STAND. COM. REP. NO.  244

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1823

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1823 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety, especially for children, by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a bicycle and pedestrian safety program within the Department of Transportation (DOT); and

 

     (2)  Forming an advisory committee with DOT to study ways to adopt and implement the Safe Routes To School Program in Hawaii.

 

     Ke Ala Hele Makalae, Hawaii Bicycling League, Maui Bicycle Alliance, and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill.  DOT and the Department of Health supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Sadly, Hawaii has one of the highest number of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities in the nation.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Traffic Safety Fact 2004 Data for Pedalcyclists, Hawaii has more than twice the national average fatality rate for bicyclists.  Pedestrian fatality rates in Hawaii are also twice the national average.  By establishing a bicycle and pedestrian safety program for all of Hawaii's residents and forming an advisory committee to implement the Safe Routes To School Program, senseless tragedies may be avoided.

 

     Although your Committee understands that DOT is currently working to implement the Safe Routes To School Program and that DOT may not be the most suitable department to establish an education program, the importance of this matter warrants further discussion.

 

     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. 1823 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair