HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK — Haleakala National Park officials said the first day of a "safety stand-down" that bars commercial downhill bicycle tours from the park went smoothly.

"Everything went fine," Dominic Cardea, chief interpretative ranger and public information officer, told The Maui News.

He said no commercial bicycle tours operated in the park Wednesday, the first day of the 60-day ban ordered by park Superintendent Marilyn Parris.

Parris said she wasn't at the park Wednesday but she was informed it was business as usual - just without the bike tours. She said she was pleased with the companies' actions.

"I think they have handled the transition very well. I appreciate their cooperation," Parris said.

Last week, Parris told the commercial downhill bicycle tours that they will not be able to conduct their tours at the park for at least 60 days to allow national park officials to do a study on whether the downhill bike tours can operate safely at the park.

Parris issued her order after a fatal crash last month involving a bicyclist on a tour. She also corrected a report that the park released to the media last month, saying there have been two fatalities involving riders in the park in a year, not three as originally reported.

Seven downhill bicycle tour companies held permits to conduct bicycle tours at the park. Two of those companies also have permits for vehicle tours and said they will be conducting van tours of the park prior to starting their bike tours outside park boundaries. Other companies said they would start their tours outside the park or are conducting new tours.

At least one company, Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders, has laid off its employees during the 60-day stand-down. Company officials said that they wanted to hold off on doing tours until they can make sure they are conducting "the safest tour."

The bicycle companies were told that they may comment on the park's study, and the public can also submit comments, Parris said.

While Parris said she has yet to determine how the public's comments will fit into the study, she is always open to receiving comments about the park in general.

Comments may be submitted to hale_superintendent@nps.gov, by mail at P.O. Box 369, Makawao, HI 96768 or through the Haleakala National Park Web site at www.nps.gov/hale/.