STAND. COM. REP. NO.  117-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2760

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2760 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote traffic safety by:

     (1)  Restricting the use of vehicles on bicycle paths and bicycle lanes to mopeds and bicycles;

     (2)  Specifying that, where bicycle lanes are provided, mopeds shall use a bicycle lane and not a bicycle path; and

     (3)  Requiring signs clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person indicating that mopeds are prohibited on bicycle paths to be placed along bicycle paths.

The Chair of the Maui County Council, Vice Chair of the Maui County Council, several members of the Maui County Council, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Transportation, Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Maui Bicycle Alliance, and concerned individual testified in support of the intent of this measure.  Kauai Path, Inc., and several concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  A concerned individual provided comments.

     Currently, mopeds are allowed to operate on bicycle paths unless a bicycle lane is provided on a roadway.  This causes a dangerous situation for bicyclists and pedestrians using bicycle paths.  Moreover, as mopeds can reach up to speeds of thirty-five miles per hour or more, your Committee finds that allowing these motorized vehicles to use even bicycle lanes can be dangerous for bicyclists as well.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Prohibiting the use of mopeds on both bicycle lanes and bicycle paths; and

     (2)  Requiring signs clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person indicating that mopeds are prohibited on bicycle lanes to be placed along bicycle lanes.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2760, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2760, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair