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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 27, 2006

Pedestrian perks

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu voters will decide on 12 possible changes to the city Charter in the Nov. 7 general election. The Charter is the city's equivalent of the state Constitution. Here's a look at one of the amendments that will appear on the ballot; this is part of a series examining each proposal:

CHARTER QUESTION NO. 8

Should one of the priorities of the Department of Transportation Services be to make Honolulu a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city, and should the powers, duties and functions of the Director of Transportation Services include bikeway systems?

Vote YES or NO

Pro:The Hawaii Bicycling League is working with a coalition of bicycling and pedestrian advocates to support this as a public mandate to the city's Department of Transportation Services to address bicycling and pedestrian facilities and concerns as an urgent priority.

Con: No one opposed the content of this measure during hearings before the Charter Commission. The city administration has said that it does not think the city Charter is the best place to address this issue, but advocates disagree, saying other methods have been tried in the past.

For more information, contact the Charter Commission at 592-8622 or charter@honolulu.gov, or visit the Charter Commission Web site at www.honolulu.gov/chc.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.