HONOLULU (KHON2) — The need to be aware that other people exist around us and the need to understand how our actions can destroy lives has become quite evident in Oahu’s lates traffic related fatality. It’s the 12th thus far this year.
The Honolulu Police Department, Traffic Division, Vehicular Homicide Section (VHS), reported that on ‘that on Tuesday, May 14, a 66-year-old male bicyclist was traveling eastbound in the bike lane on Kalākaua Avenue.
While traveling the bicyclist collided into the opened rear passenger door of a vehicle being driven by a 65-year-old male motorist who had stopped to let out his passenger.
The result, we would later find out, was catastrophic.
The 66-year-old male bicyclist was taken to an area hospital in serious condition; but while at the hospital, the bicyclist’s condition deteriorated. So, on Friday, May 17, the Medical Examiner informed VHS that the bicyclist had succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Hawai‘i Bicycling League (HBL) is working hard to help make Honolulu’s streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. After reading the report, HBL released a statement.
“Our cycling community shares heartfelt condolences with the family and friends of the deceased gentleman as well as those of all vulnerable road users who have died,” said Eduardo Hernandez, Advocacy Director with Hawai‘i Bicycling League. “While words cannot adequately address the immeasurable loss their families are experiencing, we are united in our aloha for them and all victims of vehicular violence. We will work relentlessly to prevent future tragedies from occurring.”
HBL believes that the connection between Complete Streets, Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach is undeniable, as we can see from this incident. They explained that these approaches share a common commitment to creating safer and more accessible streets for everyone who lives in Honolulu.
“Complete Streets’ designs prioritize safety through infrastructure improvements that accommodate all road users,” explained Hernandez. “This alignment with the goals of Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach underscores the importance of these concepts in achieving our goal: eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries on our shared roadways.”
HBL has been partnering with the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, Department of Transportation Services in Honolulu and colleagues statewide. The organization has been on the forefront of championing safe streets for all as they continue to advocate for better infrastructure, better enforcement and building a safer transportation system.
It’s important all drivers remember that roadways are shared public spaces. Speed, distraction and carelessness are leading causes of fatal injury.
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“Most often, this is the behavior of people driving vehicles and the impacts fall most heavily on people walking and biking as well as other vulnerable road users,” concluded Hernandez. “If you drive, you must take extra care to look for these road users.”