Chinatown cradles a lot of Honolulu’s rich history, and over all that time, residents have developed habitual ways of paying a visit. People have favorite shops and eateries, and the practice for many has been to swing by, dash in for the lei or takeout box, and hurry off.
Unfortunately, the increasing popularity and density of Chinatown have put pedestrians at greater risk. A plan to improve safety is taking shape in the form of “bulb-outs,” or curb extensions.
Reviews have been mixed; some businesses, wary of disruption, have been hostile. But the plan deserves a fair trial.
Like so many other parts of the city, Chinatown is growing and changing. There are plans to add to its residential population, especially housing units for the city’s growing number of seniors. People will increasingly live, work and shop in this dense and intensely active urban environment. Further, the night life has picked up in the district in recent years.
So during the day, much of the foot traffic engages the older population, while at night the patrons are younger. In either case, they intersect with vehicles in a haphazard way that has resulted in, on average, six collisions annually have involved pedestrians.
It’s in the interest of pedestrian safety that the city created the bulb-outs that, officials said, will lessen the crossing distance for pedestrians because they extend slightly into the intersection.
Hong Li, project manager for the reconfiguration, said he is making the circuit of Chinatown businesses during a three-month testing period. He said the city will work with the community to mitigate disruption to business before any concrete is poured and bulb-outs become permanent.
These adjustments could include the addition of loading zones, which should be considered. These can accommodate businesses taking deliveries or serving customers who otherwise could be discouraged from shopping there. The city must honor its commitments to ease the burden on merchants, people whose livelihood depends on smooth traffic flow.
The frustration of businesses is understandable in the short term. The passers-by, both in cars and on foot, are unaccustomed to the altered traffic patterns caused by the bulb-outs. If the initiative is to survive, the city must take the concerns seriously and address them. The businesses already have the ear of the area representative, City Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga.
However, there are other voices that must be heard. The bulb-outs are part of a Chinatown Action Plan that already has drawn community input, and some of the arguments for the changes are compelling. On the whole, the alterations to the streets seemed designed to improve the comfort of pedestrian traffic.
The bulb-outs are defined for now by pavement markings, posts and, in some places, planters serving as barriers. It doesn’t yet seem clear where a pedestrian should stand, and this is proving to be a barrier to the uninitiated.
But, officials said, the redesign ultimately ought to make shoppers feel safer and bring more customers to the businesses, not less.
The changes are part of the city’s “Complete Streets” policy: creating roadways that address the needs of pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars. Bulb-outs have a demonstrable traffic-calming effect, said Mike Packard, the city’s Complete Streets coordinator.
In addition, Li said, no legal parking spaces or loading zones have been removed. The bulb-outs have displaced some areas that have been used illegally as stopping points and obscure the view of pedestrians. That’s a clear improvement, but also an indication of an unmet community need.
For their part, some of the businesses are starting to adapt, doing their own outreach to customers. If these changes enhance the safety, walkability and popularity of Chinatown, it will be worth everyone’s effort to make them work.
