STAND. COM. REP. NO.  282

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 65

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 65 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SIDEWALKS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance safety on the sidewalks of downtown Honolulu by:

 

(1)  Establishing the Downtown Honolulu Business District; and

 

(2)  Prohibiting the use of bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and other similar devices on sidewalks within the Downtown Honolulu Business District except for law enforcement purposes.

 

     The Downtown Neighborhood Board No. 13 testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Transportation, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and Segway, Inc., testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     The Downtown Honolulu area is a unique place and one of the older neighborhoods on Oahu. Along with residential areas, Downtown Honolulu is also home to numerous businesses and shops.  Residents and shoppers, combined with a daily workforce and visitors, all make for a congested situation on already narrow sidewalks.  Allowing bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and other similar devices on sidewalks with these dense walking conditions is a safety issue for pedestrians, as well as the riders of these devices.  This bill addresses this issue.

 

     However, your Committee notes that persons with disabilities often must use motorized devices, such as motorized wheelchairs, to commute around the Downtown Honolulu area.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by providing an exception for electric personal assistive mobility devices used by disabled persons.

 

     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. 65, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 65, 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