Image from Biki Hawaii Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GoBikiHI/
If you are vacationing to Honolulu or currently live there, a new bike share service is in town and about to flood the streets. If you aren't familiar with the horrendous traffic that makes up Honolulu's streets...its terrible. Depending on the situation, you could probably walk faster to your destination, but probably arrive dripping in sweat. Or maybe traffic is good. Why would that be? Because all the cars are off the road and parked somewhere. Most times right where you are looking for a stall. And as a tourist, we all know how expensive car rentals can be. So its nice to have options to turn to so you can avoid all of that mess.
Enter the Biki bike sharing service. Biki is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that looks to provide an alternative to the mess of driving a car in a densely populated city.
Image from Biki Hawaii Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GoBikiHI/
Depending on your situation, the pricing plan looks like it would allow you to save money and possibly not require a car.
Image from Biki Hawaii Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GoBikiHI/
The stations have been rapidly popping up all over town and looks to be distributed evenly throughout the Honolulu metro area.
This may increase ridership use of the relatively new bike lane put in by the city and convert more people over to bicycles.
http://www.honolulu.gov/bicycle/bicyclefacilities/bicycle-projects/821-site-dts-cat/site-dts-bicycle-program-cat/22456-king-street-cycle-track-2.html
Issues/Concerns:
While all of this sounds great, its not without its share of issues and concerns. The rental stations occupies very valuable street parking which would slightly add to the already large problem. One of the stations are located in front of a bike rental service which understandably may negatively impact their business. A safety issue was also mentioned where riders will be in the roadway when accessing the bikes. A concern about longevity of the equipment is another concern. There are many homeless in the downtown area that may steal or at least damage these bikes and the station equipment. Only time will tell how these issues will pan out.
http://khon2.com/2017/06/15/city-responds-to-critics-as-new-bike-sharing-program-gears-up-for-launch/
Image from Biki Hawaii Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GoBikiHI/
Let me know what you think!