Transportation Wheels

During the 2012 Miami Beach Community Survey, a large percentage of residents opined that the city did not have sufficient parking. Half of them said they would take a local bus or ride a bicycle, and a third voiced support for public transportation to the mainland. Miami Beach continues to make great strides when it comes to improving its parking and transportation options whether you use a vehicle, bicycle or bus. The latest efforts are making it easier to hit the beach, dine, shop and have fun in the city by offering more parking solutions and exploring other ways to facilitate getting around. City officials are looking at new ways to improve mass transportation in, out and around the island. This includes preliminary discussions exploring a wire-free overhead streetcar as a possible solution that would provide a connection between Miami Beach and Miami to help improve circulation within the island. In early 2013, officials will also study the possibility of linking the high density residential and commercial areas of North and Middle Beach to South Beach, with a new bus circulator similar to the South Beach Local. A draft of the feasibility study, funded by a grant from the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization, has been completed. City officials will be meeting with Miami-Dade Transit to determine, among other procurement options, whether or not a partnership with the county similar to the South Beach Local circulator can be implemented. The bicycle continues to be a popular mode of transportation for many on the beach. One in four South Beach residents walks or cycles as their primary mode of transportation. Recent Census data lists Miami Beach as one of the countrys top ten cities for biking to work. The city boasts approximately 150 bike racks and an estimated 500 that will be added by 2015. This past November, the Deco Bike rental program, launched in 2011, celebrated its four millionth ride and $1.6 million in total trips. The Citys Atlantic Greenway Network Master Plan brought a shared lane to Washington Avenue. A new bike path is currently being completed on Dade Boulevard, and future bike lanes will installed along Washington Court and 22 Street, with connection to the beachwalk. I cant wait until this project [Dade Boulevard project] is completed, it will make me feel much better about riding my bike, said Dania Diez, who rides for fun, exercise, and to her job from the Venetian Islands to Collins Avenue, and does not own a vehicle. The Dade Boulevard path will create an east-west connection from the Venetian Causeway to Convention Center Drive. Other wheels are also turning in Miami Beach. Segways are fairly new to Miami Beachs transportation scene. Recently, Miami Beach adopted

Move Forward
IVETTE DIAZ
regulations concerning the operation of these two-wheeled devices in the interest of safety. The Citys Code prohibits Segways from exceeding eight miles per hour or operating in certain locations, said Miami Beach Transportation Manager Jose Gonzalez. The Code prohibits the devices from operating on the interior pathways within Collins Park and South Pointe Park, Lincoln Road Mall, and the sidewalk on the west side of Ocean Drive. The City Code also prohibits Segway use on public facilities including City Hall, historicallydesignated City properties, police and fire stations, and parking lots and garages, except when used by persons with disabilities. New City Code provisions also establish responsibilities for Segway users and for businesses that rent, lease, or provide tours. The City is in the process of evaluating additional regulations including those relating to minimum age and weight,

17 MB magazine | Winter 2013

CyClING CITy Miami Beach is one the countrys top 10 cities for biking to work.

SeGWay ReGUlaTIoNS Miami Beach City Code Sections 70-66 through 70-71 miamibeachfl.gov The City is in the process of evaluating additional regulations including those relating to minimum age and weight, operating hours, and equipment. As vehicles are still the preferred method of getting around for most people, many efforts are being made to improve parking programs. In the last several years, Miami Beach has added more than 1,500 additional parking spaces. The latest addition is the new Sunset Harbour parking garage with 460 parking spaces and retail on the ground floor. Another public, state-of-the-art, 400-space parking garage by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid will be breaking ground in the next year in the Collins Park neighborhood. It [Sunset Harbour Garage] is very convenient and you can still find a lot of parking, plus the security is great, said Leny Calle, who works at Sunset Clothing, which relocated from Lincoln Road to the Sunset Harbour neighborhood to join the new businesses opening up in the area. South of Fifth resident Albert Levy also uses the Sunset Harbour Garage. You can actually find parking outside now, too, said Levy. There are other new parking options on the horizon. The City is installing 750 new parking stations by 2014 that allow users to pay for parking with a pay-by-plate option. The City has already installed 300 of these stations, which also alerts technicians via text message when a station needs repair. There is also a new parking application for smart phones coming soon. The new app will provide parking information and availability at garages, said Miami Beach Parking Director Saul Frances. For residents and visitors who choose to drive electric vehicles, there is a municipal car charging station at the 13 Street and Collins Avenue garage. The station is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new parking options also reduce the chances of people parking illegally and getting towed. However, if you do get towed, public towing fees for Miami Beach residents did not increase when towing fees for non-residents did. In general, Miami Beach is becoming a much better place as far as more parking, and the plans for more public transportation would be good, said Diez.

NeW SpaCeS
460 new parking spaces, Sunset Harbour Garage, 1900 Bay Road, between 18 & 20 Street, in the hip and trendy Sunset Harbour $1.00 an hour. FUTURe: 400 more spaces at a new state-of-the-art garage by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, Collins Park neighborhood.

paRK IT oR CHaRGe IT
2013: Pay-by-phone will be available. It will let you subscribe and pay for parking by phone and extend your parking session via text. FUTURe: 750 new parking stations with new payment methods will be installed and come with a pay-by-plate option and a smart phone app. New electric vehicle charging station Inside 13 Street and Collins Avenue Garage Open 24/7 $0.49 per kWh (not including parking). www. carcharging.com | 305.521.0200, extension 214

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