The Miami Bicycle Master Plan, crafted after a lot of research by Mike Lydon of The Streets Plans Collaborative (and whom we saw sporting a cool bicycling shirt back in August), went before the City Commission and was unanimously approved.
Let me let that sink in. Read more…
Consider this as a PSA of sorts.
I was reading my new favorite webcomic (a post about it later this week) and came across this strip.
I’ll be darned if that’s not how I’ve felt sometimes when I’m out riding. This is especially a problem when we ride Downtown from the Beach for a Bike Miami Days event, when we come across a great number of hunched over Lycra-clad speedsters. I’ll wave, nod, ring my bell at them in a quick greeting/acknowledgment, and I get nothing in return. And yes, they can see me. It’s happened in places where we’ve waited at a light together; nothing. I even got the impression more than a couple of times that they looked down on me and my fat-tire cruiser, judging me from their thin bikes and form-fitting clothes. Stupid elitism, all of it. After a while, I stopped trying to connect.
Except I don’t want to stop. I like waving hi at other cyclists when we’re out riding, and it wouldn’t kill the speedsters to say hi back. I see it as an extension of the staggering amount of rudeness there is on Miami streets. But I refuse to stop doing it.
So, Miami cyclists, please be nice to each other. If you see another rider, regardless of the bike or the clothes, take a second to acknowledge them with a nod, a small wave, a ring of the bicycle bell, something. Let’s start eradicating that rude behavior from our streets one bike rider at a time.
September 21st will see the final summit to present the City of Miami Bicycle Master Plan for public review. This will be the last chance for the public at large to see what the City of Miami is planning to do in regards to bicycling, including programs and infrastructure, and more importantly, to give feedback on the proposed plan. The two previous summits were a success in terms of public participation and education, so I’ve no doubt this one will go off without a hitch as well. Sadly, we won’t be in attendance, as we already had something scheduled for that night.
Monday, September 21, 2009
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Belafonte TACOLCY Center
6161 Northwest 9th Avenue
Miami, FL
Google Map here
For more information, check out the City of Miami Bicycle Master Plan page. Though some of the documents need to be updated to reflect the second and now third bicycle summits, you can see detailed PDFs of the City of Miami Bike Related Projects for 2009 and 2010, as well as the proposed (and hoped for) combined bike lane/path/way network at the end of 2010 (frankly, if half of those proposed bike corridors can be put into service I will feel that it has been a success).
As we stand on the threshold of autumn (for whatever that is worth in Miami), and with it a new season of Bike Miami Days, I can’t help but be excited. What started as a one-day event back in November 2008 has exploded into a whole entity, now with seven all-day ciclovías under its belt, as well as a handful of rides to tie people over during the hot summer months. During that time the event has grown and attracted more and more sponsors, ranging from commercial endeavors to non-profit organizations, which has helped extend the experience from “just biking around” to (if you’ll permit me the grandiose language) a celebration of community.
#1. Lights & Bells For Every BicycleFlorida Bicycle Law requires every bike that rides at night to be equipped with both a front and a rear light.
Lighting (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)
A bicycle operated between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from 500 feet to the front and both a red reflector and a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from 600 feet to the rear.
I cannot count the number of bikes I’ve seen riding after sunset that have no lights at all; at most they have the reflector that came with the bike when they purchased it and that’s all. We need to educate all riders, especially the casual ones, that having lights on their bikes is the law. The ideal here would be to have a partnership with a bike shop or bike light manufacturer so that discounts and/or free samples can be given out.
Likewise, though Florida Bicycle Law does not require it, every bike should be equipped with a bell. Every bike. Even you, Lycra speedsters. Just like every car needs a horn to signal, so does every bike. A loud “excuse me” when the rider is already on top of pedestrians/other riders is not acceptable. Bells are de rigeur in countries with high bikeability because they are essential parts of the riding experience. I’d love to see a company donate a large number of bells that can be given out to Bike Miami participants (perhaps these can even be branded with Bike Miami stickers!).
#2. Bike & Ride Support from Miami-Dade TransitMiami-Dade county’s public transit already has in place a good Bike & Ride program for bicycle commuters. I would love to see a kiosk with representatives educating people about this program, answering questions, processing and handing out Metrorail bike permits (currently these can only be obtained at the Government Center Metrorail station or by mail – why not online baffles me) and teaching people how to properly use the Metrobus bike racks (right). For a double-whammy, have folks there also from Tri-Rail (though maybe not, considering their bicycle policies seem a bit off-putting).
