STAND. COM. REP. NO.  38-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2229

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2229 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOPEDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase highway safety by:

     (1)  Requiring moped drivers to use bicycle lanes on roadways      with a speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour;

     (2)  Allowing moped drivers to use bicycle lanes on roadways        with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less; and

     (3)  Prohibiting the operation of a moped at a speed greater        than the posted speed limit for the roadway if the            posted speed limit is less than 35 miles per hour.

     The Department of Transportation testified in opposition to this bill.

     Mopeds often travel at speeds slower than normal traffic, especially on highways where the speed limit may exceed 35 miles per hour.  Requiring mopeds to travel in bike lanes on roads with a speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour and allowing mopeds to use bike lanes on other roadways will result in safer driving conditions for both cars and mopeds.

     Prohibiting the operation of mopeds at speeds greater than the posted speed limit if it is less than 35 miles per hour will also promote traffic safety.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2229 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair