One bicyclist was struck by a hit-and-run driver and killed yesterday and another was hit by a van and left critically injured, raising fears that injuries and deaths will increase as more riders give up their cars because of rising fuel prices.

"That is absolutely a concern," said Mitchell Nakagawa, executive director of the Hawaii Bicycling League. "Sales of bicycles are up 10 to 15 percent as a direct correlation to rising gasoline prices. With more cyclists taking to the roads, combined with the cyclists we already have on the road, it tells me that we need better education, enforcement and design."

An 18-year-old male bicyclist died early yesterday morning after being hit by a red flat-bed truck near the Dole Plantation on Kamehameha Highway, police said.

The truck was believed to be red and probably suffered extensive front end damage from the crash, police said. The driver left the scene at 1:43 a.m., headed toward the North Shore.

Anyone with information on the truck can call police traffic investigators at 529-3499.

Less than three hours later, around 4:30 a.m., a 41-year-old 'Ewa man was struck by a white van while bicycling on Fort Weaver Road near Keaunui Drive. He suffered critical injuries, according to Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city's Emergency Services.

The van's female driver, who was not injured, stayed at the scene.

SECOND DEATH THIS YEAR

Yesterday's bicycle fatality was the state's second of the year, following the June death of 63-year-old Kenzie Thompson in Kane'ohe. Thompson was also the victim of a hit-and-run driver.

From 2001 to 2007, five to seven bicyclists were killed each year in the Islands. Most of them — 86 percent — were hit by a vehicle, according to state Department of Health data.

O'ahu had 64 percent of the deaths and almost all of them — 92 percent — were male.

During the same period, there were more than 1,200 cyclist injuries each year across the state. Nearly half of the victims — 45 percent — were 14 years old or younger, according to the Department of Health.

"With the high gas prices, more adults are using bikes and in urban and metro Honolulu. We're seeing more bikes intertwining with vehicles," Cheplic said. "You have to be defensive when you're riding a bike and look out for the drivers."

Last year, EMS took 281 bicyclists to O'ahu hospitals, up from 213 in 2006. In the first half of this year, paramedics have transported 139 injured bicyclists to hospitals.

The statistics do not reflect patients who were treated and released at the scene, patients who refused treatment and other victims who were not transported by paramedics, Cheplic said.

NOT IF, BUT WHEN

"A number of bike accidents involved bike versus vehicle," Cheplic said. "But there are a number where the rider just slips on gravel or hits a pole, loses control. A lot of things can happen."

"It's not if you're going to fall, it's when," said Army 2nd Lt. Brent Bednarik, who was shopping for a new triathlon bike yesterday at McCully Bicycle & Sporting Goods on King Street.

Customers and salesmen at the store said they've noticed more riders on O'ahu roads since gas prices soared.

Nathan Kim said he rides his bicycle nearly five miles back and forth every day to his hotel job in Waikiki and has seen both vehicle and bicycle traffic get worse.

"It's getting congested, especially in Waikiki," Kim said. "With all of the traffic, everyone's scared."