By Brendan Schultz, Biki Ambassador

I don’t know how to drive. I do not even know which pedal is the gas and which pedal is the brake. Thanks to Biki in Honolulu, there is no need for me to learn.

 

I was born into a military family in Hawaii and spent my childhood bouncing around the United States and world. For my final year of high school, a time when most teenagers are learning how to drive, I found myself in Macedonia, a small country in Southeastern Europe that most people have never heard of.

As a consequence of living in Macedonia, I never learned how to drive at the time most teenagers are getting their license tests. Now living back in Hawaii, the Biki system makes Honolulu one of the most livable cities to go car-less. Within the urban core, I am rarely more than a three-minute walk away from a Biki station. There is a station next to nearly every major destination – from the Blaisdell Center to grocery stores.

Riding a bike from one place within the city to another, when taking into account the time it takes to find parking, takes about the same amount of time needed to drive. I do not have to worry about my personal bike being stolen, or if my plans change and I catch a ride home with a friend instead. My transportation costs are fifteen dollars a month; the increasing price of gas is something I never have to be concerned about nor is the high cost and availability of parking. I have the opportunity to exercise while getting around. And most beneficial, the feeling I get when biking by the ocean with the breeze flowing through my hair makes living in paradise all the much better.

 

With a constantly expanding network of stations and bike lanes throughout Honolulu, I urge you to try making Biki your primary form of transportation for even just a week. You won’t regret it.

Biking is booming during COVID-19, Hawaii Bicycling League celebrates Bike Month in June with virtual workshops, webinars and trivia nights, Biki partners with Farm Link Hawaii to raise awareness about local food sourcing and more.

Many have asked how Biki is doing throughout this pandemic. Is ridership down? Will we continue to operate despite the extended stay-at-home orders?

In short, yes. We are working very hard to continue to provide the 24/7 service many residents have come to depend on, despite a significant drop in ridership. To give some perspective, 1,413 trips were taken yesterday, compared to 4,312 trips on the same day last year. While we love and miss seeing more people on bikes, we’re happy that our riders are complying with the current stay-at-home orders and using Biki for essential trips only.

This month, 120 employees representing 7 different businesses have been participating in the first-ever Oahu Commute Challenge, hosted by STCH and Blue Planet Foundation. Participants were equipped with a monthly Bus pass, rideshare credits and a Biki Commuter Plan, and encouraged to get out of their personal vehicles and switch to cleaner, healthier and more efficient modes of transportation for the chance to win prizes. Watch this video to learn more!

The holidays are here and we have a gift for even the most picky person on your list. Perfect for your hard working team, your child’s favorite teacher or your mail carrier – a Biki gift certificate is a thoughtful and affordable present they’ll actually use.