PA'IA, Maui — At least one downhill bicycle tour company is laying off all of its employees because of Haleakala National Park's decision to suspend the commercial tours at the park.

Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders has laid off its 17 employees, said Cynthia Feliciano, who runs the company with her husband, Phil.

Unlike other downhill tour companies, which will start their tours outside the park or at different locations, Cruiser Phil's will not be doing any abbreviated or new tours.

"We are holding off until we can really make sure we are the safest tour," Feliciano told the Maui News Tuesday.

Beginning yesterday, commercial downhill bicycle tours were barred from using the park for at least 60 days for a "safety stand-down" ordered by park Superintendent Marilyn Parris while studies are done on whether the tours can operate safely at the park.

Parris gave the companies notice last week, saying it was the "next prudent" step following a fatal crash last month involving a bicyclist on a tour. The fatality was the third in a year.

Seven commercial bicycle tour companies had permits to conduct bike tours at the park. Two of those companies, Haleakala Bike Co. and Maui Sunriders Bike Co., also have permits to carry passengers through the park in their vehicles and will still conduct van tours in the park — beginning their bike rides outside the park boundaries, company officials said on Tuesday.

RESERVATIONS CANCELED

Five other companies, Maui Mountain Cruisers, Maui Downhill Bicycle Tours, Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders, Mountain Riders and Bike It Maui No Ka Oi, have hired Wailuku attorney James Fosbinder to analyze what has been happening at the park. The companies make up Maui Bicycle Tours Association. All the bicycle tour companies have about a month to provide input on the situation to parks officials.

Feliciano said Cruiser Phil's canceled around 700 reservations. She said the challenge now is finding ways to keep up with the bills, such as insurance, rent and security, while waiting for the 60 days to pass.

She said the company has been assisting employees with any references they may need to find work. "We have the best employees," she said.

STAND-DOWN 'UNFAIR'

On the last day that tours were allowed through the park, riders said they didn't agree with the decision to bar bicycle tours, even temporarily.

"I don't understand it," said Denise Evans of Ohio. "There are injuries in any sport."

Evans, 51, and her 56-year-old husband, Guy, had just completed their third bicycle tour with Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders Tuesday morning.

Ed Hornbeck, who took a Bike It Maui No Ka Oi tour Tuesday, said he "didn't see the point" of the park's decision.

"I felt very safe, everything seemed in control," said the Phoenix resident.

Hornbeck and his girlfriend were eating breakfast at Charley's Restaurant in Pa'ia with the rest of their tour group.

Jeremy Cyr, who was part of the group, said the ride was a "great experience."

Although all the information he had about the issues were from the bike companies, he said he questioned the need for the stand-down, saying people get hurt from using personal watercraft and scuba diving.

Jim Fuller, owner of Charley's, said riders from Bike It Maui have been coming to have breakfast "for years and years."

"We love them," he said.

He said he will lose a steady breakfast business from the company if it can't continue the tours that end with a meal at his restaurant.

Bike It Maui employees Billy Petrak and Kimberly Kilborn said they are nervous about their jobs and how they are going to take care of their family.

"It's scary," Kilborn said.

Petrak said he feels like their livelihoods are in jeopardy.

Lory Bullock, who took a tour with Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders on Tuesday, called the stand-down "unfair" and said if bicyclists pay attention there shouldn't be accidents.

Jon Thuro, owner of Maui Mountain Cruisers, said Monday that he may need to lay off half of his 35 employees and also worried about the trickle-down effect of the loss of bike tours on local businesses such as Polli's Mexican Restaurant and Sunrise Country Market, which his tours patronize.

"There are a lot of people who are going to be affected by this," he said.