Did you know that 63% of members report using Biki to dine? If you’re someone who likes to #BikitoLunch, visit that cafe with the horrible parking, or burn some calories before enjoying a malasada, then you’re in luck! Up through November 24th, you can take advantage of dozens of Restaurant Week deals at participating establishments, many of which are just a short skip from a Biki Stop. Check out these limited-time deals offered at some of our favorites including Hank’s Haute Dogs, Encore Saloon, Piggy Smalls and more.

Riders are invited to help us celebrate by participating in our annual costume competition for the chance to win a Free Spirit Plan. If you want to be Biki’s best dressed, simply post a photo to social media with the hashtags #GoBikiHI and #BikiBoo. You can find more details and see photos from last year here.

Entrepreneurs Sandbox

Just last week, a new Kakaako coworking space celebrated its grand opening. Entrepreneurs Sandbox, managed by BoxJelly Coworking is a community hub to inspire creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship. This 13,500 square foot facility features event space, coworking and collaboration space, meeting rooms, small offices, and a Biki Stop right out front! 

 

 

Entrepreneurs Sandbox is located right by Biki Stop #211 on Ilalo Street

A StartUp Membership ($85/month) offers several benefits including access to the collaboration space and amenities, discounts on member programming and events, access to the community network AND a monthly Biki Plan. With a Biki Stop located right outside its front doors, bikeshare is a convenient option for coworkers to go to and from meetings, grab a bite to eat or get some fresh air while taking a much-needed break. The Commuter Plan gives all coworkers an unlimited number of 30-minute Biki trips to get where they need to go. The plan is also available to all residents aged 16+ on the Biki App or GoBiki.org.

We asked Dan Pham, Director of Operations at BoxJelly, to explain the reasoning behind including a Biki Plan in all coworking memberships. His response:

 

"CoWorking is a luxury. The national average price for a full-time coworking membership is $198/month. We saw our partnership with HTDC, a state agency, at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox as an opportunity to buck trends and make coworking more accessible. We thought about accessibility at all levels. Price is a barrier, so we dropped it. Parking in Honolulu is a problem so we included a Biki membership. Not only does this solve issues with parking but it provides an alternative and more sustainable mode of transportation. Our plan was developed to open up coworking to those that haven't had the opportunity to work in a shared space, or to those that tried to find a reason not to. With the Sandbox, there is no reason not to try it."

The venue also hosts several events that are free and open to the public including HiTech Story, Creative Mornings, and the Honolulu Print and Book Fair. These events are a great opportunity to see the space if you haven't done so already. 

Get in touch

Interested in hosting a Biki Stop on your business's property? Want to learn more about purchasing Biki Plans for your members or staff? Have a Biki story to share? Contact us at info@bikesharehawaii.org. 

Help us celebrate Halloween this month by participating in our #BikiBoo costume contest for the chance to win a Free Spirit Plan ($20 for 300 minutes). To enter, take a photo on a Biki bike wearing your Halloween costume and post to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtags #BikiBoo and #GoBikiHI. 2 winners will be selected between October 18 - November 1 and will be contacted via social media. 

Photos may also be featured on our website, newsletter and social media pages! Be sure to follow us at @GoBikiHI to see if your photo is selected.

 

Biki is a great option to help you get to and from all the Honolulu Halloween festivities! Check out our map or download the App to see the location and status of all 100 Biki Stops. The best rates for residents are on GoBiki.org and the Biki App. Save time and money by signing up for a Free Spirit Plan or Monthly Membership and start unlocking bikes with the Biki Pass or Biki Mobile App.  Please remember that Biki users must be at least 16 years of age or older. 

 

October 25 - 26: Boo at the Zoo - Waikiki

October 26: Hallowbaloo Music and Arts Festival - Chinatown

October 31: Halloween - all over Honolulu! 

A few of our favorite past submissions:

STAY IN THE LOOP

Don't miss out on future events, promotions and Biki info! Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter to stay in the loop. 

New Biki Stop coming soon to Manoa Marketplace, Give Aloha during the month of September, Honolulu ranked #1 for mobility-mobility potential & more!

Resolution 19-204 would require Bikeshare Hawaii, the 501(c)3 non-profit organization that manages Biki, to prematurely compensate the City for Biki Stops located on City property. The consequences of this resolution are severe and would negatively impact our riders and our service.

Shop at Foodland and donate to Bikeshare Hawaii during the month of September!

During the month of September, donate to Bikeshare Hawaii during your shopping trips to Foodland through the Give Aloha Program! Best of all - the Western Union Foundation and Foodland will match a portion of your donation, so each contribution has an even bigger impact. 

