Memorial Ride of Silence Part of Bike Month

Photo credit: Maui Bicycling League

As part of National Bike Month in May, the Maui Bicycling League is encouraging Maui residents to get out for a ride on one of the bicycle paths or bicycle-friendly routes found around Maui County for fun, exercise and as a possible alternative to commuting by car.

“There are rides to be found on Maui for all bicycling abilities, including for little kids with training wheels,” said Saman Dias, co-chair of Maui Bicycling League, a nonprofit organization working to make Maui a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly community.

Families with children will enjoy the relatively flat North Shore Greenway, accessed from the Kaunoa Senior Center in Sprecklesville. Riders can also join this car-free path at its starting point near Kanaha Park in Kahului.

Bikers can also ride from Pā‘ia to Baldwin Beach on the other section of the North Shore Greenway.

Two sections of the North Shore Greenway are slated to be joined in 2017, which will allow bicyclists and walkers to travel safely away from cars from Pā‘ia to Kahului.

Other options for families and those who wish to avoid cars are the Mokulele Bike Path, which runs parallel to the Mokulele Highway between Kahului and Kīhei, and the Kīhei Greenway near Kīhei Elementary School.

More advanced riders can bike from Polo Beach (near the Fairmont Kea Lani) in Wailea along the shoreline roads to Mākena Beach & Golf Resort, then on to the ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu Natural Area Reserve and to La Perouse Bay.

Other advanced level rides include:

1. Waihe‘e to ‘Īao Valley State Park
2. North Kīhei Road to the Honoapi‘ilani Highway to Wailuku
3. From Kulamalu Shopping Center in Pukalani, along Kula Highway to Keokea or to Maui’s Winery

In addition, bicyclists are urged to join Maui Bicycling League for a Memorial Ride of Silence on May 21 on the Mokulele Bike Path. The Ride of Silence is a worldwide event to honor bicyclists who have been killed or injured while riding. The group will ride in silence, 12 mph maximum, and wear white shirts/jerseys to honor those bicyclists. Those cyclists with headlights or tail lights on their bikes will be asked to ride with them on.

The ride begins promptly at 9 a.m. from the Target parking lot, goes down to N. Kīhei, where the group will take a break, and then travel back to Target, for a total of about 13 miles.

Donation of food and water are being sought for the aid stations at the halfway point and conclusion of the ride. Volunteers are also needed to help at the aid stations.

To sign up for the ride or to volunteer, email [email protected].

Maui Bicycling League recently conducted a bike ride leaders training program, in which 19 people were training to become bike tour leaders.

Visit Maui Bicycling League’s website to learn more about upcoming group rides.

National Bike Month is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling—and encourage more people to give bicycling a try.