By Adrian M., Biki Member Guest Blogger
If you live in Honolulu (which is especially convenient if you're a Biki lover like me) than there is absolutely no excuse for driving to work, everything is so close here! Start pedaling because Streetblog USA reveals that riding a bike to work instead of driving can decrease your household emissions by 6%, and up to 40% if you rely just on biking, the bus, and walking instead. And don't stop there! Take a bike to the market, to meet up with friends, to the beach, and beyond, and watch that number increase! Don't forget to suggest station locations at the places you want to go so you're never limited.
If you're like me and live in the city, you too have been kept up or disrupted by noise pollution: the sirens, the horns, the alarms. Bikes combat noise pollution, which puts less strain on us and our natural wildlife, because this noise harms them too! Switching to bikes could prevent roadkill as well, where Psychology Today states that more than a million animals die each day on the streets in the US alone.
We have ALL been caught in that Honolulu traffic before, and we all hate it too. Cars produce a pound of pollution per mile, so the longer you are stuck in traffic the more pollution you're contributed. And like I said, everything in Honolulu is so close compared to the mainland, so beat the traffic and ride with Biki instead! A Blog post in the New York Times concludes that bikes are 50% faster than cars during rush hour.
The fact of the matter is that cars burn fossil fuels and when we burn these toxic fuels into the air it's detrimental to our health. According to The Earth Project, some of the poisonous gases being pumped into the air include monoxide, sulphur oxides, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Doesn't that sound refreshing to you? Not only does this lead to bad lungs, but this toxicity is what's fueling global warming. The most common type of gas emitted during fossil burning is carbon dioxide, and that is infamous for trapping heat into the atmosphere. Is it a wonder why it's been so hot this summer?
Cars take up a heaping load of natural resources. A post on the Cycling Science reports that this production contributes to 1.2 billion cubic yards of pollution each year. Save your lungs, and get a bikini subscription. There are also forests that are being cleared out for the sole purpose of harboring rubber plantations. Since bikes don't require as much rubber than it does cars, that would save a lot of conservation land. One car equals 10 bikes, so you don't need to do the math to know that would conserve a lot of space.
I think we can all get on board with a cleaner and safer environment, our island is so small after all. Let's make “Bike to Work Day,” everyday! We are fortunate enough to have some of the best weather in the world, so let's enjoy it. Decreasing our carbon footprint is something that we should all try to implement in our daily lives, whether by using reusable bags, composting, or bike riding! It's such a simple action, yet it can make a world of a difference, literally! So ditch the car, and ride a Biki instead. Don't forget your bike pass and helmet, and always remember to ride with aloha!
Adrian M., $15 Monthly Plan
Biki member, advocate and volunteer
Passionate about Biki, bikeshare or just biking in general? There are many opportunities to get involved and help support our mission! If you're interested in volunteering please contact: info@bikesharehawaii.org.
On June 28th the community joined us for our 1st Birthday Party to celebrate a year of bikeshare in Honolulu! We are so thankful for the support and happy to be surrounded by so many riders, partners, and other members of the community.
Thanks to those who came out to celebrate our special day #BikiBirthday! Another huge mahalo to our major supporters who made this first year possible. We can't wait to see what year 2 brings!
At certain popular community events, we set up a Biki valet at select Biki Stops to accommodate more riders and provide the community with an alternative means of transportation. The 4th of July fireworks at Ala Moana Beach Park is expected to bring in 50,000 attendees this year. We know that parking is limited and heavy traffic is anticipated as people leave the park following the firework show.
The Biki crew will provide a surplus of bikes and will continuously clear out docks as the station fills up. They will also be there to provide assistance and answer any questions. Please look for the Biki tent at the mega station on the corner of Ala Moana Blvd and Atkinson (Diamond Head entrance of the park).
As we near our anniversary and reflect on the first year, we'd like to give a special shout-out to some of our top Biki riders.
Wondering how many trips you've completed in the past week, month or even since you first signed up? Simply login to your account, select "Trips" and choose a date range! Details about each trip will be listed including the date, start and end location and the duration.
