HONOLULU – As the new school year approaches, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) is reminding the public to travel safely, with caution, patience, and aloha.
The start of the new school year brings thousands of students back to the classrooms across the island. This means more traffic congestion and pedestrian foot traffic going to and from, our public schools. DTS asks drivers to please avoid all distractions in the car, to help ensure that vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and students, all make it to their destinations in a timely and safe manner. Drivers should always be aware of their surroundings at all times when operating a vehicle.
Pedestrians are asked to use crosswalks when crossing the street, and to cross only when prompted with the signal. Visibility enhancers are recommended for young children, to ensure that vehicles and other users of the roadways, can see them.
Students wishing to travel by bicycle are reminded to follow all the rules of the roadways. Helmets are REQUIRED by law for persons UNDER sixteen years of age. Additionally, no one less than 15 years of age can operate a bicycle equipped with a motor on any street or highway, as provided by State law and City ordinance.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Education (DOE) has announced that eligible high school bus riders on Oʻahu impacted by temporarily suspended school bus routes will be offered HOLO cards to ride the City’s TheBus system at no costs to parents. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HIDOE-EXPRESS.
TheBus and Skyline are options for families and students who want to utilize public transportation to get to schools or work. Youth HOLO cards are available for students at a discounted rate compared to Adult HOLO cards. Youth passes are considered for persons 6 – 17 years of age. They also include high school students up to 19 years of age who have a valid high school identification card or proof of enrollment. Youth HOLO cards are available at Satellite City Halls (except Ala Moana Center location), at the Transit Pass Office in Kalihi, or online with the Youth Fare Form. HOLO cards work for both TheBus and Skyline.
For more information on TheBus routes, please visit: www.thebus.org.
For more information on Skyline, please visit: www.honolulu.gov/skyline.
For more information on HOLO cards, please visit: www.holocard.net.