New Bike Trails on Maui for Both Road and Mountain Bikes
James Boote
"The Maui bike trail between Baldwin Beach Park and Paia, Maui.
Just returning from Europe where were we were fortunate to get to watch a few stages of the 100th running of the Tour de France. Upon returning to Maui and catching up in the Lahaina bike shop we were happy to be greeted with news of progress on a couple new bike trails on Maui! First, a new mountain bike trail is being built in the Makawao Forest! Read below for details of public work day today and the remaining Saturdays in July. Cruiser bike riders and family cyclists are getting a new bike trail on the North Shore of Maui.
It is fantastic to hear there is progress on the 20 year old project connecting the bike trails between Paia and Kahului. Originally initiated by Cruiser Bob, the trail was envisioned as a way to modernize and recreate the old Hawaiian Kings Trail. Beginning more than 20 years ago, the project is nearly 75% complete now and some money for the final section was received last year. The final section will eventually connect a full 7 mile stretch of multi-use trail and bikeway linking Paia to Kahului. The initial sections of the project included a trail circumventing the airport in Kahului and connecting Kahului to the areas of Kaunoa. The most recent finished phase completed the trail between Baldwin and Paia. Progress has been made to complete the final trail section between the two and connect the entire 7 mile stretch! With funding received last year for the Environmental Assessments and Design work, the next phases include construction funding to procure a contractor via a bid process to build the project.
A cyclist riding on the bike trail in Paia Maui.
The current trails and remaining final sections are all multi-use trails intended to be shared between cyclists, joggers and pedestrians. The Maui county Mayor claims the components of the North Shore Greenway are a model for the entire county with hopes to emulate the model in other parts of the county. The public is invited to participate and work with the county to initiate a program in their area. NPAC MAUI, Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, put together a few promotional videos with viewpoints about the Northshore Greenway Project. Informative segments featuring the Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa, Irene Bowie from Maui Tomorrow, Maui County Council Member Mike White, Walter Enomoto of the Maui Bicycle Alliance, and Maui County Director of Public Works David Goode are included. Watch the short 6 minute, 36 second video discussing The Northshore Greenway on the north coast of Maui, then scroll down to find out about how you can help build a new mountain bike trail in the Makawao Forest Reserve:
New Maui Mountain Bike Trail in Makawao Forest Reserve
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Get out on Saturdays in July to Dig new Mountain Bike Trail!Did you know there is a new mountain bike trail on Maui?
The Maui Mountain Bike Coalition is coordinating effort with the Na Ala Hele and Trail Solutions for a trail work days in the Kahakapao Recreational Area of the Makawao Forest Reserve. Tools will be supplied but bring your own gloves, water and a snack. You’ll be grooming a newly cut trail in the Makawao Forest on Saturday, July 13. Work begins at 8:30 am. Per the DNLR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) the mountain bike trail runs parallel for about 2 miles along an existing multi-use trail section of the the Kahakapao Loop Trail. If you can’t make it today, you can still help as every Saturday in July is a work day to build a new mountain bike trail! Head over to the Maui Mountain Bike Coalition Facebook page for details of the Kahakapao trail building work going on during July.
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