Action Alert: Miami-Dade’s Million Dollar Bicycle Infrastructure Push

In the final moments of last night’s BPAC meeting,  Jeff Cohen of Miami-Dade Public Works announced that Mayor Alvarez is getting somewhat serious about improving bicycling conditions.  So much so that the County committed one million dollars to expanding bicycle lanes throughout the County in 2009.  Their preference is to find those thoroughfares where all they have to do is restripe and add signage. At present, the County officials have already identified $500,000 worth of these  “paint ready” lanes,  but are still  in search of another half million dollars worth of bicycle lane projects. If you have a route you think could accomodate lanes, please contact Mr. Cohen (305.375.2746) or Dave Henderson (305.375.1647) and let them know your ideas.

Obviously, this is a great show of support from Mayor Alvarez and Miami-Dade County. However, as I mentioned in last night’s meeting, the County should also consider improving existing lanes with additional safety measures at major intersections and crossings. Adding brightly colored lane markings through intersections would certainly do much to improve safety. And with any luck the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control (MUTCD) will finally approve sharrows and bicycle boxes before the county moves forward with these projects. Such improvements would do even more for bicycle safety.

OTHER BPAC NEWS

As you may recall, last month we reported plans for two developments seeking easements over the M-Path. BPAC asked the developer of the southernmost parcel, at the corner at the corner of S. Dixie Highway and LeJeune Road, to mitigate the curb cut intrusion with numerous bicycle safety improvements. Last night, the developer unveiled the latest plans, which to his credit included all of the improvements. After much deliberation, members of the BPAC reluctantly passed a resolution in support of the project. Recognizing that it sets a dangerous precedent, however, they also moved to limit further development from encroaching on what is Miami-Dade’s longest bicycle path.

Researchers from FIU and the University of Florida also presented an online bicycle mapping tool that they have been developing for Broward County. Hoping to bring the tool to Miami-Dade, they presented what looks like a promising, and flexible mapping program that is capable of tailoring routes to a number of different riding preferences. I’ll post a link to the beta site later.

Related posts:

1. Action Alert: Miami’s Bicycle Action Plan
2. BASIC ACTION ALERT: EUCLID AVENUE IN MIAMI BEACH
3. Monthly Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting
4. Action Alert: Long Range Transportation Planning Meetings
5. Report from the City of Miami Bicycle Action Committee