Cyclists Ride with Rep. Ilagan for Bike Safety Advocacy

On Saturday, November 2, members of the cycling community joined State Representative Greggor Ilagan (District 4, Lower Puna) in a group ride to advocate for safer bike routes on the island of Hawaiʻi. The ride, hosted by Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute (HIPHI), was a way to demonstrate that Route 130, from Keaʻau to Pāhoa, is used regularly by cyclists for recreation and commuting purposes despite safety concerns.

Twenty-one cyclists across the island convened at the Herbert Shipman Park in Keaʻau to begin the nearly 22-mile round-trip journey to the Billy Kenoi Park in Pāhoa. After being welcomed by Rep. Ilagan, the participants were reminded of bike safety procedures by Franz Weber, spokesperson for PATH (People for Active Transportation Hawaiʻi) spokesperson and Hawaiʻi Cycling Club member. The participants had varying experiences with the route, from having never ridden on the road to using it regularly. Venturing out under cloudy skies, the group headed through the town of Keaʻau onto Route 130 for the ride to Pāhoa.

Upon arriving at Billy Kenoi Park, participants noted having an overall positive experience due to the comfortable pace, broad shoulder areas, and gracious motorists. After a brief rest, the group engaged in a Road Audit, providing feedback on what they appreciated about the route’s infrastructure and what they thought could be improved. Many commented on needing more landscape maintenance and consistent, straightforward signage. Others appreciated the road strip’s visibility, stating that it made them feel safer during the ride. Additional discussion points included needing an alternate route through the area, creating standardized road plans, and implementing a Complete Streets Policy here in Hawaiʻi County. Some participants noted that bike lanes double as pedestrian paths, making a Complete Streets approach beneficial for everyone’s safety.

The weather cleared up for the return trip to Keaʻau, with participants returning safely at the starting point. Participants experienced more safety issues riding the reverse side of the highway. They noted more debris on the north route versus the south route, mostly likely due to the proximity of the Refuse Transfer Station. Also discussed were the newly installed delineators that obstructed the bike lane at Paradise Road and Shower Lane and the narrow bike lane around the roundabouts. Another issue was the need to turn left into Keaʻau from the highway. Instead of crossing two lanes of high-speed traffic to access the left turn lane, the group opted to use the pedestrian crosswalk to navigate the road safely.

All the participants appreciated the opportunity to join Rep. Ilagan in generating awareness of the need for improved safety measures along Route 130. They expressed the desire for future rides to highlight other island communities that need enhanced safety for cyclists and pedestrians. HIPHI will continue to support Rep. Ilagan in the efforts to advocate for change both here, on Hawaiʻi Island, and statewide with work during the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session. This event is the start of many conversations. Rep. Ilagan and I are grateful for the community members who participated and for the community partners, including PATH, Hilo Bayfront Trails, Hawai‘i Cycling Club, Mid-Pacific Wheels, the County of Hawai‘i Planning Department, and HIPHI’s Community Health Worker Liaison Program Manager, Rosilyn Filemoni, for supporting this group ride for Bike Safety Advocacy. Until next time, walk and bike safely!