By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. If you pick up a bike off a sidewalk that is set out for bulk trash pickup, how can you get it licensed? Let's say you want to rebuild these cast-off bikes and give them to charities for Christmas gifts. Does it matter that you won't have a license? Will they be pulled out from under young riders? I know that if you buy a bike at a garage sale, you might not be able to get it licensed.

A. Before you start refurbishing the bicycles, city spokeswoman Carol Costa suggests checking with the Honolulu Police Department to make sure the bikes are not stolen property. Charities should also license the bikes or ensure they can be licensed before giving them away. HPD will confiscate bikes that are stolen or unregistered.

If you need to register a bike, you can pick up the license applications and affidavit forms at a satellite city hall.

Q. H-1 Freeway's townbound on-ramp about three-quarters mile on the Wai'anae side of the Newtown Golf Driving Range in Pearl City can be dangerous. Cars traveling in either direction on Moanalua Road feed into the on-ramp. Cars coming from Waimalu often ignore the sign to yield the right of way to cars coming from Pearl City. Could there be speed bumps installed or something that will show that they have to yield ?

A. Alvin Takeshita of the state Department of Transportation said this is an example of how some drivers don't respect or follow traffic signs and other devices — leading to many accidents. The "yield" sign for the on-ramp is in the proper location, but drivers disregard it, he said.

Because speed bumps would make it difficult for cars trying to get onto the ramp when there are no conflicting vehicles and could damage cars traveling fast enough to make a smooth merge, Takeshita said he will send a work order to have the words "yield ahead" painted on the road as soon as the busy O'ahu District Office has room in its schedule.

"My only concern if that if they disregard the (existing) sign, they may disregard the pavement words," he said.

Q. Can the city install a left-turn signal for cars turning left from Kapahulu Avenue onto Date Street? It's very dangerous and I've seen many accidents there.

A. The city agrees with you. According to Vicki Borges, a special assistant in the mayor's office, the city is in the process of seeking federal money to install a left-turn signal at that location.

Do you ever get frustrated or confused trying to navigate the various layers of government? Are you looking for an answer to a simple question but can't figure out where to start? If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:

• E-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com

• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message.

Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number.