Steve Molder
Where you can see Palm Trees & Flamingos
When the rest of North America shivers under layers of long johns and parkas, Miami basks in balmy temperatures. From October to April, bicycling is a joy, though beware the aggressive and distracted drivers. Cycling around the Magic City and environs has many angles to soak up under the swaying palm trees, from ethnic neighborhoods to national parks, beaches and batidos (tropical milkshakes). Bike rentals are plentiful and there are an increasing number of lanes.
Meets
Miami Critical Mass meets at Government Center on the last Friday of every month. miamibikescene.blogspot.com
Miami Beach Community Ride (601 5th St., Miami) Convenes every second Saturday of the month, starting at the Miami Beach Bicycle Center at 9 a.m.
Tweed Ride by the Green Mobility Network Exact dates listed at greenmobilitynetwork.org
Beer Snob Ride (end of September) Exact dates listed on the Miami Bike Scene blog. themiamibikescene.com
Cranksgiving (November) Exact dates listed on the Miami Bike Scene blog. themiamibikescene.com
Toy Drive Ride (before Christmas). Exact dates listed on the Miami Bike Scene blog. themiamibikescene.com
HistoryMiami offers an eco-historical tour from the Matheson Hammock county park to the lush neighborhood environs and famous shake stand, Vizcaya historical residence on Biscayne Bay, the funky Coconut Grove neighborhood and the University of Miami/ Coral Gables neighborhood.
Bikes are permitted on Miami-Dade Transit.
Miami-Dade County has over 130 miles of shared-use bike/ pedestrian trails, including the:
- M-Path trail,
- South Dade Trail,
- Black Creek Trail,
- Key Biscayne trails
- Biscayne-Everglades Greenway,
- Miami River Greenway and
- Commodore Trail.
Some Nice Bike rides
- Beachfront Lummus Park on Ocean Drive in South Beach stretching from 6th street to 14th street
- Rickenbacker Causeway (bike lanes and alternate shared-use path).
- Venetian Causeway from the city of Miami to Miami Beach. It’s the safest route. The other bridges linking Miami Beach are NOT for bikes.
- Coconut Grove from Cocowalk to past City Hall, which is a historic Pan Am airport terminal.
- There is an on-road bicycle network developing from the M-Path along US-1 that connects to Coral Way, South Miami Avenue, SW 15th Road, SW 2nd Avenue and into the Brickell area, which offers some scenic cycling.
- Additional routes are developing on the north side of the Miami River through Overtown, Wynwood, the Upper East Side and Little Haiti.
- University of Miami assistant professor, biologist and cyclist Julia Dallman says: "My favorite places to bike in the city are the quiet, wide boulevards and the bike paths, even when they are all bumpy from tree roots — 76th Street off of Red Road (57th Avenue), the bike path along Old Cutler, and the Red Road bike path are a few of my favorites."
- Adam Schachner of Emerge Miami, a group that organizes Critical Mass rides, likes the Matheson Hammock County Park, Everglades National Park, Shark Valley and M-Path routes for the interesting and shifting demographics one can see.
Recommended by City of Miami Bicycle Coordinator Collin Worth
- Rickenbacker Causeway is one of the first places road riders want to go.
- Riding to Florida City for fresh fruit and smoothies from Robert Is Here (19200 South West 344th St., Homestead, FL; 305-246-1592) is a favorite.
- Riding to and from South Beach over the Venetian Causeway (NE 15th Street) offers one of the best views of the City, and has relatively slow traffic and lower automobile volumes.
- Brickell Key Greenway is ideal for slow riding around the key.
- South Point Park on the southernmost tip of Miami Beach is a must see.
