Saturday, January 14 – Crisp January morning air, bicycles and one gloriously crowded M-Path.
Around 150 riders assembled at the Brickell Metrorail station last Saturday morning for a 12-mile bicycle ride southbound on the M-Path, celebrating the connectivity provided by a new shared-use bridge over the Snapper Creek Expressway. The bridge, coupled with improved crossings, signals and pathways in the Dadeland area, marks the closure of the notorious ‘Dadeland Gap’, the 1.2 mile section that was left out of the M-Path when it was built 26 years ago.
Bicycle traffic backed up headed into South Miami! Photo courtesy of BikeSoMi/Mari Chael
The twisting, dismounting, treacherous crossings and general mediocrity that characterize the northern sections of the M-path eventually gave way to the modern engineering of the new pathway at Dadeland North, much to the delight of the dizzied group.
Headed onto the newly constructed Snapper Creek bridge. Photo courtsey of Bike SoMi/Mari Chael
The ride finished at Continental Park in Kendall, where cyclists enjoyed celebratory cake and soft drinks under the warmer south Florida sunshine.
Putting the capacity of the bridge to the test! Photo courtesy of Gilberto Salazar
Not only was the ride a chance to share observations of the new (and older) construction, but also it also sent a powerful message demonstrating just how important the completion of the M-Path is to area walkers, joggers, cyclists and rollers of all sorts. Our local officials must understand that continued M-Path improvements are necessary to further encourage active transportation in Miami-Dade County. With the number of people using the M-Path rising by the day, it’s long past time we demand the same response and engineering prowess that goes towards automobile infrastructure be applied to our pedestrian and cycling facilities as well.
TransitMiami would like to thank the folks at Emerge Miami, The Green Mobility Network and Bike SoMi for all of their help in organizing this teriffic ride.
M-Path Celebration Ride Video via The Miami Bike Scene.
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Two things were glorious about the ride: That Miami Dade Transit committed to linking the M-Path “Dadeland Gap,” and that the various (multi-generational) bike advocacy groups collaborated in celebration for a common cause. Kudos to all, and especially to Miami Dade Transit!
In the spirit of making continued improvements to our infrastructure, the ride highlighted the need for some small details that corrected, would really help: Please add a curb cut to the M-Path at Coral Way, and please make curb cuts the full width of the path. Again, we are grateful for all ped-bike-transit improvements!
Great ride, thanks everyone who came out. If there were sections that you felt need to still be addressed let your commissioner know.
Or come to a BPAC meeting and speak up there.