Haleakala Bike Tours - Curiser Phil’s Volcano Riders
In Part 3 of our series we introduced you to the Haleakala bike tour providers. Today we’re talking to Phil Feliciano, Cruiser Phil. Phil and his wife Cynthia own Cruiser Phil’s Volcano Riders.
Like the other Maui bicycle companies, Cruiser Phil’s was forced by the Park Service’s ban on commercial bike tours within Haleakala National Park to make changes in the tours it offers. What were those changes?
Also, a National Park Service report issued in March identified Cruiser Phil’s as one of the safest tour companies operating in the park. How are they able to do this?
Phil was good enough to take a few minutes and talk with us about how his business has changed since the ban and how he’s working to make his tours even safer.
MOG: How long have you been involved in the Haleakala bike tour business?
Cruiser Phil: I have been in the bicycle tour industry almost from the beginning, about 24 years. I have owned my own bicycle tour company for 10 years.
MOG: What adjustments have you made in your tours since the Park Service banned bike tours within the Park?
Cruiser Phil: Since the National Park Service banned bike tours within the National Park we have tightened up on our restrictions as to who is eligible to participate in our bike tour. Some of the changes include raising our minimum age from 12 years old to 15 years old and also capping it off at 65 years old, raising the height requirement from 4′ 11″ to 5″, lowering the maximum weight from 280 lbs. to 275 lbs. and in addition to reading and filling out an acknowledgment of risk form participants must also read and fill out a medical release form.
MOG: The NPS report says that “Cruiser Phil’s (has) very low accident rates,” how have you been able to achieve this?
Cruiser Phil: By being a hands on owner along with my many years of experience as a guide and thousands of trips down Haleakala, allows me to work closely with my employees and address issues as soon as they arise. Having the experience and knowledge of what it takes to run a safe tour along with input from my employees all contributes to making Cruiser Phil’s safety record one of the best. I also try to meet and greet our groups daily to ensure customer satisfaction.
MOG: Are you still able to take visitors to the top to see the sunrise?
Cruiser Phil: Yes, we are able to take visitors to the top to see the sunrise. We now leave our trailers outside of the National Park and give our guests a van tour of the National Park. We stage our bicycles at the 6500′ elevation, just outside of the National Park, and ride down to the town of Paia.
MOG: Why is this experience still worth doing?
Cruiser Phil: This is an experience worth doing because of the cultural significance of Haleakala to the Hawaiian culture and the amazing panoramic views. Visitors feel the mana and the majesty when they get to the top of Haleakala. Riding a bicycle downhill for 28 miles is a unique way to see Maui with breath taking views and it’s eco-friendly.
Thank you Cruiser Phil. For more information see Cruiser Phil’s Volcano Riders website.
Tomorrow our series of articles concludes as we offer our recommendations in Part 5 of “Haleakala Bike Tours.”
Photo Credit: Cruiser Phil’s
