Haleakala downhill bike riding halted

[Miulang]

I am very very relieved that there is a moratorium on downhill bike tours (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/03/br/br5648730219.html)on Haleakala after the 3rd fatality last week.

Personally, I can think of better ways to spend the nearly $100 it costs for one of these trips that are way less dangerous. For years, these tours have tied up traffic on the 2-lane road that runs through Haleakala National Park (and that my grandpa helped build in the 1930's). Going up to view the sunrise at the top of the crater is now a test of endurance because there are so many people crowded into a small area.

Tip for people who want to visit Haleakala: don't wake up at 2:30 a.m. (if you're staying in Lahaina) just so you can make it to the top by 4:30 or 5 to see the sunrise. Go in the middle of day when there's no traffic and see the sunset. It's just as spectacular, and you won't have to deal with the busloads and vanloads of other people.

Miulang

[LikaNui]

I am very very relieved that there is a moratorium on downhill bike tours (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/03/br/br5648730219.html)on Haleakala HOORAY!!! That's long overdue, and I actually hope they make it a permanent ban.

[Composite 2992]

Instead of banning it, make a simple requirement:

You can only ride down if you pedaled up!

[helen]

Or have seperate path for the bicycles.

[Miulang]

Or have seperate path for the bicycles.
That'd be an engineering feat...a lot of that winding road has no place on the sides of the road for a car to even pull over, so a bike trail would be tough to build. The moratorium stops the downhill bike tours, but I don't think it stops individual bicyclists from making that same trip (but it does put them at very dire peril because they don't have any chase vans following them if they get in trouble).

Miulang

[lavagal]

We were there last month and we went up at about 8:30 a.m. It was great, nearly deserted and most of the bikes had already gone down by then. Sunset sounds like an EXCELLENT idea!

But yes, it's quite frightening. I wouldn't do it. When we were there, we saw lots of competitive riders training, mostly going up from as far as Kahului. Now those guys I wouldn't sweat. Even my husband would like to do it (he rides). Frankly, I can't rest when he's out riding. It's dangerous even for the best of riders, let alone these once-in-a-life-time vacationers. I like surfing down a wave, and even that can hurt sometimes. Who needs road rash or worse?

[oggboy]

"ABOUT TIME", the amount of bikes coming downhill is just too much after sunrise. There is no limit to bike tours on Haleakala and accidents and death was bound to happen. Amazing how many tour vans (bikes) are up there every morning. I`m sure alot of Up-country folks stay happy now!:D

[acousticlady]

Yaaayyyy! Personally, I have never had any desire to see sunrise from anywhere, let alone someplace that takes several hours to get to. But I know those bikes have caused all kinds of issues - not to mention the danger. Never could understand the draw of that.

[LikaNui]

In those deadly accidents, the people I pity are the innocent drivers heading up Haleakala who have zero responsibility for some idiot bicyclist swerving in front of them and getting hit. Those innocent drivers have to live the rest of their lives knowing they killed someone.
The fact that it wasn't their fault is almost zero consolation to them.
How sad.
:(

[hawaiiguy]

I have been on the downhill bike rides in 1984 (Cruiser Bob Downhill tours) with my older brother and in the early 1990s (forgot the firm's name) with my wife---both times with very good supervision (as they always would tell us 'safety first') with radio equipped front leader and rear van support. They will communicate and tell the riders when to pull over so that vehicles could pass without any problems---there were several places to do so safely.

Back then (don't know about now), the bikes were single speed cruiser bikes with heavy-duty brakes.

I'm kind of sorry that they will be banning the rides coming down--it was a GREAT experience---even for the healthy persons who hardly rode bicycles (like my brother and my wife)!

[jkpescador]

HG that was when there was probably one company doing the tours. Now there are several companies doing the tours. It's a pain in the ass going up to Haleakala and back down in a car now.

I don't think there was much pedaling involved in going downhill was there. :)

[oggboy]

I have been on the downhill bike rides in 1984 (Cruiser Bob Downhill tours) with my older brother and in the early 1990s (forgot the firm's name) with my wife---both times with very good supervision (as they always would tell us 'safety first') with radio equipped front leader and rear van support. They will communicate and tell the riders when to pull over so that vehicles could pass without any problems---there were several places to do so safely.

Back then (don't know about now), the bikes were single speed cruiser bikes with heavy-duty brakes.