How to donate

1. Shop at Foodland or Sack N Save! Check out our system map to find a Biki Stop by a store near you. 
2. Show your Maika'i card (or give phone number) at checkout.
3. Tell the cashier you wish to make a donation to Bikeshare Hawaii (code 78990) and the amount of your donation, up to $249.

Donations to each organization are tracked, and Foodland’s matching gift is divided proportionately among all participating organizations based on customer donations to the organizations. 

Why donate?

Until Biki fare revenue hits a certain threshold and the initial equipment purchase is paid off, Bikeshare Hawaii will continue to be funded entirely by grants and donations from organizations and individuals. These contributions support our work in planning and designing the system and targeted programs in alignment with city and state initiatives and community priorities. Some of the ways that our small team of three use resources to accomplish this are: 

 

• Hosting more than 70 free workshops and tutorials with nearly 600 participants to date
• Launching a new Access Program for income-qualifying residents 
• Targeting residential areas for site placement (Manoa, Makiki, Iwilei) to serve the local community
• Speaking at neighborhood board meetings, schools, workplaces and public events to educate and inform our residents about the environmental, economic and health benefits that bikeshare brings to a community. Targeted outreach with seniors, youth, public housing, and community health centers. 
• Developing partnerships that support local non-profits like Meals on (Biki) Wheels) and Biki Street Art Tours
• Advocating for complete streets and increased and improved bike infrastructure

Biki workshop with Hawaii Bicycling League

In-person outreach

Biki Social Rides Program for residents 50+

Helmet distribution at Waikiki Health

MISSION STATEMENT

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.

Effective as of Tuesday, August 20: changes to membership plan names, Extra Time fees and walk-up rates.  Introducing a new Biki Access Program.

Current Bicycle Transportation Legislation in DC

Guest Blogger: Michelle K.

On July 30, 2019,  the US Senate passed a bipartisan bill, S2302, called America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act. The name makes me think of freeway cloverleaves and our HART rail system, but actually there are several bicycle-centric programs included in the funding that will update current bike infrastructure, as well as earmark money for some pilot programs that address our future transportation needs. I read that over the last 25 years, federal surface transportation legislation has committed around $15 billion, that’s with a “B”, in bike lanes, bike paths, trails, and other projects that make bike commuting and recreating safer and easier throughout the United States.

1. Transportation Alternatives Program

The popular TAP, Transportation Alternatives Program, would get $1.2 billion. This one is popular because it is a major source of federal funds for our local government agencies to tap into via grants that address concerns that are specific to Oahu bike riders and make our current funding efforts a reality.

 

TAP helped fund 30% of the expansion of the Biki bikeshare system in 2018. A nice overview of funded Oahu TAP projects can be found here.

2. Recreation Trails Program

The RTP, Recreation Trails Program, provides funds to develop and maintain our off-road bike trails and trailheads. The funding for this program already comes from fuel taxes, not for your car, but the “gas” you buy for your boat, jet ski, ATV, and other recreational vehicles. What’s included in this current bill is a study that looks at how those fuel taxes are collected and distributed. Results of this study could end up increasing how much money our state allocates to make these improvements in off-road infrastructure.

3. Safety Incentive Program

A third program would fund grants to local municipalities for infrastructure that is designed to make improvements to pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Things like street lighting, signage, and safety barriers in between bikeways and vehicle lanes come to mind. This one is aptly named the Safety Incentive Program and there is currently $500 million proposed in the Senate’s budget for it.

This version of the bill also includes funding for a 'Center of Excellence' that would, among other things, evaluate how docked and dockless bikeshare programs, like Biki, influence real estate values and urban design plans.  Personally, when I was working with a realtor to purchase my Honolulu condo recently, proximity to a Biki station was high on my needs list. I’m interested in knowing how this translates into property values, if at all.

show your support:

This bill (Safety Incentive Program) is now being discussed in the US House and will go through several committees before it reaches the President’s desk for final approval, so now is a great time to email our congresspersons and ask for their support. The following folks represent you as Oahu residents and sit on the committees that will review this bill and figure out where the funding will come from:

 

Senate Banking Committee: Senator Brian Schatz (https://www.schatz.senate.gov/contact)

House of Representatives Transportation Committee: Henry J.C. Aquino (repaquino@Capitol.hawaii.gov)

References:

• ATIA SB 2302  
• People for Bikes 

about our guest blogger:

Michelle moved to Oahu a little over a year ago and quickly became a Biki user as she is determined to maintain her car-free lifestyle for as long as possible. This is her first blog post for Biki.

Have a story or bike-related news to share with the Biki community? Email kelsey@bikesharehawaii.org to get in touch.