Alii Drive

The first thing I want to mention on this blog concerns the story I don’t want to report: A severe accident involving a car smashing into a runner or cyclist. This hasn’t happened this week, but based on what I’ve seen in being here just one day, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise.

Well before sunrise this morning, as I was returning from dropping off a Triathlete Magazine photographer at the pier, I was not surprised to see the large number of triathletes on Alii drive, out for their morning workouts. Alii is the coastal pipeline that delivers visitors back and forth from the various resorts and rentals to the downtown village of Kona. It is also a famous piece of the race course.

What was alarming this morning was the risk being taken by some of the runners and triathletes. Alii is winding and narrow, and a shoulder exists on both sides of the road that runners and cyclists can use. Considering the heavy amount of motor traffic Alii sees, you’d think all on foot or on bike would stay on the shoulder side of the white lines like a diver might cling to a tank of air.

But I witnessed three cases of runners spitting the very traffic lane I was driving on. My options were limited. I came to a stop each time, because traffic coming from the other direction---including a bus---precluded my swinging wide to avoid crashing into the triathletes. The sun wasn’t up, and Alii isn’t lit with street lamps…so it was also dark out.

Many of the drivers going up and down Alii, I’m sure, keep a sharp eye out for athletes. But it’s logical to assume that one out of every twenty drivers might not have the slightest clue to worry that a triathlete might be running or biking down the middle of the road. Later in the day, after a photo shoot, Triathlete photo editor John Segesta was seeing the same thing I saw this morning: more than one triathlete taking risks with how they used the road, completely ignoring the fact that there’s a shoulder that provides them a bit of safety.

Alii is obviously a coveted place to train as well as convenient place to train, if not necessary. The traffic situation here in Kona gets a little bit worse every year, and with it the danger of an accident. Everyone needs to be mindful of this.

Comments

[TOM STEINKRAUS]

Unfortunately it happens every year. Disregard for local laws and common courtesy is one of the reasons some locals hate Ironman week. People need to remember we are guests on the Island and act accordingly. Yes, the local economy is helped by the influx of our tribe to the Big Island but the sudden increase in riders and runners causes enough stress on the streets and highways there without stupid behavior.
Since the Underpants run has helped to curb the sight of "banana hammocks" wondering the streets of Kona, maybe Huddle and Roch could organize a "Clueless Wander" to raise awareness that there are guidelines that need to be understood so we, as triathletes, don't act like such idiots.