Comments on: South Beach’s New Big Box Shopping Center

By: Felipe Azenha

Felipe Azenha — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:16:06 +0000

Thanks Daniel. Keep the pressure on. Perhaps we could meet with the developer?

By: Miami Beach Bikeways Committee November Meeting | Slow Bike Miami

Miami Beach Bikeways Committee November Meeting | Slow Bike Miami — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:39:42 +0000

[...] seeing any new ones before I moved, but I may have just missed them). Once again the issue of bike racks at the new mall at 5th and Alton Rd was brought up. I’ve visited the new Publix there repeatedly and only once have I been able to [...]

By: Daniel M. Perez (Slow Bike Miami)

Daniel M. Perez (Slow Bike Miami) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:22:35 +0000

I brought this up again at the Nov meeting of the MB Bikeways Committee. City Staff said they were in talks with the developer to increase the number of bike racks, but that, as amenable to the idea as they were, the developer was being “unresponsive” to City Hall’s calls and emails.

Perhaps it is time the bike riders who go to the mall start telling the developer what they want as well.

By: DaveZ

DaveZ — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:42:21 +0000

I ran across this post while looking for info on the 5th Ave Bike shop monthly ride.

It’s funny — b/c I visited the new Publix for this first time this week and had the EXACT same thought. It’s a great thing to see all of those bikes tied up on the street. I’ll give the developers credit and say they never anticipated that many locals would leave their cars at home and bring their bikes.

But here’s a little marketing advice to the owners: while you are trying to generate positive word of mouth for this new shopping center and change the habits of the locals who go to the Meridian Market and Whole Foods, etc., don’t curse the bikers as nuisance complainers. Embrace the opp to be bike friendly and add more places for cyclists to tie up.

The bike community has a pretty good word of mouth network. Whatever you will spend on adding extra bike racks is a FRACTION of what you will spend on advertising in the Miami Herald, local radio, etc. Plus, it pays back over and over — not like an ad runs once and its gone.

Sure too many bikes on the street is a problem. But smart marketers know how to turn probs into opportunities. And as a bonus, you get to do a small part for that whole be green save the planet, too. But the “market share/niche market to loyal customers” is a more tangible thing when you pitch the idea to the suits in the front office! :>)

By: Prem

Prem — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:31:18 +0000

I’ll say this about the MacArthur Causewae: it has a LARGE shoulder, and I love that

By: Felipe Azenha

Felipe Azenha — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:42:11 +0000

Adam,
Connectivity between Miami and Miami Beach is definitely an issue. The bike lane on the Venetian Causeway is in terrible condition. This may come as a surprise to you, but the MacArthur Causeway is a designated bike route. FDOT is putting the final touches on a major MacArthur Causeway resurfacing project and from what I have seen so far they really didn’t consider bicyclists. Anything less then a protected bike way on the MacArthur is unacceptable, especially for such a wide, high speed, high capacity thoroughfare. Let’s be fair and allow FDOT to complete this project before evaluating it.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:53:36 +0000

frankly if bike parking is the problem, I think we’re making headway. How about a safe way to get there from downtown?

By: Prem

Prem — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:46:10 +0000

the whole county needs to get serious, Kevin.
I’m amazed at the strange places I do find bike lanes.

On 15th avenue next to Walmart on 163rd st from Miami Gardens Drive to somewhere south of Wal Mart, but on NO perpendicular streets?
On 16th St. next to Lincoln Rd. but on NO perpendicular streets?

these are so RANDOM and pointless because they don’t get you to anywhere or from anywhere. They’re just these interludes, passing notes to bicyclists.

Pathetic.

By: kevin

kevin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:05:50 +0000

Bike parking is a major problem all over South Beach. For an area with so many bicyclists, you’d think South Beach would have a plethora of bike parking, but it doesn’t. The city needs to really get serious about building bike lanes and bike parking throughout Miami Beach.

By: Felipe Azenha

Felipe Azenha — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:52:49 +0000

Thanks for clarifying that this was a public/private partnership and that the developer is not solely at fault. Regardless, the point I am trying to make is that bicycle parking was not considered when this shopping center was constructed. My apologies to the developers for blaming them for the overconstrction of parking. The responsibility needs to be shared with the City of Miami Beach.