I'm kind of sorry that they will be banning the rides coming down--it was a GREAT experience---even for the healthy persons who hardly rode bicycles (like my brother and my wife)!
Bike tours have gotten out of hand. I went to the sunrise with my friends about a year ago. Too many bike tour companies all around the area. I mean I couldn`t believe how much companies had. The amount of tour companies up their unbelieveable.

[Miulang]

HG that was when there was probably one company doing the tours. Now there are several companies doing the tours. It's a pain in the ass going up to Haleakala and back down in a car now.

I don't think there was much pedaling involved in going downhill was there. :)
Try 7 bike tour companies, plus the individual bikers who travel on their own down that road. Two of the companies are also licensed to carry non-biking passengers, so they will still be able to take tourists up Haleakala to see the sunrise. The other 5 are SOL unless they sue the National Parks, because their licenses are being terminated as of Oct. 10.

Miulang

[GeckoGeek]

Aw. That sounded like something fun to do. Hope they get things worked out. But I can understand how it could have gotten out of hand and mess.

Seems to be a problem we have in Hawaii. If it's good, it gets overcrowded.

[oggboy]

Got some info from sunrise tour drivers. Seem the bike companies are trying to set up a deal in which the sunrise tour company would take their people up to the summit for sunrise. After sunrise take them down to the 7000 ft. elavation where they would begin there bike tour, since the bike tours are banned from the Nat`l Park. Will keep you posted if any more info becomes avail. OGGBOY

[Miulang]

Got some info from sunrise tour drivers. Seem the bike companies are trying to set up a deal in which the sunrise tour company would take their people up to the summit for sunrise. After sunrise take them down to the 7000 ft. elavation where they would begin there bike tour, since the bike tours are banned from the Nat`l Park. Will keep you posted if any more info becomes avail. OGGBOY
Wouldn't that be around Hosmer Grove? I think Hosmer Grove is right outside the Park boundary and would make an OK place for a lot of cars/people to be dropped off. I don't think that solves all of the bike/nuisance problem, though it probably will cut down on the number of injuries to neophyte bike riders. If I remember correctly, the route they use when they get to the junction of Halekala Hwy and Upper Kula Rd is they take Upper Kula Rd all the way down to almost Pukalani and then go on Olinda Rd all the way down to Baldwin Ave. and end up in Paia. There are a lot of houses on the lower part of the stretch between Hosmer Grove and the Upper Kula Rd. junction and there are no bike paths on that part of the road, so I think local residents are still going to be complaining about riders hogging the road. There is a bike path now on Baldwin Ave up by Rainbow Gardens so that part is safer.

I read in today's Maui News that one bike company was shutting down for the time being and laid off 17 employees and another one was going to concentrate on bike tours going the other way towards Keokea, down to Tedeschi Vineyards. That route would be more scenic than coming down Olinda Rd. to me, and there's free wine tasting at the end of the rainbow!:D

Miulang

[dick]

Wouldn't that be around Hosmer Grove? I think Hosmer Grove is right outside the Park boundary and would make an OK place for a lot of cars/people to be dropped off.

Miulang

Hosmer Grove (at least the entrance anyway) is inside the park.

[oggboy]

Alot more problems if the bike tours end up traveling from the winery back to Pukalani. Kula Hiway with all those bikes:eek: I don`t think so!!!

[Miulang]

Alot more problems if the bike tours end up traveling from the winery back to Pukalani. Kula Hiway with all those bikes:eek: I don`t think so!!!
They wouldn't have to go through Pukalani, though. From Keokea, just go on Lower Kula Rd. until the Pukalani junction (by the high school), then down to Makawao Rd., go through Makawao (stop and have a Komoda cream puff) and then connect to Baldwin Ave. just like before. At least Lower Kula Rd. has wide shoulders on the side of the road (I've seen lots of bikes on Lower Kula Rd). I know lots of locals from Upcountry take Makawao Rd. down to Paia in order to avoid the craziness that Haleakala Hwy is with its stupid and dangerous reversible lanes during rush hour, but Paia is such a mess anyway now at that Baldwin Ave. intersection (even with the Paia bypass) so that would force the Upcountry guys back on the main highway, which at least has 2 lanes going both ways. Of course, if those bike tourists taste too much wine, maybe they shouldn't be on the road anyway!

