December Newsletter

Improving Mobility and Connectivity in 2018

What an exciting year 2017 has been as we formally launched Biki, Hawaii’s first full-scale bikeshare system. 2018 will see the development and implementation of more projects that will enhance mobility, connectivity, and overall safety for all modes of transportation. Honolulu needs your input!

Now that you’re a seasoned bikeshare user, where do you want to see Biki expand? Where do you see gaps? Where does a Biki Stop need to be that would make your daily trips easier? There are several ways you can share your thoughts with us:

• Fill out a Request a Biki Stop form and submit on biki12-23.test
• Attend community meetings in early 2018 that will inform a Spring/Summer 2018 expansion. Stay tuned for dates and locations.

The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) recently announced the update of the Oahu Bike Plan (2012), which will include a low-stress network of bikeways for existing and prospective bicyclists with a wide range of skill levels. DTS also announced the creation of the Oahu Pedestrian Plan, a long-term action plan that aims to create vibrant, safe, and accessible streetscapes that can serve as a model for other cities. Additionally, Complete Streets planning and design projects are underway in several communities across the island, and the City continues to solicit community input and feedback.

• Oahu Bike Plan Update:
  • Attend the Honolulu Community Workshop: January 25th 6-8 pm, Neal Blaisdell Center, Hawaii Suites, 777 Ward Avenue.
  • Take this 10-minute survey to help DTS better understand the community’s existing and potential bike riders.
  • Use this interactive web map to provide input on where you like to ride, where the problem areas are, and where improvements can be made.

• Oahu Pedestrian Plan:
  • The initial workshops and meetings will begin in January 2018, and extend through the final phase in May 2018.

• Honolulu Complete Streets Home Page:
  • Check out what projects are planned for the communities you live, work, and play in.
  • Share issues you encounter as you move around Honolulu, or ideas you have to make the area safer and more accessible for all via an interactive map.

In addition to attending public meetings to get informed and share your thoughts on projects going on in your communities, share your feedback with your City Council and Neighborhood Board representatives. Your representatives will advocate for the projects they know their constituents care about!

Bikeshare Hawaii looks forward to another year of working closely with our City partners and community stakeholders on improving mobility and quality of life across the island.

New Biki Stop at HMSA

There is a new Biki Stop in town! A new 15-dock station is located outside the HMSA building at the corner of Rycroft and Keeaumoku Streets. Now you have more chances to ride over and enjoy shopping at retailers including Walmart and dining establishments including Yogurstory, Teapresso, among many others.

HMSA has been a major supporter of Bikeshare Hawaii since the beginning stages, and as an organization dedicated to providing sustainable healthcare and promoting wellness, they were interested in a bikeshare station and even poured the concrete pad to accommodate the equipment. We are happy to provide employees and patients of HMSA a healthy and convenient alternative to get to and from work and appointments.

If you wish to have a Biki Stop in your neighborhood, complete the Request a Station form on biki12-23.test.

Biki partners with Lyft to promote safe riding habits and multi-modal transportation

We are happy to announce a new partnership with ridesharing service Lyft to offer discounts to Biki riders. Effective immediately, new users to Lyft can get $5 off each of their first four Lyft rides when they download the Lyft app and input the code, “BIKILYFT” to redeem offer. In addition, Lyft will donate $10 to Bikeshare Hawaii for every new user that signs up using the “BIKILYFT” code.

In many instances, Biki is a great way to get from place to place. But, we also recognized that there are times when riders will want to Biki somewhere and have another way to get back. That’s why we are delighted to be partnering with Lyft to offer Biki users a convenient option for their return trips.

We also want to remind Biki members that drinking and riding don’t mix. If you choose to Biki to a bar or party and celebrate the holiday season with a few adult beverages, we recommend catching a Lyft ride home. Since you used bikeshare to get there you won’t have to worry about leaving your car or personal bike, and you’ll arrive safe and sound to your destination!

Already a Lyft user? Stay tuned for special promotion codes during upcoming events that can be applied to existing accounts.

Venture Race Hawaii

Early in the morning on Sunday, December 3, eight teams of three female athletes dressed in their most creative costumes participated in Venture Race Hawaii – Biki Edition. The competitors met up at 5:45 a.m. at the Biki Stop at the Ala Moana Beach Park entrance located at Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana Drive.

