Posted on: Tuesday, October 14, 2003

EDITORIAL
Share the parking along Ala Wai Canal

At one time, the city planned to replace the makai side of the Ala Wai Canal with a bike path and promenade.

How quickly things change.

From Kapahulu to Pau Street, a one-mile stretch along the canal now offers unlimited street parking. The city has dropped all parking restrictions along that strip, which means residents of the area's apartments and condos and others who use the area get what amounts to their own private parking lane.

Gone are the days when residents had to run out mornings and afternoons to move their vehicles. Now they can leave their cars in the same spot for days.

But their happiness comes at the expense of others. Parking along the Ala Wai strip has traditionally been shared by residents, workers and visitors to Waikiki. With no parking time limits, residents will inevitably cut into short-term parking options, which are already scarce in Waikiki.

Moreover, the four-lane street is heavily used by Kapahulu, Diamond Head and Waikiki residents heading downtown. Without the parking restrictions, it becomes a round-the-clock three-lane corridor, not to mention a magnet for abandoned vehicles and folks seeking a prominent spot to advertise cars for sale.

It's generally a better policy to have some parking turnover on busy streets.

As for the urban planning aspect, we remain disappointed that the Council cut money for the city's plan for an Ala Wai promenade and bike lane. Our hope is that once the promenade plan is revived, the unrestricted parking will not have been grandfathered in as a permanent right.

How will Honolulu ever reduce traffic congestion and fossil fuel emissions if we turn bike lanes into parking lanes?