Maui Bike rides

[Jim Bryan]

Concerning the ride down the mountain.
I heard they have been stopped because of liabilities? Has anyone done it lately? Mahalo.

 

[Kauai Kid]

I'm certain that there have been a number of people injured on that bike ride when they loose control...other than that don't have any person experience.

Sterling

 

[Icarus]

The National Park administrator for Haleakala National Park has suspended bike rides inside the park and canceled the bike tour permits of all bike ride companies for operation inside the park boundaries. Nobody knows when this temporary suspension will be lifted.

However, you can still do a bike ride down the mountain. The ride will start at the park boundary. Some of the tour companies offer a van to the summit, and then back down to the entrance for your bike ride, so you can still do sunrise at the summit as part of your day. The bike companies that didn't have that type of permit (or an arrangement with another company) can't offer that van ride to the summit.

Maui Downhill is one of the companies that's still operating these tours.

-David

 

[farmer]

We were on Maui over thanksgiving and did the bike ride with Haleakula Bike Co. We rode in there van to the top, looked around for a while then rode in the van back down to about 7000' got on the bikes and coasted for 26 miles. One of the best things we have done on Maui. Wife and three kids loved it. At the time there were only two bike companies allowed to do this tour.

 

[Jim Bryan]

Thanks for the information!

 

[LisaRex]

We've done the bike ride twice. Honestly, in my opinion it wouldn't be worth the time or the money to just ride a bike down Haleakala absent the sunrise at the summit. The sunrise is the spirit of the adventure not to mention the only time you can really focus on the beauty all around you because once you get on the bike, you really need to focus on the road or you'll end up a statistic.

To give you some idea what I mean, the first time he did the bike ride, it was raining cats and dogs, so my husband didn't get to see much of a sunrise or how it lit up the crater. He took 2 pictures and rated it a "3." The second time, it was clear. He took over 50 pictures and rated it an "8." Note that the ride down was exactly the same; the only variable was the sunrise at the summit. Well, and me being with him.

Hey, maybe it was me!

 

[LisaRex]

From kaukau on Flyertalk, here's an update:

http://mauinews.com/news/2008/1/7/01bike0107.html

For those who don't want to read it, bike companies are still operating. However, only those with a tour permit can bring folks up to the summit for sunrise. All others are not allowed to enter the park.

All companies now begin the bike ride portion just outside of the park.

If you can still see the summit, I'd say it's still worthwhile. Unfortunately, because of the injunction and negative publicity, bike companies are hurting and are beginning to raise their prices to make up for the fact that they now need to hire a tour guide for inside the park along with the regular vans with all the equipment.

The park director is weighing her options and says she will now decide in early March whether bike tours can resume inside the park.

 

[Icarus]

From kaukau on Flyertalk, here's an update:

http://mauinews.com/news/2008/1/7/01bike0107.html

For those who don't want to read it ...

can just read post #3 in this thread.

-David

 

[yokatta]

Anybody know if you can still CLIMB up the crater and have support give you a ride down? Thanks.

 

[LisaRex]

can just read post #3 in this thread.

-David

Oops. I somehow missed your post.