Hawaii Resident
Honolulu,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, November 09, 2007
I am sorry to hear of your bad experience. I am hoping this incident will not discourge you from visiting our islands in the future. Currently, downhill bike tours from Haleakala National Park have been temporarily halted while studies are done on whether the tours can operate safely at the park. This follows a recent fatal crash involving a bicyclist on a tour. The fatality was the third in a year. Below is an article that appeared in the October 2007 issue of the Maui News: SUSPENSION OF DOWNHILL BIKE TOURS A TOUGH BLOW FOR MANY Maui News October 2007 PAIA Maui At least one downhill bicycle tour company is laying off all of its employees because of Haleakala National Park's decision to suspend the commercial tours at the park. Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders has laid off its 17 employees, said Cynthia Feliciano, who runs the company with her husband, Phil. Unlike other downhill tour companies, which will start their tours outside the park or at different locations, Cruiser Phil's will not be doing any abbreviated or new tours. "We are holding off until we can really make sure we are the safest tour," Feliciano told the Maui News Tuesday. Beginning yesterday, commercial downhill bicycle tours were barred from using the park for at least 60 days for a "safety stand-down" ordered by park Superintendent Marilyn Parris while studies are done on whether the tours can operate safely at the park. Parris gave the companies notice last week, saying it was the "next prudent" step following a fatal crash last month involving a bicyclist on a tour. The fatality was the third in a year. Seven commercial bicycle tour companies had permits to conduct bike tours at the park. Two of those companies, Haleakala Bike Co. and Maui Sunriders Bike Co., also have permits to carry passengers through the park in their vehicles and will still conduct van tours in the park beginning their bike rides outside the park boundaries, company officials said on Tuesday. RESERVATIONS CANCELED Five other companies, Maui Mountain Cruisers, Maui Downhill Bicycle Tours, Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders, Mountain Riders and Bike It Maui No Ka Oi, have hired Wailuku attorney James Fosbinder to analyze what has been happening at the park. The companies make up Maui Bicycle Tours Association. All the bicycle tour companies have about a month to provide input on the situation to parks officials.