Tony Garcia

Publisher/Editor

A South Florida native, Tony is co-Principal of The Street Plans Collaborative with former Transit Miami author Mike Lydon, specializing in urban design, smart growth and active transport planning. Tony graduated from New York University in 2002 with a B.A. in Urban Planning and Architecture Studies, and went on to get his Masters from the University of Miami School of Architecture.  He is also currently working toward becoming a registered architect. He has been involved in many exciting projects throughout Miami and all over the country, including completing the first LEED certified historic home in Florida.

Tony enjoys hiking and observing the native ecosystems of South Florida, pushing his friends and family to restore habitats and go native. He is on the Board of Directors of the Green Mobility Network, and Vice-President of the Urban Environment League.  It is his hope that through his work he is able to positively influence how Miami grows.

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Craig Chester

Writer

Craig Chester is a native of Avon, CT and Miami resident since 2010. Craig graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005, with a B.A in Family and Consumer Journalism. Previous to moving to Miami, Craig lived in New York City and New Haven, CT where he was a frequent contributor to various bicycle-related blogs. After experiencing New York City’s recent bicycle and pedestrian renaissance first-hand, Craig immediately recognized the potential for Miami to improve in these areas.  An active participant in the Miami Bike Scene, Miami Bike Polo and Emerge Miami, you can find Craig pedaling around the streets of Miami. and on Twitter at @MiamiUrbanist.

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Gabriel J. Lopez-Benal

Founder/Editor

Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal is the founder of Transit Miami. He started the site in 2006 to express his views and passion for urban planning and transportation. He graduated from Tufts University in 2010 with a Masters in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and the University of Florida in 2008 with a Bachelors of Science in Transportation Engineering. His graduate thesis explored community engagement in bicycle planning processes through web-based mediums with the overarching goal of facilitating public participation and increasing the cycling modal split. The theoretical model developed in the thesis illustrates how web 2.0 applications coupled with ArcGIS could create efficiencies in planning processes while enabling cyclists to make better, informed decisions. Gabriel currently resides in Cambridge, MA where he works as a Policy Analyst and has been living car-free since 2008.

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Kathryn R. Moore

Writer

Miami has been home to Kathryn R. Moore for her whole life, though she has lived and traveled across the United States and abroad. As a kid, she spent untold hours on the Lincoln Road of the early 90s and wonders why Florida doesn’t have even more world class pedestrian thoroughfares. Prior to joining TransitMiami.com, Kathryn worked for the City of Miami, where she coordinated the City’s first bicycling encouragement program. She has spoken publicly on her experience coordinating ‘Bike Miami Days’ to planners, politicians and other professionals in cities as diverse as Denver, Caracas, Chicago and Guadalajara. Currently, she serves as Director of the South Florida Bike Coalition, a tri-county non-profit organization.

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JM Palacios

Writer

JM Palacios is one of the few in his workplace of  around 400 people to ride his bicycle to work regularly. After cycling the streets of bicycle-friendly Gainesville, he graduated from the University of Florida in December 2006 with a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at Florida Atlantic University. He worked as a roadway designer and is currently the Pedestrian/Bicycle Coordinator for Florida Department of Transportation District 4, which covers Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. He strives hard to make sure that FDOT and its consultants implement good bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities. JM desires to see more Complete Streets that further the part of the FDOT mission to enhance economic prosperity and preserve the quality of our environment and communities. His opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect an official FDOT statement or position.