Our riders offered some insight as to why and how they ride Biki! If you're interested in sharing your Biki story, please email a testimonial to info@bikesharehawaii.org.
"Growing up, I was taught to drive a car. Now as a 30-year-old, never did I think this sort of transportation could be the way that I move around. It’s an extremely cost-effective way to travel, it’s healthier, and when you’re biking around Honolulu, it’s faster! Try to move around by bike a few times this week and see how efficient it is. This lifestyle improvement is there for the taking. - Emily W., $15 Monthly Member
"My wife Cathy and I really have enjoyed incorporating Biki into both our work life and recreational life on a daily basis." - Robert M., $25 Monthly Member
**Cathy also made the top rider list! Shout-out to all the Biki couples out there!
"When Biki launched their program, the company installed a rack just outside of our apartment. I simply thought instead of struggling to find parking at the workout location, I might as well take advantage of this bike ride, warm up as I ride to my work out and they also have several racks close to my workout - how cool is that. I realize that after over a year I could have purchased a bike, but Biki does such a great job of maintaining them, it's probably better that I use Biki! It's a simple and easy exercise for townies to enjoy." - Richard W., Free Spirit Member
"I returned to Hawaii last August and left my car in the mainland. I was told by some friends on the island that this “new bike service was available.” It was BIKI! It has been a life saver and energizer as I complete my year training in order to complete my doctorate degree. Since my first ride, commuting around the island has opened my mind and heart to the beauty of Hawaii." - Liza J., $15 Monthly Member
"Biki opened up Honolulu for me with its ease of use, affordability, and convenience. Without Biki I would walk everywhere and that would take forever.” - Brosnan D., $15 Monthly Member
"Traffic and pollution are freaky; just Biki." - Ariana W., $15 Monthly Member
"After I got a shoulder injury, I could no longer ride my own road bike. Biki’s more ergonomic and comfortable design has enabled me to commute to work and around town for recreation more comfortably while my shoulder heals. Biking in town is also much faster, more relaxing, and more affordable than driving. Most importantly, besides walking, biking is the form of transportation that has the least impact on our beautiful environment!" - Clarice S. $25 Monthly Member
I use Biki everyday to go to work, gym, and even grocery shopping. I love riding all over and the convenience of all the Biki Stops around Honolulu". - Risa S., Member $15 Monthly
"If you can't get there on Biki, it ain't worth going." - Ying G., $25 Monthly Member
"I likes Bikeshare because it takes the stress away the stress of commuting and eliminates the need for a car while living in Waikiki" - Vinnie L., $15 Monthly Member
**You may remember Vinnie as "Mr. December" Biki Member of the Month!
A few of our favorite "Bikigrams" from the past year
From top left - @yukiko_hiwalker, @elliy723_smith, @pvanhoof, @alohaholoholo, @miki772284, @swaddix, @darinmiyashiro808, @_isaacakiona, @afloat_hawaii_photo
Don't miss our anniversary celebration!
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Invite your friends and help us spread the word!
Thank you to all our major donors, partners, riders and members of the Honolulu community for helping to make this year possible. We can't wait for another great year with you!
We’re very excited about Biki’s growth in ridership and our planned summer expansion. This great news suggests that we must be doing extremely well financially. While we’re doing fine thanks to our users, generous donors, and start up public funds, we still have a way to go before we achieve our goal of being financially self-sustaining.
We thought you might be interested in learning a bit about how we came about and how Biki is structured. In standard bikeshare practice, a city uses tax payer dollars to purchase bikeshare equipment. Then, they hire a for-profit operator to run the system on their behalf. Based on the 2014 Feasibility Study commissioned by the City and County of Honolulu’s Dept. of Planning and Permitting, it was recommended that Honolulu instead set up an Administrative non-profit to minimize public sector risk and create opportunities for support from the private sector. Our non-profit, Bikeshare Hawaii, was then formed in 2014.
Bikeshare Hawaii’s mission is to provide the public with high quality, convenient, reliable, and affordable bikeshare services that enhance community health and livability, strengthen our public transportation system, and connect people to more places where they live, work and play throughout Hawaii nei.