#3. Bike Miami-branded MerchandiseFrankly, this should have been instituted right from the second Bike Miami Day event! By the end of the inaugural Bike Miami in November I wanted a T-shirt and stickers with the Bike Miami logo (which actually changed from that very first one used to the current one). I wanted to show my support by wearing that shirt around, and I still very much do. I have a feeling of this being a case of Bike Miami team members being overwhelmed by their regular daily duties plus the event work to have time to get this done. Silk screening on T-shirts is fairly inexpensive, especially in bulk quantities, so Bike Miami shirts aren’t that unfeasible; sold at $25 or so, depending on how many were printed, these could pay for themselves fairly quick and bring in some extra revenue. (Click on the image for a larger version)
Aside from T-shirts, stickers are another great an inexpensive way to spread the news about the event. I would go with both bumper stickers and 2″-3″ round stickers right off the bat, as these are the most versatile sizes.
Other possible branded items include water bottles (to promote proper hydration while riding), bike bells (see how I tied points #1 and #3?) and cycling jerseys (I don’t particularly care for them, the time-trialists don’t ride without wearing these).
I, of course, am assuming that most Bike Miami fans are rabid about the event like me and would buy all these branded items.
#4. Support/Presence from Bike CompaniesThough ultimately this is out of the Bike Miami team’s hands, I’d love to see bicycle manufacturers and other related bicycle companies sponsor and present at the events. Bicycling Magazine has already sponsored a Miami edition of BikeTown, so get them to return with a kiosk. Has anyone other than me noticed the high number of Electra bicycles present at Bike Miami Days (starting with our very own Willow)? Let’s call them and get them to come down. Same thing with Trek, Giant, Jamis, Schwinn and any other major manufacturer (if you want to really target it, start going through the photos and picking out bike brands). Be bold and call emerging/new to the area companies; brands that are starting out or entering a new market could benefit from the exposure. While at it, call Lazer Helmets and Bell (helmets & accessories) as well. You get the idea: if it’s a major bicycle article manufacturer, call them up and try to get them to sponsor and present at the show. Events like Bike Miami and the (hopeful) adoption of programs like Miami 21 make the city an emerging market in serious bicycling, and these companies have a chance to make an early and important impact on consumers.
Got thoughts on these ideas or further ones? Let me know in the comments.
The sophomore instance of Bike Miami Days (the first with the new name) is over and we had an absolutely great time. The weather was once again cooperating with us riders, holding at a cool level, looking like it might rain but never a drop falling from the sky, with gusty winds blowing in from the bay to make cycling a bit more interesting and to refresh the streets of Downtown Miami.
The event actually had a couple of improvements from the last time, most notable being the signs marking the route and the water stations with coolers and paper cones. Both were a great idea, and as the route continues to expand, they will come in even more handy. There was a new extension to the route down by the water and the AA Arena, but we were not able to find it the couple times we rode down there.
It is notable that there were a lot less attendees at this month’s event, and while that could be seen by some as a minus, I personally think that, considering the time of year, it wasn’t that bad (and from what I saw on a video posted at Miami Bike Scene, there were actually a lot more people earlier, before we arrived). There was also the poor promotion on the part of the local (mainstream) media, but I’ll rant about that later. We both still feel that it was a good event, and a necessary step on the road to creating a tradition out of Bike Miami Days. We extend our most heartfelt thanks to Mayor Manny Diaz (was that you in the grey shirt?), the small army of Bike Miami Days volunteers, and the Police Officers and Public Service Aides that made the streets safe for us riders for 6 hours and always had a smile (seriously).
Our day began a bit late. It was already 11:30 AM when we set out of the house, and at first I suggested we take the bus down to Lincoln Road at least. After waiting for almost 20 minutes, the bus arrived with a bike already on the rack, so we would have to wait for the next one. A quick inspection of the bus bike rack left us with the impression that the Amsterdam’s tires would not fit (something to check at a later time), so we just decided to ride Downtown.
We took the same route as when we rode to the Miami Book Fair, encountering pretty much the same bad spots for riding (Indian Creek between 71st and 65th, Dade Boulevard). It took us a bit less time than the last (about 1:30 total) and the route seemed shorter, perhaps because we knew it well this time.
