By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. Why did the Department of Transportation remove the bike path on Kalaniana'ole Highway, townbound, at 'Ainakoa Avenue? For years, this section of the highway has been dangerous for cyclists. After Kalaniana'ole was repaved last year, the bike path was finally improved except the portion just past 'Ainakoa, where the bike path remained unfinished for at least a year. Now they have reduced the path to nothing for about 50 yards on each side of 'Ainakoa. What does the Department of Transportation think the bikers who use this path are going to do, just disappear when they get to Kalani Iki Street?

A. The DOT did not remove bike facilities at 'Ainakoa Avenue, said spokesman Scott Ishikawa. "Prior to our 2001 resurfacing project, there was no bike lane on Kalaniana'ole Highway in this area," Ishikawa said. "The resurfacing project installed a bike lane on Kalaniana'ole Highway between 'Ainakoa Avenue and Kalani Iki Street. However, the bike lane ended before 'Ainakoa Avenue because of the need to shift the lanes on Kalaniana'ole Highway to match the lane configuration on the freeway."

The current highway right of way from 'Ainakoa Avenue to the Kahala Mall off-ramp does not allow enough room for a bike lane without taking abutting residents' properties, Ishikawa said. A sidewalk exists for pedestrians and bicyclists, and signs have been installed at the end of the bike lane informing both bicyclists and motorists to "share the road." "We have chosen these mitigative measures in lieu of right-of-way acquisition," Ishikawa said.

Q. I have a question about the large, city-issued garbage containers. On some streets in my neighborhood, residents leave them on the sidewalk for the disposal trucks to come by; on others, they are left on the street, against the curb. Which is correct?

A. There is no one correct location for a city-issued refuse cart, said John Lee, acting chief of the city's Refuse Division.

"Strictly from a collection standpoint, where a cart is placed is not as important as whether the arm of our truck can reach it," Lee said.

"There are other practical considerations such as whether it blocks pedestrian access to the sidewalk, whether it is closer than 5 feet to a stationary object (such as a wall, fence, fire hydrant, tree, utility pole or another cart), whether it interferes with vehicular traffic or whether parked cars make it impossible to reach with the arm."

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.

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