki makes biking around
an unattractive prospect. For the brave few, the approach is usually
to go fast and wear a helmet. Motorists are unhappy because
bicyclists are integrated with traffic (it is illegal to bike on
sidewalks), and cyclists are unhappy because it is very unsafe. This
is why the Young Street bikeway is a great idea.

While the current plan would retain 90 percent of the street parking,
it would create a safe corridor for bikes and cars together, while
cooling it down with green trees and enhancing the experience for
pedestrians. Cyclists would have dedicated lanes free of opening car
door hazards. More walk-in traffic would be generated for Young
Street businesses, and it would be a tremendous improvement to the
existing street and sidewalk conditions.

It is up to the City Council to approve funding for the bikeway this
March. It is time for Honolulu to actualize progress toward a healthy
alternative to car dependence. If you support the Young Street
bikeway, please contact your City Council member and ask that the
Young Street park boulevard plan be fully funded this year.

Naomi Arcand
Palolo
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jan/26/op/op03aletters.
html

EDITORIAL
Never mind the beef; worry about driving


As we fret over the increasingly remote chance of an outbreak of mad
cow disease in the Islands, let's not overlook Hawai'i's most
formidable killer: the misuse of cars on our public streets and
highways.

The number of registered cars in Hawai'i has crept up to the 1
million mark. That's more than one vehicle for each of the state's
814,668 licensed drivers.

The only good news here is that if a person has two or more cars, he
can't possibly have them all on the road at the same time. Still,
that's a lot of automobiles for one state.

And that's where discussion about all these cars usually centers: on
congestion. How in the world are we going to fit all those vehicles
on the road?

But there's another issue that is perhaps even more important:
safety. While the growing number of cars is alarming from an
environmental and traffic perspective, it is also alarming for the
way those cars are being used.

In 2003, O'ahu saw a 19 percent increase in traffic fatalities, with
81 deaths compared with 68 in 2002.

Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in at least half the
fatal crashes. So you see, it's not the beef we should be worrying
about, it's the inebriated speed demons.

Which brings us back to the subject of transportation alternatives,
an issue that we have to address unless we want to turn Honolulu into
Los Angeles.

There are long-term dreams about a new high-speed commuter rail
linking suburban West O'ahu with downtown. But that's a long way off.

Short term, the city is beefing up its Bus Rapid Transit system,
which should bring some relief to bus commuters but which might even
add to congestion in the short term as the buses chew up scarce lanes
on city streets.

But why argue about cars and buses at all? The O'ahu Sierra Club has
its eyes on another option: bikes. On the list of the club's New
Year's resolutions for Mayor Jeremy Harris and the City Council is a
request to provide money for a dedicated bikeway through urban
Honolulu.

For years, promises to increase Honolulu's bike-ability have been
made but not kept.

Though we doubt bicycles are a sustainable alternative to motorized
transit, they can make at least a small dent in congestion if we
create grade-separated bike lanes.

And so we join the Sierra Club in asking the city to commit to a
Young Street Bikeway that would dedicate a 1.7-mile bicycle lane from
Isenberg Street to Thomas Square.

Of course, we expect cyclists to observe the rules of the road and
ride safely. But let's face it. How often do you hear that five
people were killed in a wreck caused by inebriated, speeding cyclists?

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jan/05/op/op01a.html

If you've wondered what happened to the auctions the Honolulu Police
Department had where they auctioned-off all the impounded bicycles
and mopeds they'd accumulated, here's an update.

It seems that a number of police departments: LAPD, NYPD and HPD,
among others, have decided to move their auctions to the Internet.

You can browse through the items available at this website
http://www.propertybureau.com

I created this Group to serve the bicycling community of Hawaii.

It is not my desire to have this board compete, in any way
whatsoever, with the Hawaii Bicycling League. I encourage all members
to join this organisation and I hope the HBL will use this board to
post their own announcements. You may visit their website here
http://www.hbl.org/

Bike shops in Hawaii may also post announcements regarding their
businesses: store hours, locations, sales, etc.