At the same time, as Lee briefed nearly 70 business leaders this morning at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall about contingency plans, the union that represents bus workers officially notified O'ahu Transit Services that a strike is set for 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

One final bargaining session remains — at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Blaisdell.

The city will use a fleet of seven-passenger vans to pick up commuters from 10 locations islandwide and take them to four locations in town, Lee said. The first-come, first-served free shuttles will operate during morning and evening rush hours, but the city has not settled on exact times yet, Lee said.

During the middle of the day, those vans will shuttle commuters from parking lots at city parks to the four town locations; they will not take people to individual businesses, Lee said.

The outlying locations include: Kapolei Transit Center, Central O'ahu Regional Park, Ke'ehi Lagoon Park, Blaisdell Park, Hawai'i Kai Park and Ride, Kane'ohe Park and Ride, Mililani Park and Ride, Kunia Park and Ride and Hans L’Orange Park.

Others may be added, Lee said.

The four town locations are: Ala Moana Shopping Center along Kona Street, at Bishop and Beretania streets, at the parking garage of the Hale Koa Hotel and the Honolulu Zoo parking lot.

Lee said the city will use its

36 vans and will rent 100 vans from private companies. City employees are being asked to drive the vans if their department can spare them. They will still get paid, Lee said.

"This will not solve the entire problem," Lee said. "We encourage all of you to catch a ride with a friend. Take a friend or an employee or anyone you know, to work."

Cheryl Soon, director of the city transportation department, told the business leaders that taxi companies plan to operate along 20 city bus routes and will pick up passengers for $3, regardless of the length of the trip.

"We have a large number of taxis who have agreed to participate in this system," she said.

The 10 locations being used for shuttle vans also will be used for informal car pools that the city hopes will form through business and community efforts, Soon said.

There also will be locations in town: Kapiolani and Ala Moana parks, at Sinclair Circle at the University of Hawai'i and along Hotel Street, which is normally used only for TheBus. Soon said she was not sure how people would find each other and that it may simply happen spontaneously.

"We are in a very fluid situation," she said.

Businesses that want help with traffic flow or other problems can call the Honolulu Police Department special duty desk, Soon said.

Mayor Jeremy Harris told the leaders he hopes "cooler heads prevail" and a strike is averted, but also told them to be prepared.

The city is encouraging telecommuting, staggered work hours and shortened work weeks.

"The best way we can get through a difficult period is if we all pull together," Harris said. "We ask you to work with your staff, work with your employees."

A strike would idle about 1,300 bus workers.

An informational meeting for bus workers is planned for 6 p.m. today at union headquarters.

Many bus riders are turning to family and co-workers for rides. Bruce Sinton-Hewitt, 42, catches the 97 Express Bus every morning from Waipahu to Kawaiaha'o Church where he works. He has asked his wife’s niece for a ride into town if there is a strike next week.

"My main concern is how long it could go for. One of my colleagues said it could be weeks. I said, 'Yikes,’ " Sinton-Hewitt said.

Jeananna Klok, 32, has a car, but for the past five years she has used the bus to get from her home in Wahiawa to Straub Clinic on King Street where she works. She said she’ll drive to work next week if she has to.

"I am concerned. It’s a lot of money out of pocket to pay for parking … and gas," Klok said.

Without a car, Mimi Elbern, 38, relies on the bus to get from Wai kiki to her job downtown. So if

bus service were to shut down next week, she’d have to catch a cab.

Pat Kalima, 62, of Punchbowl, figures she’d do the same. She uses the bus to do everything — shop for groceries, get to doctor’s appointments, meet friends. She catches the bus to Waipahu, where she does volunteer work.

"I guess I’ll have to cut back a little on everything and use a cab," Kalima said.

But even if cab drivers were to extend their work hours to accommodate the extra business, taxis would be tied up in heavier traffic if many of TheBus’ regular riders were to use their cars.

Kalima said of the labor dispute: "I just hope that if they do have to strike, it ends quickly with drivers being treated fairly. They put up with a lot of garbage sometimes."

Kellie Ko’s parents drop her off at Roosevelt High School, but the 16-year-old relies on the bus to get everywhere else — to an after-school job in Liliha, to the mall or to return home.

"Maybe I’ll catch a ride from a friend," she said, even if few of her friends have cars.