During the heated competition, the teams had to decipher clues and Biki their way to four Biki Stops located from Ala Moana to Downtown Honolulu. Upon arriving at each location, the teams were required to dock their Biki bikes, complete fun tasks, and post evidence of themselves completing the task to Facebook and Instagram to get the next clue. Their tasks included a ballet performance at Boca Hawaii, singing Christmas Carols at the Honolulu City Lights, showing their best Elvis dance moves at the Elvis statue at the Neal Blaisdell Center, and the mannequin challenge at the Man at the Bus Stop statue at Bishop Street and King Street. The final clue lead them back to Ala Moana Beach Park where they jumped into the water to herd a flock of floating rubber ducks around a bouy and ended the race with a sprint up the beach to the finish line.

All team members were Biki members, but no entry fee was required.  In the spirit of the holiday season, participants were asked to bring one toy to be donated to Toys for Tots. The group collected 23 toys from the participants.

If you are interested in including Biki in an upcoming event, simply fill out an Event Opportunity Request Form!

Two Options for Tax Deduction

Your last chance to make a 2017 tax deductible donation is coming up. We hope that you will consider a donation to Bikeshare Hawaii or our Adopt-a-Biki donation program.

As a community-based nonprofit organization, Bikeshare Hawaii relies on support from organizations and individuals that share our vision of Hawaii: To provide the public with high quality, convenient and affordable bikeshare services that strengthen our public transportation system and connect people to more places where they live, work and play throughout Hawaii nei. Bikeshare Hawaii benefits Hawaii residents and visitors by providing a low-cost, convenient, zero emissions transportation option that is healthy for the community and the environment.

When you Adopt-a-Biki for $1000, you create a personalized inscription that will be placed on a Biki. Then, you will be able to check on your adopted Biki’s activities for years on the dashboard, including: How many people have used it? How many miles has it logged? How many calories has it helped folks burn?

Simply visit GoBiki.org to test out different inscriptions, for more details on the program, and to Adopt-a-Biki. The first 100 bikes adopted will include the “Early Adopter” insignia on the bike.

BIKI/BIKESHARE HAWAII IN THE NEWS

Click the links below for recent news coverage of Biki and Bikeshare Hawaii:

December 1, 2017
Honolulu Magazine
7 Absolutely Free Honolulu Events to Check Out in December 2017

November 30, 2017
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Biki partners with Lyft, offers First Friday discount

November 22, 2017
Pacific Business News
Bikeshare Hawaii launches Adopt-a-Biki program

November 20, 2017
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Bikeshare Hawaii launches Adopt-a-Biki program

BIKI/BIKESHARE HAWAII IN THE COMMUNITY

We have been busy bringing Biki to our communities, and are delighted to be introducing the bike and program to more people.

The Jingle Rock Run on December 17 was a blast. We loved dressing up in our most festive holiday attire and interacting with everyone that stopped by our tent. We are delighted to support Make-a-Wish Hawaii and it was a great way to see the Honolulu City Lights through this family-friendly holiday event.

We also participated in our first holiday parade, the Kapahulu-Moiliili Christmas Parade, on December 14. It was so much fun riding our Biki bikes on King Street and saying hi to the community members that came out to watch the parade.

On November 29, we shared the story of bikeshare and how Biki can help build business awareness to members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s Visioning Center in Chinatown. Following the presentation, many members Biki’d to the SALT Block in Kakaako to experience Biki and get to know each other better.

We are proud to be members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and look forward to working together with them for the benefit of the Chinatown community.

Upcoming Events

Biki and Bikeshare Hawaii are coming to a community near you. To learn more about Biki and Bikeshare Hawaii, join us at one of our upcoming events below. You can also check our events page on biki12-23.test.

December 20, 2017
Bike Tour of Honolulu City Lights with BIKEFACTORY
7 p.m.
Meet at corner of Ala Moana Blvd. and Cooke Street

January 20, 2017
Biki to SALT Bar Crawl
5 p.m.
Stay tuned for details

January 27, 2018
HBL Annual Dinner and Fundraiser
5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Avenue