Public support
In 2015, Bikeshare Hawaii was granted $2 million from the City & County of Honolulu and from the State of Hawaii to help launch the initial phase of bikeshare. The City and State also provided city public property locations for Biki Stops at no cost.
Private operator
Secure Bike Share Hawaii, LLC has invested in all current bikeshare equipment and technology, and operates the system. It is taking almost all financial risk, and therefore Secure Bike Share receives fare revenue to help defray operations and equipment financing costs. Secure Bike Share’s responsibilities include bike maintenance, rebalancing, customer service, and customer billing.
Non-profit manager
Bikeshare Hawaii is a 501(c)3 organization created in 2014 out of the joint efforts of theCity & County of Honolulu, the State of Hawaii, the EPA, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Pacific University, and a Working Group comprised of dedicated volunteer leaders. This non-profit manages the Biki program on behalf of the City through a grant agreement. Bikeshare Hawaii also has an agreement with Secure Bike Share for it to operate Biki on our behalf and under our management.
Bikeshare Hawaii is comprised of a Board of Directors, Bikeshare Advisory Group and a small staff led by CEO Lori McCarney. In addition to managing Secure Bike Share, Bikeshare Hawaii is tasked with location planning and permitting, marketing and events, and community outreach.
Along with the initial City and State funding, donations from organizations and individuals have supported our organization’s small startup team and its efforts. These include over three years of extensive community outreach, location planning, equipment and operator selection, branding, pricing and much more. The funds granted by the City and State will expire in mid-2018.
Funding for our summer expansion is coming from a Federal Grant, which required matching funds. We are very appreciative of the over $450,000 that came from donors and supporters to achieve this match. And we’re proud that no additional dollars from local taxpayers will be utilized when Biki’s network becomes more convenient for more people.
Have you reviewed where we are proposing Biki Stops? We’ve identified 90 locations and want to know which ones you support.
We need your support
As a community-based nonprofit organization, Bikeshare Hawaii depends on donations and rider revenue to maintain and improve Biki. We continue to actively seek additional partnerships and donors that share our vision of a connected, healthier and sustainable Hawaii. With donations from supportive organizations and individuals, Bikeshare Hawaii can be financially self-sustaining and even generate “profits” that will be reinvested to improve the usefulness and reach of Biki to our community in the years to come.
Every dollar donated helps Bikeshare Hawaii achieve our mission by supporting the purchase of equipment, keeping ridership rates affordable, enhancing community and employer partnerships, and developing workforce programs. If you would like to learn more about how you can support Biki or to make a donation, please visit biki12-23.test.
We always love hearing from our riders and how they use Biki, especially in usual places and sometimes outside our current service area. In the past month, we've received emails and photos from users who have used Biki for events such as the Lanikai Triathlon, Metric Century Ride and Honolulu Triathlon.
If you have used Biki for other competitions or events, we'd love to hear about it. Please email us at info@bikesharehawaii.org.
If you are interested in including Biki in an upcoming event, simply fill out an Event Opportunity Request Form!
Biki bikes are equipped with tough 24” wheels, super-solid rims, puncture-resistant casing and tires with reflective sides. However, before you hop on a Biki, it's always a good idea to check the tire pressure. The right tire pressure provides for a smooth ride and prevents potential for flats while you are riding.
Simply give the tires a firm squeeze. If the tire has a lot of give, then we recommend selecting another Biki bike. Our riders are never responsible for regular wear and tear so if you happen to get a flat while riding, don't worry! Simply walk the bike to the nearest Biki Stop and press the red wrench button. The bike will be locked in place and the Biki Crew will come by to collect the bike for repair.
Name: Mariah
Plan: Free Spirit Plan; I enjoy the flexibility of the 300 minutes because I can use them as needed and not worry about having them expire.
