STAND. COM. REP. NO.  456

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 727

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 727 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTORCYCLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance the safety of motorists by allowing motorcycle and motor scooter lane filtering under certain conditions and with specific safeguards.

Street Bikers United Hawaii and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Transportation opposed this measure.  The Honolulu Police Department and several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee finds that there is an increase in traffic congestion, especially at peak rush hour periods on main roads and highways throughout the State.  An increasing number of motorcycles and motor scooters are being used as an alternative form of commuter transportation and their use under the right circumstances can provide for traffic relief. 

     Motorcycle lane filtering, which requires traffic to be stopped at the time a motorcycle or motor scooter passes between two same-bound lanes of stopped traffic, can help to reduce the number of vehicles within lanes and alleviate traffic congestion.  Motorcycle lane filtering also reduces the risk of motor vehicle rear end collisions with motorcycles and motor scooters and will eliminate overheating problems associated with air-cooled motorcycles and motor scooters, thereby decreasing the number of traffic incidents on the road. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that operators of a motorcycle or motor scooter may proceed cautiously between stopped lanes of traffic in the same direction at a reduced rate of speed that does not exceed ten miles per hour;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 727, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair