 Aloha and welcome. My name is Peter Rossig and this is the two-wheel revolution on ThinkTech Hawaii, the program where we talk about micro mobility or personal mobility, e-bikes and e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, walking and any other way you can use your own engine to a little bit of a boost to get around without using an automobile. So we are very fortunate today to have Jess Thompson, who is with the Hawaii Public Health Institute and she's going to tell us about their activities. Jess, welcome. Thank you so much for doing this. Thank you so much. So happy to be here. All right. So when I first picked up your card, I thought it said Simon Program Manager. But when I looked who are closely, it's SAIM Program Manager. So you got to tell us what is SAIM? SAIM is an acronym for Safe, Accessible and Inclusive Mobility Program Manager at Hifi. All right. That's terrific. And just for the record, since what is Hifi? It's not a kind of, it's not how I hear my music, I don't think so. It's also an acronym and it is an acronym for Hawaii Public Health Institute. We are the only statewide public health institute in Hawaii. Okay. And this is what? A private nonprofit, I guess. Yeah. This is a nonprofit and we've actually been around since 2012, well, since originally 1996. And we began as the Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii. In 2012, the organization moved from a singular focus on tobacco to a broader public health mission. And we really became the first and only public health institute serving Hawaii. Our work also includes food and agriculture access, obviously transportation and mobility, oral health, healthy evening, active living specifically in regards to systems issues and access issues, drug and alcohol prevention, tobacco, COVID-19. We have a lot of different programs and projects. And the SAIM Department, Safe, Accessible and Inclusive Ability is only a nine-month-old program of Hifi. So we're just emerging. And how did the, I don't think most people would automatically think of transportation or especially personal mobility as a public health issue. Most people would say, oh, it's a drug, it's a traffic guard, it's a law enforcement or something else. How does it become a public health issue? So there's just been growing awareness within public health institutions that the way we have designed our communities, we often call that the built environment, either promotes or prevents people from moving their bodies by walking, bicycling, as you said, you know, e-scootering, e-biking, and also taking mass transit where they need to go. And we know that health is tied to access to fresh healthy foods and also easy access to places to walk and roll. And the job of the SAIM Department, which is currently Department of One, but will be growing, is to connect people with lived experience. So people living in communities, specifically people who are most impacted by poor public built environment design to government and health resources to make our mobility system safer and more inclusive. So that's our goal. All right. Well, you've picked a very easy goal. It'll be no trouble at all. Oh, I mean, yeah. All straight and out and no time at all, right? One year, probably. Well, I think you've got lifetime employment because this is going to be a continuing problem. We see it all over and we see, you know, we see the effects in bad public health, but also in the environment of not enough people taking advantage of the ways you can get around without necessarily using your car. There are, we're getting more and more public transit and more and more bike lanes and all the rest. So how do you, what do you do? I mean, how do you, once you started said, okay, transportation, personal mobility is a public health issue. What's the next step? So anything in public health really, you know, involves coalition building. And so public is, you know, the word public is the idea of people, a collective group of people. And our job is to connect with each other over why have our communities been built the way that they are. And we need to get really curious about that. And we know that there are proven responses that support improved health safety access, inclusivity in what we call the public right of way or the places in which we have shared access to being mobile. Three that come to mind our vision zero, which is, you know, a six pronged strategy, which we call the six ease. Yeah, we had, we had Daniel Alexander on the recent program talking about vision zero. So you know exactly, yeah. Well, I know, but go ahead, tell tell our audience about a little more about how that interacts with what you do. Well, you know, this it's a policy issue. First, it's a policy issue to make the change. First, we have to make a policy, then we have to fund it, then we have to implement it. And we're, you know, the state has implemented both vision zero and complete streets as policies that they would like to see implemented. The counties are at differing places for that. A real challenge that we see now is implementation. We've essentially designed the built environment to prevent people from safely walking and rolling on a regular basis, specifically our most vulnerable road users, which we know to be our capuna, our students directly before and after school, and people who are commuting via mass transit at night. So because we have designed a system, we know that is inequitable. It's bad for our public health. It's bad for our climate. And it's bad at actually getting people where they need to go in a timely fashion. We have to retrofit it. And we looked at vision zero and complete streets as and say for us to school as policies that can help us move that along. We have those policies. We are getting a lot more funding thanks to the BIL. But thanks to thanks to what exactly the federal infrastructure, you know, money that is coming down through the federal Department of Transportation, there's lots and lots of federal money being poured into, you know, solving and retrofitting our communities for safer and more accessible mobility. But really honestly, a challenge for us is implementing it. So we have these policies. And we, you know, we don't have a lot of, there's not a lot of political and actual, I don't want to say will, but I would say experience in how we bring these funds to bear on the streets for the people by the people of the people. I know every time people put in traffic calming or speed bumps, I'm sure the Department of Transportation and Department of Transportation Services get pushed back from people on that kind of stuff. Why are you slowing me down? Why are you ruining my tires? Is that what you mean by experience? Yeah, there's that. That's definitely one. We need like actual, you know, public involvement for the people who are walking and rolling and taking the bus to say, and also drivers, like my husband and probably all of us, many of us who watch, who are watching this show. So it takes all of us asking for this. And also legitimately, there are challenges in spending federal funds. And our state does not have as much as experience as other states, for example, Oregon, Minnesota, you know, plenty of other states are taking advantage of the federal funds and have figured out a way to get them on the ground on the streets faster and better. And we're still working to figure out what the road bumps are, so to speak, in getting those federal funds. So you work with Vision Zero, you work with the streets program in the city. Are there other organizations or institutions that you work with to get this work going? Yeah, so, you know, those are policies that we support. And statewide, we don't have a Vision Zero, we have a statewide policy, but we don't actually have an office in the same way. So the city and county of Honolulu has a pretty progressive and better funded department for Vision Zero and Complete Streets to move those policies forward. The neighboring counties do not have that period. And so we operate statewide and we support counties and communities in the counties, trying to figure out how we can best help them realize Complete Streets and Vision Zero policies on the ground. So the community, you know, a lot of the grassroots communities that we work with include K-Vibe, KKV, and Kalihi. No more, we can't do acronyms. K-Vibe is the Kalihi Valley bike experience. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Okay. And the other one? And KKV is there? Kalihi Valley. Yes, exactly. Okay, good. Good. Thank you. All right. But we got the knots talking acronyms if we're going to talk to people who don't know acronyms. So if we know anything about transportation professionals, it's that... I love that jargon. I love that jargon. I love to put up a lot of signs. So we know that here on Oahu, there is kind of a mini epidemic of all the traffic crashes of deaths, all the pedestrians of deaths of people in automobiles. Is it similar on the neighbor islands to neighboring counties that there's a lot more traffic crashes? I'm not saying accidents anymore. I've learned not to say accidents. We say traffic crashes. Crashing. Just hope. It's a design. It's a design. Yes. So is it also happening on the neighboring counties to the neighboring counties? Yeah. And, you know, some of the reasons are besides the fact that we've designed, you know, a really terrible system in many ways for our health of our peoples and the health of our planet. Also, our cars are just too big. And, you know, the bigger your car goes, the faster you're moving, the more dangerous that vehicle becomes. And so, number one, our cars are too big. Number two, too few people in each of those big cars. Our cars are not currently built for the safety, our roads are not currently built for the safety walkers and rollers and people who take mass transit. And then, three, our mass transit systems are not frequent enough. And especially in rural areas of Hawaii, especially the neighboring counties, it is a real barrier to getting where you need to go. And it definitely affects public health. We know that people who do not have access to safe, frequent, accessible mass transit, who live in rural areas are going to, you know, suffer from all sorts of public, you know, or excuse me, health issues, detrimental health issues like social isolation, depression, not having access to medical care, food, you name it. And so, we could solve this issue for our planet and our health tomorrow if we made our car smaller, if we redesigned our roads so that they slowed cars down and made room for people who are walking, rolling, and taking mass transit. And if we increase our mass transit frequency and reliability statewide. So, the question really is to me, we've had this basic infrastructure for a long time. And if, in a way, in Oahu at least, it's gotten a little better with some bike lanes and some some traffic slowing, the speed bumps and some calming measures. And yet in the last couple of years, we've had this increase actually in the number of deaths from traffic crashes. And Daniel Alexander, Vision Zero, pointed out that even during the pandemic, when there were a lot fewer drivers, people not as many people on the road, the numbers didn't go down. So, why do we right now, do you have any ideas about why right now we seem to be experiencing this mini epidemic of deaths one on average one on Oahu on average one a week. And as you know, that means 52 people and hundreds of relatives and friends and and people who are impacted by this. So, why is it any idea why it's going up? Our cars are getting bigger. And, you know, it's a lack of political will to move at the speed at which we probably need to move. And that's just the reality of it. There are some some promising spots, certainly, you know, the DOT, HDOT putting in the race crosswalks. We're looking forward to seeing the scale that, you know, that's kind of the scale that we're talking about that we would need to see changes. We're hopeful that those are being rolled out this year at, you know, at the scale at which we'd like to see. Hopefully those are going to make some improvements. You know, it really comes down to is this a problem that we collectively want to solve? Do we see this collectively as a problem that needs to be solving or do we see it as collateral damage? I, you know, for the life that has, you know, been created here. And it's not just here. It's, you know, these are definitely data and experiences that we're seeing across the country as well. So it's no, We're not, we're not potentially unique. I don't think in that, in that respect. No. So we, we, if we saw it as the climate emergency and the public health emergency that it is, we would find the solutions quickly. And my hope is that we are going to see the movement continue to grow. I was really, you know, you and I met at a really powerful event where we, there were a lot of people doing very similar advocacy kind of work all in the same room together for the first time, possibly saying where, why this is an emergency. Why are we not doing more? And we were able to, you know, see some big successes this year. We were able to pass, you know, the safe process school, the bill, the HB 600. It allocates $20 million. I mean, it's a drop in the bucket, but compared to what we were getting before, which was, uh, it's, it's a win. Um, it, you know, it, it, um, it outlines the, um, the need for a task force, um, of stakeholders committed to solving this problem. Um, it requires that that county and H dot have safe process school coordinators, um, who are dedicated to using, um, vision zero, complete street, safe systems approaches, uh, to solve some of these issues. So, um, so there's hope. Well, if you look at some of the examples of public health efforts, I mean, smoking year is, I didn't know that you started out as a coalition. Yeah. I have that tobacco coalition. Smoking has gone way down. Uh, that's a public health win. I think everybody uses a seat belt nowadays. That's a public health win. Uh, there's, uh, you know, teen pregnancies, uh, drug use in some areas at any rate, uh, teen drug use going down. So I, I think there's some reason to say, you know, public health is the way to go. Law enforcement has its place and advocacy has its place. But, uh, if we can see it as a health issue, uh, maybe more people get on board. I hope so. That's my hope. And I believe it, you know, if we look at other places, um, you know, we know that that is true. And so, and the history of, you know, um, the interconnectedness of Hawaii, um, and if we can get back to, um, seeing, um, indigenous ways of knowing, um, and doing as, you know, leading the way, uh, for us to live in balance, um, which means, of course, uh, listening and believing, the people most impacted by disinvestment, um, and systemic oppression such as native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, including Micronesian peoples. And so, um, you know, I think that is going to be the, the, the coming, um, opportunity for the movement, uh, for public health and, uh, mobility is to really get curious, um, and, uh, and believe people, um, when they share what solutions they need in their communities to make it safer and more accessible for them to get where they need to go. You're just launching a new website, I understand. Can you tell us a little bit about it? Yeah, uh, could not be more excited about this. Um, so we have, uh, you know, we have funding from the Department of Health, essentially, to create, um, what is the Health and Physical Activity Hub. Um, and we have, in doing surveys of our community partners and asking them what kind of information would you like to, you know, this website to include, overwhelmingly, we heard that we wanted the information to center, um, the people who have, um, historically and currently been impacted by systemic inequities. Um, and so we know that Kapuna and Kiki are some of our, um, the age groups that are most impacted by inequitable outcomes right now. Um, only 11% of high school girls are actually getting the physical activity that they need. Um, and a big part of that is just a lack of safe places to walk, roll, walk and roll, um, in the public right of way. And so we created, uh, along with Kaveh Mahi Roberts. Um, she was a partner in this project, um, a one-stop place for you to get any information you want about what, safe walking, biking, rolling, event, policy, you name it. Um, and it is like no other, uh, one-stop hub I have ever seen for active transportation. Um, and I am so excited about its launch September 1st. So yeah. Well, in a future program, I'm going to have some, some visuals from that and we're going to make an effort to, uh, to really, really publicize that. Maybe I can get the artist to come on and maybe the two of you or the artist can tell us about how, uh, this came to be because it's very, it is very exciting. Uh, yeah. It would be great if you would, because let me just tell you about Kavehine, how she came to this. So we did a project, a quick build project, uh, in Kaukaha, uh, in Kaukaha on Hawaii Island is, um, is a beautiful neighborhood. Um, it's on, it's a DHHL land. Um, and it's the third oldest, uh, DHHL community in the state. Um, it is, uh, the school is in the pico of the, um, community and the pico for those who are my, both of my viewers who don't know is the belly button. It's the middle. Yeah. Yeah. And so it is, um, the school is, is basically, um, a large four, um, block or a block square, um, center with school, um, the fire department, the, uh, baseball fields are there. And the parking was in the, um, basically was back in all the way around the entire pico. So the kids when leaving school would have to walk in front of the cars to get to where they need to go. So we did a quick build project, uh, you know, surveyed the community, gave the community options, three options on how to improve it. They picked the one that put a walkway around the entire pico so that the kids would be safe from the cars. Um, and then we hired an artist from the community and it was Kaveti Mahi Roberts who, um, created the most beautiful murals you have ever seen that are tied to the plants and the kids helped design it and paint it in the, in the pico. Um, and she became just, um, a true champion for transportation equity and, um, and has participated in the transportation equity Huey, um, statewide. And I can't say enough great things about her. Well, we're, we're definitely going to have her and I hope we'll have you back again, uh, in a month or two. And we will talk about this because, uh, this is exactly the kind of thing that I love to hear about. And I think our many viewers like to hear about as well. So we've only got a couple of minutes left. And, uh, so you're a department of one now, but what's the plan going forward? Um, the plan is, uh, to hire, um, a program coordinator, uh, and we have, um, within the next year or so, um, and we're identifying funding for where that can, um, come from. Uh, and ideally we will have, um, eventually, uh, folks on each island that are dedicated to, you know, supporting communities like Keokaha that are interested in, um, solving a lot of the, um, uh, inequitable built environment issue. I will say if, if, if you, if Simon or Sam has only one advocate, they couldn't have a better one than you. You're just as enthusiastic, uh, you know, on a long-term uphill battle to be very frank as soon as anybody could possibly be. So that is, that is terrific. So we've been talking to Jess Thompson, uh, who is the, uh, tell me what Sam stands for, Simon. Say if accessible and inclusive mobility program manager. There we go. I love it. Uh, part of the, uh, institute, uh, part of the Hawaii Public Health Institute. If you want to see their new website, the easiest way is to go to, uh, H-I-P-H-I-Hi-Fi, the Hawaii Institute of Public Health, the Hawaii, H-I-PublicHealthInstitute.org, we'll get that right sooner or later, uh, H-I-P-H-I.org, and there'll be a link there to take you to this, uh, Health and Safety, uh, um, hub. And, uh, I haven't seen it, but I'm told it's a stunningly beautiful website. So please take advantage of that. We're going to learn more about it in a later program. Jess, I want to thank you so much. Uh, it has been educational for me. I didn't even know there was a transportation equity, uh, who we saw, you know, and now I got to go find out about that. I really appreciate the time you've given us and, um, I hope our, our both my regular viewers and many other people will learn about it going forward. Uh, and, uh, all I can say is that we hope and thank you. Thank you so much.