Why I love Biki: I love Biki because of the convenient stops around town, and the ease of use of the app to find stops and know where and how many bikes are available. It takes all the stress out of commuting around town because there is no need to factor in time and cost of parking. It adds pleasure to your day allowing you to enjoy your commute in the fresh air and sunshine. Biki makes me more appreciative of Hawaii because it makes commuting fun, healthy, and stress free.
How I use Biki: I use Biki because it makes traveling around town far more convenient and even fun! I commute from the North Shore daily, but have to travel between jobs in downtown and Waikiki. At one point it took me 40 minutes to get from Waikiki to downtown, after parking and walking to work, which is almost as long as it takes to drive to NS. Biki is a godsend as it only takes 15 minutes plus it gets me outside with the added bonus of exercise. I even invested in a water proof backpack so I could take Biki in the rain with no concern for my laptop.
Think you've got what it takes to be the next Biki Member of the Month? Send an email toinfo@bikesharehawaii.org with your Biki story or nominate a fellow Biki rider.
May 1, 2018
Pacific Business News
Japan's largest airline, ANA, signs on as Biki sponsor
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. We invite you to join us or provide testimony at neighborhood board meetings as well. You can also check ourevents page on biki12-23.test.
May 26, 2018
Blue Zones Project Old Stadium Park Volunteer Clean-Up
9 to 11:30 a.m.
Old Stadium Park
Ride to Biki Stop 457 (King and Isenberg Streets) and join Blue Zones Project and the Biki crew in reviving Old Stadium Park! Free lunch will be provided following the cleanup.
June 1, 2018
HBL Bike Month Pau Hana Mixer
5:30 to 8 p.m.
KOUWORK
814 Ilaniwai Street (Kakaako)
June 6, 2018
Keep it Kaimuki, Small Business Pau Hana x Open Talk
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Bess Press (Da Shop)
June 10, 2018
Biki Bicycling Basics Free Workshop
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Children's Discovery Center
111 Ohe Street
(limited spots available, registration required)
June 12, 12018
Waikiki Neighborhood Board Meeting
7 p.m.
Waikiki Community Center
310 Paoakalani Avenue
June 21, 2018
Makiki Neighborhood Board Meeting
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Makiki District Park
1527 Keeaumoku Street
*Let your neighborhood representatives know if you support bringing Biki into Makiki, andreference your preferred station by site number. Email nbtestimony@honolulu.gov and BCC justine@bikesharehawaii.org so we can track support as well.
June 24, 2018
Blue Zones Project Community Kick-off Event
2 to 6 p.m.
Varsity Building Parking Lot
1110 University Avenue
June 28, 2018 - We're turning one!
Biki One-Year Anniversary Celebration
It's hard to believe we launched Biki a year ago. Please join us at one of our Biki Stops and help us celebrate this milestone with free food, giveaways, swag, and more!
Stay tuned and follow us on social media for more information.
We send out a monthly e-newsletter to update our riders on the latest Biki info, news, events, promos and more. Don’t miss out – subscribe today!
Our riders are the best part about Biki and we love to hear your stories. We recently received this story from Richard Campbell, a first-time rider who participated in the Honolulu Olympic Triathlon and completed the bike portion on a Biki!
I completed the Honolulu Sprint Triathlon 'racing' an American Savings Bank 'Biki Aqua Blue!'
I had a heart transplant in April 2017 and signed up for the Honolulu Olympic Triathlon event to give me something to aim for. A few months back, side effects from a medication change made training and fitness difficult. My wife competes so we of course still made the trip to Hawaii, and I planned to swim myself back into shape in that wonderful ocean.
I was rather surprised how strong I was with the swim so got to looking for a bike as I did not bring mine. No rental bikes available due to the event, and the guys at Island Triathlon & Bikes concurred with me that the 'Biki' bike would work and I could set a new PR on a 'Biki'! Great guys by the way...
Since we are from the Seattle area, I went with the credit card auto upgrade plan but will certainly use the monthly plan next time around. Rode over to IT&B for a helmet and was all set to rock and roll. I switched to the sprint tri so that I would be comfortable with my decision. My assigned "86" race number was an omen as I was not about to be 86'd out of the race!
