Stuck in traffic? We’ve all been there before. Sitting in the H-1 parking lot, or crawling along Kalanianaole Highway at a pedestrian pace all because you left the house ten minutes later than usual; there’s an accident on our shoulder-less freeway; or maybe there’s a UH game going on (go Bows!).
While Honolulu might not be the worst in the nation for traffic, when Hawaii drivers spend an average of 37 hours a year in traffic, it can certainly feel like it. For those keeping count, we’re ranked 19, which is an improvement from dead last in 2012. So, we’ve improved, but we can do better and we believe Hui can help.
One of Hui’s many great benefits is that it can help reduce traffic congestion in Honolulu. Studies show that one car share vehicle can replace 20 private vehicles on the road and car share members drive less in general. Picture your daily commute with even just 20 less vehicles on the road. Doesn’t that make you smile?
We know what you’re thinking: How can one Hui vehicle take 20 cars off the road? Here’s what we found:
- Car share members opt for multi-modal, sustainable transportation options. Studies show that car share users experience a behavioral shift, opting for public and active transportation options like catching the bus or riding a bike. In our case, many of our Hui stations will be located next to a Biki station.
- Car share leads to reduced car ownership. According to a college market study by UC Berkeley’s Transportation Sustainability Research Center (TSRC), 42% of respondents indicated they are less likely to acquire a car in the next few years as a result of using a car share program. In Milan, a study found that 30,000 less private vehicles were purchased since car share debuted in the city.
- Car share users drive less. Another car share program found that their users drive approximately 50% less than they did when they were vehicle owners. Maybe less driving on our roads could even mean less potholes, too (fingers crossed).
We know changes won’t happen overnight, but we believe that Hui can truly make a difference for Hawaii. Here’s to the next step towards Honolulu’s mobility future because everything is better together.