HONOLULU (AP) - Honolulu councilmembers are proposing measures to require the city to find parking alternatives for the spaces lost with the construction of bicycle lanes.
So far, 184 on-street parking spaces have been removed as bikes lanes fill the spots in the city’s urban core. Another 70 spaces are expected to be gone by early next year as the city’s bike grid expands, Hawaii News Now reported Monday.
Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga has proposed a measure that would require the city to provide parking options where the spaces are being replaced with lanes.
Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi’s proposal would halt construction of the bike lane on Pensacola Street until a parking option is provided.
The city has planned to build a two-way bike lane on Pensacola Street, resulting in the elimination of metered parking next to Raintree Bakery and Coffeehouse.
Bakery owner Jerry Hardee is concerned that the lack of parking spots would drastically hurt his business and others.
“All of these businesses are going to go under. There is no way we can survive,” Hardee said. “The fact that we had no voice in this, I did not think that this was right.”
Hardee brought his concerns to a neighborhood board and to the attention of councilmembers.
The council is expected to consider the proposals later this month.
Jeconiah Kelley, general manager of Auntie Pasto’s, said he thinks the proposals are fair. He said that if the city is going to continue the bike lanes, then officials should meet business owners halfway by fixing the lack of parking.
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Information from: KGMB-TV, http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/
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