What we did this time around more of was street riding. Once we hit La Gorce Dr. we switched to the paved road and kept going for a while like that, until we hit the bike lanes starting on Pinetree Blvd. and 45th Ave. Even then, because of the so-so conditions of the bike lanes (they are generally covered in gravel and sand, or blocked by trash, debris, fallen palm fronds or parked cars) we rode on the streets on and off. It actually wasn’t that bad; it was around noon, so we were very visible to drivers, and except for a couple here and there that passed us a bit too close for comfort, we had an uneventful ride. Until we got to Dade Boulevard.
We actually rode on the street at Dade as well; the sidewalk there is just horrible, and there is a lot of pedestrian traffic, so we decided to play it safe and use our legal right to the road. Which of course means we had idiot drivers honking and passing us by too fast and too close. Thankfully we hit the Venetian Causeway pretty quickly, and that part of the ride is just the best (even if the bike lane could use some repair in some places). We passed by a lot of cyclists riding eastbound (maybe some were coming from Bike Miami?). The first group were three guys in recumbent bikes that said hi and rang their bells when we crossed paths; after that, of perhaps 15 cyclists we passed, only two said hello back when I greeted them. It was disheartening, honestly. So, fellow cyclists, when you pass other members of the bicycle fellowship on the road, don’t be rude and greet them, either with your bell or with a quick wave.
We hit Downtown, rode down Biscayne and then joined the Bike Miami Days route, taking a quick spin around Bayfront Park first, dropping some toys at the Everglades Bicycle Club Toy Drive, chatting with some folks at the next kiosk (was that the Florida Bicycle Association? Whoever it was, they need better signage). I got to sample riding an Electra Townie and O-M-G what a great ride! Now I’m torn between a Townie or an Amsterdam for my next bike…
The time we spent riding was just enjoyable. It was great seeing families riding their bikes around Downtown again, as well as seeing more stores open to the public. Special thanks go to Kirk Jewelers for handing out water during the day; that was just extra nice of them. Mary Brickell Village was also hopping with cyclists and other visitors. There was a kiosk at the east entrance of the village where they were holding bike clinics, but I felt it was a bit too hidden away, even though there was a sign. Perhaps this can be brought over to the main street next time, so it can enjoy increased visibility.
It was already late in the day so we rode our bikes around some more, ate an apple by the fountain at Bayfront, then rode back to Tobacco Road for the Bike Miami Days After Party by TransitMiami. There I met the indefatigable Kathryn Moore, Bike Miami Days’ online guru, as well as other members of the Bike Miami Days Volunteer Team, including two gentlemen with whom we shared a table, beers and cycling and travel stories, Robert and Neil.
By 4-ish we decided to head back, and to save up some strength, we rode the Metromover from Eight Street Station to College/Bayside, then to Omni Station, which dropped us right at the start of the Venetian Causeway. Riding the Metromover with the bikes was fine, though try as we might to be out of the way, people just did not care about the couple with the large vehicles and made our attempts at maneuvering almost impossible. Once the road, we rode the causeway leisurely all the way back to the Beach, and to Dade Boulevard, again.
This is where our wonderful day of riding went to heck. There is no sidewalk on the eastbound lanes, so we rode on the street, single-file since there is a lot of traffic there and we did not want to hold it up. Most cars drive down Dade Blvd as if they were being chased by Death itself, nevermind the various traffic lights, the residential area or the heavy pedestrian traffic. We were riding as close to the curb as possible, and cars were still zipping past us way close, some perhaps even just a foot away. We stopped at a red light at Dade and Meridian Ave. and when it turned green, I went, but my wife lost her footing so it took her a few seconds to get riding again. In that time, about five cars just started blasting their horns at her, and the car immediately behind her started accelerating menacingly. We crossed the intersection and let all the idiots pass us by, completely and totally angry at this display of trademark Miami rudeness and ignorance of bike laws.
Miffed as we were, we made the turn into Prairie Ave, and since it was starting to get a little dark, we decided to run two-abreast on the road, since traffic here was almost non-existent so any cars coming behind us would be able to pass us. One car came and flashed its lights at us before passing us by, then a guy in an SUV started honking at us and flashing his lights. He then passes us but drives parallel to us for a good full minute arguing with us about getting off the road.
“Learn the law, we have the right to be here,” I said.
“Those have no tags,” was his brilliant response.
“Doesn’t matter, learn the bike laws.”
