Official Statement of the Hawai‘i Bicycling League
In Response to Governor Green’s Executive Order No. 25-08
Click here to view E.O. 25-08 Establishing a Comprehensive Framework for Statewide Traffic and Roadway Safety.
Honolulu, HI – The Hawai‘i Bicycling League (HBL) commends Governor Green’s call for urgent action to improve safety on Hawai‘i’s roadways, particularly for our most vulnerable road users. The number of traffic fatalities we have seen this year is alarming, and it is clear that a collaborative effort is needed to address these issues. HBL is committed to being part of the solution. Many of the measures highlighted in the Executive Order are already in motion and are anticipated to be reflected in legislation during the next session.
In July 2023, Governor Green signed seven bills aimed at increasing roadway safety. Among them, Act 242 created the Highway Safety and Modernization Council to provide oversight and accountability. Unfortunately, the Council has never met, and the existing Governor’s Highway Safety Council has not convened in several years. In 2025, the Legislature advanced important updates to definitions and regulations for electric bicycles and other micro-mobility devices through HB 958, which the Governor unfortunately vetoed earlier this year. A revised version of this bill will be introduced in 2026. We were disappointed to see the lack of roadway safety emphasis in the Governor’s 2025 policy report but are encouraged by this recent Executive Order.
HBL has long emphasized that roadway safety is a shared responsibility, whether walking, biking, rolling, or driving. We strongly support Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach, which emphasize safer roads, safer speeds, safer people, and post-crash care. For too long, Hawai‘i’s roads have prioritized motor vehicles, creating conditions that encourage unsafe speeds and put people at risk.
Worldwide models show that change is possible. Just last month, Helsinki, Finland marked a full year without a single traffic fatality, an achievement Hawai‘i aspires to. We also applaud the Department of Health’s launch of the Vision Zero Hawai‘i campaign, building on the 2019 law that set the goal of reducing traffic fatalities to zero.
Across our islands, achieving safer roads requires updating our traffic code with modern definitions that reflect today’s mobility technologies, as well as investing in safe, separated facilities for people walking, biking, and rolling. Projects such as O‘ahu’s South Shore Path, Ke Ala Pūpūkea on O‘ahu’s North Shore, Ke Ala Hele Makālae on Kaua‘i, the West Maui Greenway, and the Hilo Bayfront Trails on Hawai‘i Island demonstrate the transformative potential of multi-use paths to provide safe, healthy, and resilient transportation options.
HBL remains committed to working with elected officials, policymakers, educators, and the public to ensure that every person in Hawai‘i has access to affordable, healthy, and safe ways to move through our communities.