Miulang

[dick]

Alot more problems if the bike tours end up traveling from the winery back to Pukalani. Kula Hiway with all those bikes:eek: I don`t think so!!!

I doubt the tours would make the bicyclists ride back from the winery -- too many uphill sections.

They wouldn't have to go through Pukalani, though. From Keokea, just go on Lower Kula Rd. until the Pukalani junction (by the high school), then down to Makawao Rd., go through Makawao (stop and have a Komoda cream puff) and then connect to Baldwin Ave. just like before. At least Lower Kula Rd. has wide shoulders on the side of the road (I've seen lots of bikes on Lower Kula Rd). I know lots of locals from Upcountry take Makawao Rd. down to Paia in order to avoid the craziness that Haleakala Hwy is with its stupid and dangerous reversible lanes during rush hour, but Paia is such a mess anyway now at that Baldwin Ave. intersection (even with the Paia bypass) so that would force the Upcountry guys back on the main highway, which at least has 2 lanes going both ways. Of course, if those bike tourists taste too much wine, maybe they shouldn't be on the road anyway!

Miulang

Lower Kula Rd. doesn't reach the junction of Haleakala Hwy, Kula Hwy and Old Haleakala Hwy. The last part ends near Kula 200. And it doesn't have wide shoulders. And it crosses Kula Hwy several times. Oh, and it doesn't begin anywhere near Keokea. I'm not sure what road you're talking about. Do you? I'd love to see bike tours on a nearly flat Makawao Ave (or them pushing their bikes up that one steep stretch just past the riding stable/Cleghorn vet).

I don't follow you on the upcountry commuters thing. Everyone I know takes the highway. Why drive all the way through Makawao, for a slow, winding two-lane road to Paia, then have to drive from there to Kahului?

First you say Haleakala Hwy is crazy "with its stupid and dangerous reversible lanes." Then you say the messed-up Paia intersection "would force the Upcountry guys back on the main highway, which at least has 2 lanes going both ways."

Huh?

[Miulang]

I doubt the tours would make the bicyclists ride back from the winery -- too many uphill sections.



Lower Kula Rd. doesn't reach the junction of Haleakala Hwy, Kula Hwy and Old Haleakala Hwy. The last part ends near Kula 200. And it doesn't have wide shoulders. And it crosses Kula Hwy several times. Oh, and it doesn't begin anywhere near Keokea. I'm not sure what road you're talking about. Do you? I'd love to see bike tours on a nearly flat Makawao Ave (or them pushing their bikes up that one steep stretch just past the riding stable/Cleghorn vet).

I don't follow you on the upcountry commuters thing. Everyone I know takes the highway. Why drive all the way through Makawao, for a slow, winding two-lane road to Paia, then have to drive from there to Kahului?

First you say Haleakala Hwy is crazy "with its stupid and dangerous reversible lanes." Then you say the messed-up Paia intersection "would force the Upcountry guys back on the main highway, which at least has 2 lanes going both ways."

Huh?
We have a house right above the junction of where Upper Kula Rd and Lower Kula Rd meet (by the Botanical Garden). That part of the Lower Kula Rd. (Hwy 37--down to the Pukalani Junction by King K High School) has wide shoulders. Hwy 37 goes through Keokea to Tedeschi. Hwy 377 is Upper Kula Rd.

Lots of upcountry people go through Makawao now (I do when I stay in Kula too) since that Pukalani bypass was put in because that reversible lane thing on Haleakala Hwy is totally suicidal. I'm amazed that no one has been involved in a head on collision yet, because people are going 60 mph or faster up and down that hill. The other route I take sometimes is from Lower Kula Rd. to Pulehu Rd. where you end up by the landfill in Puunene. As much as possible, I avoid Haleakala Hwy.

Driving on Baldwin Ave. (2 lanes, one lane each direction) is fine until you hit the intersection at Baldwin Ave./Hana Hwy in Paia. That stoplight there is the bane of everyone's existence. Everybody thought the temporary bypass would help redirect traffic around Paia, but it's not open all the time.

The tours already go through Makawao (they get off Hwy 377 at Olinda Rd). It's still mostly downhill. One of their rest stops is at the Makawao Veterans Cemetery. The bad parts of Hwy 37 are between Tedeschi and Keokea because there are some up and down spots. But the views from that stretch of road are way more spectacular than the views from Hosmer Grove down to Makawao, IMO.


Miulang