For a moment he showed some concern. “But, for your own safety, ride on the side.”
“For our own safety, it’s better if we ride like this in this dark street and you pass us on the left.”
Then the anger came back. “I hope you get hit.”
“Thanks!” Argh!
We were so incredibly mad; fuming, even.
We hit the bike lane on Prairie (which actually doesn’t start at the intersection with Dade, but at 28th St.) and rode uneventfully, thank G-d, to 41st Street, where we stopped to eat at Lofty Latte. After a very nice dinner, we rode nice and slow back to the house; even Indian Creek was a breeze after Dade Blvd! We made it back to the house at around 8 PM, tired but happy about our day of bike riding around Miami and Miami Beach.
Already looking forward to January’s Bike Miami Days.
You can check out the photos in the slideshow below or at Flickr: Bike Miami Days - 12/14/08.
I came across a post (thanks to Spokes ‘n’ Folks) made on the Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog entitled “Terminology Folly.” Go ahead and read it; it’s a good article and it holds a core truth.
Waltzing around the cycle blogosphere it seems odd that so much terminology has spawned regarding what is, in fact, a simple pursuit.
Is it a result of the decades old tendency in North America and other non-bike culture countries to nerdify cycling because it has primarily been viewed as a sport or a hobby for closed groups of “enthusiasts” - and not a reasonable and basic form of transport? Perhaps.
Let’s straighten things out, shall we? What you see in the photo above, taken in Copenhagen, is something we call a “cyclist”.
Not a “bicycle commuter”, nor a “utility cyclist”. Certainly not a “lightweight, open air, self-powered traffic vehicle user”. It’s a cyclist.
Now, in general I do agree with the inherent message of the post: a true unified bike culture will only be created when we stop thinking about the differences and simply accept the commonalities. But, as someone living in one of the most unfriendly cities in the US for cyclists, I have some things to say in reply.
While it might be redundant in Europe, over here terminology works, and is actually helpful at times. Yes, ideally I could just say “bike” and everyone would know what I mean, but anyone reading that word, “bike,” instantly got a mental image that is probably different than the one I have. That’s because on this side of the world a “bike” is not as simple an artifact to identify: did I mean a mountain bike? A racing bike? A hybrid? A BMX? A cruiser? Maybe even one of those European-style bikes? This applies just as well to the term “cyclist” (and for the record, no, I don’t use or own any spandex, though I do have some comfy excercise pants that I do use from time to time).
When I walk into a bike shop (of the specialty kind) and ask for a bike I need to be able to identify what I want (and don’t get me started on the discount dept. stores), and that’s where terminology comes in handy. Most average people who own a bike have a mountain bike that they purchased cheap at a large discount store like Target or Wal-Mart, not because they are doing some two-wheeled off-roading, but because that’s the cheap standard (at most they may get a cruiser), regardless of the fact that they are buying the wrong vehicle for their needs.
Yes, blame it on the nerdification of cycling in the US. Every single bike store here in Miami caters primarily to the speed cyclist or the mountain biker (see, we can’t help it, we love naming categories), with only minimal attention to the commuter cyclist, something I already commented about in a previous post.
That’s why, at this point in time, at least over here in the US (and for sure specifically in Miami), we need the terminology because that’s what helps us get the message across about what we want out of a bike culture. I need to use that terminology to state that I could care less about going 1000 miles per hour on two very thin tires while wearing brightly colored Lycra; that I could care less about braving uneven rock-covered downhills and root-strewn dirt paths on a frame with more shock absorbers than a monster truck. I ride my back to do errands, to go to places, to go out for a spin and enjoy the city in which I live in. I want a bike to ride on paved surfaces, with a front basket or rack that I can use to carry stuff like groceries and a sturdy back rack that I can strap down a box to if I want to, something comfortable that I can spend a good amount of my time on without assuming a pose that makes me look like I’m skiing downhill or doing yoga, a bike to run on the very flat paved roadways of Miami Beach that can handle the occassional bridge. How do I accomplish this the quickest? By stating that I am a “commuter cyclist” and I want a “city/Dutch-/European-style” bike.
I agree wholeheartedly that the ideal is a place where we don’t need the terminology, or at least where the default is the regular-joe example and not the sports specialty. In the meantime, the same terminology will allow us to begin to change the perceptions around us towards the creation of a normal, day-to-day bike culture.
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