Duo-Gard Shelter Provides Honolulu Bikers a Safe Harbor

The City and County of Honolulu offers amenities many of us only dream of. It’s now added one more that supports and encourages a growing community of biking commuters. The Kalihi Transit Center for bus rapid transit recently installed new bike storage in the form of a fully enclosed shelter manufactured by Duo-Gard.

Although Honolulu has long had bike parking racks scattered throughout, this is the first secure, protected shelter serving commuters with long-term parking. Funded by a federal grant, the shelter integrates security and economy in an attractive structure.

“We want to improve our biking infrastructure,” says Mark Garrity, Deputy Director of Transportation Services. “There’s a great deal of interest in incorporating this, and it was a good opportunity to get the ball rolling.”

Economy, durability and security were the major factors in selecting the shelter. “We wanted something that was not too big or expensive, something with durability and something we could place in a compact area,” he adds.

Honolulu found its solution in Duo-Gard’s Harbor Model – or rather two of the gracefully curved, quarter-circle structures connected by a roof to form a half-circle. Glazing for the shelter is translucent 10mm twinwall polycarbonate in a green tint, complemented by bright green aluminum framing. The shelter’s footprint is 12’x18’ and it holds eight horizontal racks that accommodate 16 bikes.

A perforated metal mesh door adds both security and ventilation. An on-site security guard currently provides access to the shelter, and Garrity says later it will activate a smart-card swipe system. Duo-Gard pre-installed the internal electric system for this.

Honolulu is gaining recognition as a bicycle-friendly community. Bike lanes, bike parking and support from the Hawaii Bicycling League, plus a lot of long-range planning, all contribute to this. “We’ve been lacking a bit, but now we’re catching up, says Garrity.

This is demonstrated by a Bronze Award from the League of American Bicyclists officially designating Honolulu as a bicycle-friendly community 2014 – 2018.

The shelter at Kalihi was installed early this Spring. “The bicycling community is happy to have it there,” says Garrity. “This is part of a long-term strategy to incorporate biking accommodation into our transit centers.”

Photo Courtesy of the City and County of Honolulu