Quality of walking and bicycling on Maui under study

State and county officials hope to improve pedestrian and bicycle pathways in Central Maui. A recent meeting at UH Maui College included about 45 residents who looked at maps and photos with private planners, highlighting dangerous intersections, blind corners, roads with no sidewalks, paths to schools zigzagging uphill and covered in brush, or cars parked on both sides of the street. The goal of the meeting was to find safer ways on foot and on bicycle to get to and from the shopping malls, public schools, the college and parks. This would allow more residents the opportunity to be physically active, thereby addressing obesity, diabetes and other health problems associated with a lack of physical activity.

According to urban design firm Chris Hart & Partners, the group hopes to come up with a Central Maui plan by June. The program is funded by a grant from the Department of Health Healthy Hawaii Initiative.