A letter from PATH’s Executive Director

PATH Shifts Focus to Mission-Critical Programs and Services 

Dear Friend of PATH,

I am going to get right to the point: PATH will no longer be administering races. There are many reasons, but the bottom line is that we are going to be focusing on our mission-critical programs and services moving forward. This does not necessarily mean that the runs won’t continue. They just won’t be administered by PATH.

Every Wednesday I walk a my dear friend and mentor. We often talk about how stewarding a nonprofit organization is a bit like a long distance relay run. Each leader runs as far as they can for their era of leadership, or leg of the race. Then they hand off the “baton” (or in my case, bike and laptop), to the next leader.

I am honored to lead PATH in the next leg of the journey.

PATH’s mission remains the same: to connect the people and places of Hawaii Island with bikeways and walkways. However, in this era, PATH is shifting to focus more of our institutional energies on improving our 2 direct service and island-wide programs (1. Bike and Pedestrian Education for adults/keiki  2. HIBIKE Bikeshare), championing safe multi-modal active transportation systems at the local and state level, and leaning into equity learning and practice.

Just a few of our recent successes include:

Thanks to the visionary leadership of previous executive directors Laura Dierenfield and Tina Clothier, PATH has become a respected, valued leader in the active transportation movement throughout Hawaii Island as a whole.

 

In late April, we will be welcoming our first development director to the PATH staff, and later this year we will begin strategic planning. It is a very exciting time for PATH. Thank you for your ongoing support.

With Aloha,

Jess Thompson, PATH Executive Director

2020: Hawaii County Bikeshare by the Numbers

There’s no denying that 2020 took us all on a wild ride. And while “uncertainty” was a fitting word to describe much of the year, here on Hawai’i Island, there are a few things we’re certain of!

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and decrease in visitors to Hawai’i Island, Bikeshare ridership almost doubled in 2020. And during the peak of the pandemic, there were over 600 Bikeshare membership sign-ups in Hawai’i County!

2020: Hawaii County Bikeshare by the Numbers

There’s no denying that 2020 took us all on a wild ride. And while “uncertainty” was a fitting word to describe much of the year, here on Hawai’i Island, there are a few things we’re certain of!

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and decrease in visitors to Hawai’i Island, Bikeshare ridership almost doubled in 2020. And during the peak of the pandemic, there were over 600 Bikeshare membership sign-ups in Hawai’i County!

In 2020, we saw Bikeshare rides split 50/50 between members and casual users, as compared to 2019, which was about 88% casual rides and 12% member rides. This year, the average trip duration for members was up 8 minutes from the 2019 average duration of 22:47.

A similar trend was reported on the island of Oahu, where Biki members produced longer ride durations, since members aren’t using Bikeshare strictly for commuting anymore, but for exercise and recreation as well. This suggests that social distancing restrictions have prompted users to bike more as they find cycling a safe (and enjoyable) socially distant activity.

Below are some more 2020 statistics on Big Island Bikeshare that we’re certain you’ll find interesting: *

7: The number of Hawaii Bikeshare stations in Kona, HI
4: The number of Hawaii Bikeshare stations in Hilo, HI
14, 739:  The total number of rides taken in 2020
6,471:  The total number of rides taken in 2020 by members
6,546:  The total number of rides taken in 2020 by casual users
7,655.5 hours:  The total duration of rides on Hawaii Bikeshare bikes in 2020
About 98,756 km:  The total distance covered on Hawaii Bikeshare bikes in 2020**
3,294:  The total number of unique Bikeshare riders in 2020
805:  The total number of Hawaii Bikeshare members in 2020.
2,489:  The total number of Bikeshare casual users in 2020.
 May 10: The day with the most rides in 2020; The number of rides that day were 144.
May, November, January: The top 3 months with the most rides in 2020; 2,328 rides in May, 1,470 rides in November, and 1,383 rides in January.
Sunday: The most popular day of the week to ride in 2020.
5 pm: The most popular time of the week to ride.
35:27:  The average overall duration of a ride in 2020.
31:08:  The average duration of a ride for registered members.
39:45:  The average duration of a ride for casual users in 2020. ***
$25 per month: The cost of Unlimited 60 minute rides with the Bikeshare Subscription Plan

$15 per month: The cost of Unlimited 30 minute rides with the Bikeshare Subscription Plan

$20: The cost of a one-time Free spirit purchase of 300 minutes to use whenever you like.

$3.50: The cost of a one-time Single 30-minute ride.

$60:  The cost of a monthly Hawaii Country MT pass.

$0.00!!!  The cost of mostly Bikeshare membership for Hawaii MT pass holders.

MT annual membership and Bikeshare membership in one! 

No, we didn’t miscalculate our end of year numbers – Mass Transit monthly pass holders really don’t pay a cent for the monthly Bikeshare membership!

Monthly County of Hawaii Mass Transit Agency (COH MT) pass holders will receive an order form to sign up for free monthly Bikeshare Membership. Once you sign up, you’ll be sent a Bikeshare Membership card in the mail. Pass holders can then use the card to unlock bikes for an unlimited number of 60-minute Bikeshare rides per month!

Hele-On, Ride On Hawai’i!?

Yes, Bikeshare Membership really is FREE to all interested Hele-On pass holders.

When you become a Mass Transit monthly pass holders, you also get daily ride time (good for your health and your wallet)!

In conjunction with using the bus, you can use the Bikeshare System and hop on one of our bikes for free. It’s a great transportation option for the first or last mile of your commute to work, school, or just for fun and fitness!

How to Purchase Mass Transit Passes

You can find information on purchasing monthly MT passes here: www.heleonbus.org/hele-on-fares

Hele-On monthly passes are good for unlimited bus rides on all bus routes. Monthly passes are available for purchase here: ?

Mo’oheau Bus Terminal Information Center, 329 Kamehemeha Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 969-3163.

Or by mail using this form: www.heleonbus.org/transit-info-and-statistics/Bus%20Pass-ticket%20order%20form.pdf

As we start 2021, stay safe out there, smile… and get ready to Hele-On and Ride on into the new year!

*From January 1 to November 30, 2020.

**Grace period trips removed. A grace period trip is when the user returns the bike within 30 seconds of release because of unfamiliarity with the release process of the bike, desiring to switch to a different bike, or other reasons. 

***In addition to the grace period trips, any trip exceeding 5 hours was removed from total or average trip duration calculations since 5 hours ride time is the maximum any plan has to offer. To find the total distance, the average distance travelled calculation methodology of NACTO in which they assumed an average speed of 8mph or 12.9kmh was adopted (This is a rough estimation).

Beat the holiday stress with a bike ride!

Happy First Day of Winter! Tis the season for celebrating and spending time with family. Even if that looks a little different in 2020, the holidays are still a fun time of year – And a busy one!

Beat the holiday stress with a bike ride!

According to a recent study, one in three cyclists report that bicycling reduces their stress levels. Riding a bike has been proven to:

1. Help reduce the cortisol level in your bloodstream, which leads to a decrease in the symptoms of stress (including high blood pressure and lowered immunity).

2. Positively impact brain serotonin to improve your sleep cycles to keep you feeling energized.

3. Help reduce anxiety and decrease stress to improve a rider’s overall mental health.

You can use your Mass Transit pass for FREE Bikeshare Membership too!

It’s easy! Current monthly County of Hawaii Mass Transit Agency (COH MT) pass holders will be receiving an order form to sign up for your free monthly Bikeshare Membership!

Once an MT pass holder signs up, you will be sent a Bikeshare Membership card in the mail. Use the card to unlock the bikes for an unlimited number of 60-minute bikeshare rides per month.

You don’t pay a cent!

As a MT monthly pass holderyou don’t pay a cent for the monthly bikeshare membership – It is FREE to all interested Hele-On MT monthly pass holders.

That means that in conjunction with using the bus, you can use the Bikeshare System as a free transportation option, so hop on one of our bikes. It’s a great transportation option for the first or last mile of your commute!

Ready to hop off Hele-On to ride a Bikeshare bike? Here are a few tips to keep you safe:

1. Ride with traffic

2. Wear a helmet!

3. Don’t forget, social distancing is still important to slow the spread of COVID-19. When riding, aim for a physical distance of at least six feet from others you pass on the road. And whenever possible, wear a mask while riding

Remember to make time to destress, stay safe out there, smile… and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year!

*From January 1 to November 30, 2020.

**Grace period trips removed. A grace period trip is when the user returns the bike within 30 seconds of release because of unfamiliarity with the release process of the bike, desiring to switch to a different bike, or other reasons. 

***In addition to the grace period trips, any trip exceeding 5 hours was removed from total or average trip duration calculations since 5 hours ride time is the maximum any plan has to offer. To find the total distance, the average distance travelled calculation methodology of NACTO in which they assumed an average speed of 8mph or 12.9kmh was adopted (This is a rough estimation).