I nicknamed the bike the 'Aqua Blue' and it worked like a charm, as far as a well maintained, three speed, city bike, with a built in head wind goes for triathlon use! I got many cheers and compliments on the course from participants, and police alike. The camera lady missed my first picture as she did not realize I was actually in the race, but made a quick recovery. I did have a funny interaction with two riders who were facing a headwind. I had dropped my water bottle, slowed down, but decided to let it go. The two riders caught up with me yelled out. "We finally caught him!" to which I replied that I was happy I could help them maintain their high standards! Someone has to be the carrot!
The previous night before the race, I woke up at 2AM wondering if all the bikes were going to be taken and that I should go get one.I checked out the availability on the Biki App and found I was sitting pretty and there were plenty of bikes all around. Great App, easy to use. The "Biki" concept is well run and seamless from the user stand point. I was impressed with the availability and ease of use.
What I find important is what a "Biki" bike can do for all avenues. It works so well for the tourist out for a ride, where you see so many more things on the that beautiful Island, a quick commute, or even a grocery run so not to deal with vehicles or parking.
Then there is just going out for the exercise and clearing one's mind, and of course 'triathlons'! Participating in the Honolulu Triathlon amid the quick recovery was the highlight of my trip. Encouraged by my wife Carol, who has the Kona Ironman notched on her Bib Strap, I have done a few events, including a few Kona Honu 70.3’s. It is all about the freedom, fitness, travel, goals, camaraderie, accomplishment, excitement, and even the finish line.
But, it is so much more about the journey. Overcoming the obstacles that will present themselves all along the way, and it is where the most satisfaction will be garnered, where the most frustration will attempt to take you down, and where you get to look back and say “Yes!” and then you look to the future and do it all again... and say “Yes!” again and again. Because, my friend... it is all in the journey, the paths taken, the roads not followed, all the things the poets and writers give us insights about, to go along with what we all get to experience on our own. These events are my way to advocate for organ donation, quietly on the side, but with a powerful voice and example.
"It feels so good to be feeling good again" .... from Robert Earl Keen
Have a Biki story you want to share? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us at info@bikesharehawaii.org.
Bikeshare is expanding this summer and so is the Biki Crew! Looking to fill both part-time and full-time positions immediately.
Open positions include:
Show your support for community improvements that make the roads safer and more accessible for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers! Please continue reading to learn more about how you can help advocate for bikeshare in Makiki, and demonstrate support for the Pensacola Street protected bikeway project.
Deadline: May 14, 2018
Do you use this corridor to commute to and from work? To visit friends? Travel into or out of Makiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako? Would a protected bike lane on Pensacola make you feel safer and encourage you to bike more?
We're thrilled to welcome ANA (All Nippon Airways), Japan’s largest and only five-star airline, as our newest supporter!
“We are thankful and proud to have ANA as a supporter,” said Lori McCarney, CEO of Bikeshare Hawaii. “This substantial backing helps us provide a top-notch bikeshare program for the benefit of visitors and residents alike. Biki strives to be an excellent service company with dependable bikes and a responsive, friendly customer service team. Partnering with ANA will cause us to strive to be even better—to emulate the qualities of this outstanding airline.”
“ANA is excited to announce our new collaboration with Biki,” said Hiroshi Shibata, vice president and general manager of ANA’s Honolulu operations. “Bikesharing has become widespread in Japan, and we believe Biki’s program provides a fun, alternative means of transportation for Honolulu’s tourists and local residents. ANA is happy to support Biki, an organization that encourages healthy living and promotes environmentally-friendly practices.”
As a nonprofit organization, Bikeshare Hawaii relies on support such as this partnership with ANA to remain viable. Biki is healthy, clean and affordable transportation for everyone.
ANA joins major supporters Hawaii Pacific Health, HMSA, HEI (American Savings and HECO), and Hale Mahana and completes the five major supporters who will be recognized on Biki bikes in 2018. However, we continue to seek donations both large and small from companies and the public for community programs, outreach, and initiatives to help us continue our mission without an operational subsidy.