I took a year off from bike commuting in 2009, for various reasons. It was a welcome change of pace. This month I'm buying a new car, losing a housemate, getting a new apartment, acquiring new interests. I just changed out a flat-prone tube in my commuter, and it needs a new cassette and chain. In 2010 I'm ready to get back on the skinnies. Of course, with new every year the traffic is worse than ever.

Hey, I might even be around here again.

Why did you take a year off commuting? Sounds like a very bad thing to do.

The primary purpose of bike commuting for me was to minimize wear & tear on my car, and about a year ago I decided that this was my car's last year so that stopped being a motivation. My commuting route sucks, so I also got tired of dealing with traffic, construction and road hazards. I also started to enjoy sleeping in a little longer in the morning, being able to go to the coffee shop and/or store before and after work, and not having to take the extra shower in the evening which increases house humidity and mildew problems in the tropics. A break is good.

Tomorrow is my last work day of 2009, but I'm designating it to be my first bike commute day of 2010. I'm wondering if the University rent-a-cops will try to stop me from biking down my old route through campus, since the administration officially "closed" that road a couple weeks ago as part of cost saving measures during holiday break. You never know when a security guy will go on a power trip.

Closing roads is a "cost savings measure?"

Glad you're back into it - I couldn't imagine living in Hawaii and taking a year off from cycling . It's currently 11 degrees out (-6 degrees wind chill) where I live .

Not if they have to pay security to keep people from using it. You are probably safe.

They don't have to light them at night if they're closed. They're even taking names and license plate numbers at the entrance now to try to keep people out of campus parking lots. The security office is not far from one of the barricades and I have to pass it if I ride through campus. I read in the paper that they just slashed University faculty/staff pay by about 7% as well. Major budget crisis here.

you can stop at the desk and ask. welcome back. Hawai'i? seriously? How's the weather. it stinks here.

My brother works for the University on O'ahu. He's been furloughed for the holidays as a cost savings measure.

I've only spent a day in Hilo but I know on O'ahu the cycling infrastructure isn't the best though the climate is about ideal. Hilo seemed quite a bit wetter but still very nice.

Welcome back. Hopefully the New Year will have you commuting like old. I also know our school closed a road so they don't have to plow (and of course light it). They also said it allows the wildlife to migrate to and from our nature preserve unobstructed. I think they cited some rare animal but I think they are afraid of the squirrels.

Well, they haven't started harassing bicyclists like that here at Manoa yet although they theoretically closed the campus, the air conditioning is still on in my building. Yes, they think they cut our pay but they have done it illegally and we will win in court. I like the Big Island and Hilo but my wife has asthma, so until Kilauea stops kicking out the vog I have to stay here on O'ahu. Anyway, let me know if they harass you ... the University has a commitment to sustainability as part of its strategic plan so they should be doing everything they can to facilitate bicycling.

A few years back I went to Hawaii (Oahu) with just my bike and a backpack full of stuff. I had no problem getting around. I LOVED it - nothing like cycling by the ocean in a tropical paradise . I would love to do that again.

It's also one of the first places I've seen where the buses have bike racks on them.

After an above-average rain year the el-nino has suddenly taken hold over the last few weeks and we are in a hot drought.

Doesn't seem like it'll stop pumping the lava within our lifetime, but nobody knows. I just hope Mauna Loa stays dormant, because the last time it went off we lost a lot of native wilderness.

Haha, I was counting 'akohekohe at Waikamoi in September. Hopefully again later this year.

Just got back from the palila survey, and now have to go back to work tomorrow...sigh...

It would be nice to have some "nature" on campus, instead of weeds. The only wildlife on that road is the feral cat colonies. Since the streetlights are out I need to be extra careful not to run over one. Like squirrels, they're oddly attracted to tires.

Unfortunately like many places it's getting more crowded, and the traffic problems are steadily increasing. The culture is very car-centered here.