HONOLULU (AP) - An Ewa Beach man has found a way to avoid the traffic leeward Oahu residents contend with daily: pedaling.
Chad Benson commutes 40 miles round trip to and from his downtown Honolulu job on his bicycle, becoming part of a growing national trend of those who bike to work, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (https://ow.ly/x4aEa ) reported Monday.
The number of bicycle commuters nationwide increased 60 percent over the decade starting in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Cyclists make up only 0.6 percent of total commuters, while 86.2 drive.
Honolulu, which has among the worst traffic in the country, ranks 15th among large cities in percentage of bicycle commuters at 1.8 percent. The Census Bureau estimates there are about 3,000 bike commuters in Honolulu. The League of American Bicyclists ranked Hawaii 40th among bike-friendly states.
Benson’s commute takes about an hour and 15 minutes each way. On the bus, that commute can take nearly two hours during the busy evening rush.
The 36-year-old is a clinical review nurse at The Queen’s Medical Center. He said a 25-mile bicycle fundraiser inspired him to attempt a two-wheeled commute.
“I didn’t know if I could do it or not,” he said. “So I did it and I made it and said, ’You know, this is a possibility.”
His first ride home took two hours, he recalled.
He’s learned how to navigate congested roads, areas that have no bike lanes and distracted motorists. He always wears a helmet and bright clothing and carries a repair kit.
The route home: From the hospital, he takes Punchbowl to Queen Street and Nimitz Highway to Dillingham Boulevard to the Nimitz Bike Path. Then he takes Farrington Highway and Fort Weaver Road home.
His bicycle commute has made him healthier, physically and mentally. “All of the stress of the day is gone by the time I get home,” he said.
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Information from: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, https://www.staradvertiser.com
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