Let's face it. Miami is one of America's worst places to ride a bicycle.Guys on two wheels get whacked on Brickell, nailed in the Redland, and steamrollered on US 1. Bicycling magazine placed us at the bottom along with Dallas and Memphis not long ago. And Florida is clearly the worst in the nation -- with virtually all of our metro areas among the nation's deadliest.
So we're delighted by the plan -- stated on a memo after the jump -- to open the Rickenbacker Causeway to bicyclists this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. And we support Manny Diaz's Bike Miami, which will close some of downtown to cars on January 18. It's the best thing the guy has done in office
And we positively love the idea -- to be discussed at a public meeting January 26 to build a bike trail along Dade Boulevard to the beach.
Hey maybe the worm has turned. Maybe we can forever roll around in peace. Yeah, right....I'm not pumping up my tires just yet.
Chuck Strouse
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
MEDIA CONTACTS: Edith Torres Recreation
305-755-7862 Delfín Molins Miami-Dade Public Works Department [email protected] 305-375-1682 |
"Ride
the rickenbacker" CYCLING EVENT
to
CELEBRATe
lane and causeway improvements,
january 10, 2009, at 9 a.m., Across from the Crandon park
Traffic Lanes to be
Closed for Cyclists Dedication Ceremony at 9:45 a.m. to Feature Miami-Dade
County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez; County Manager George M. Burgess;
Representatives from the City of Miami and Village of Key Biscayne; Miami-Dade
County Public Works Director Esther Calas, P.E.; and Miami-Dade County Park and
Recreation Director Jack Kardys
(
2008) - Bicyclists are invited to "Ride the
Rickenbacker" in celebration of the completion of improvements to the
Rickenbacker Causeway and on- and off-road bicycle lanes on Saturday, January
10, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., across from the Crandon Park Marina at the
Bear Cut Preserve. Free parking will be available at
to "drive to ride."
Northbound traffic lanes will
be closed from
will be re-routed to the southbound lanes. Following the 9:45 a.m. dedication
ceremony with Miami-Dade County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez; County Manager
George M. Burgess; representatives from the City of Miami and the Village of Key
Biscayne; Miami-Dade County Public Works Director Esther Calas, P.E.; and
Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Director Jack Kardys, cyclists will be
able to ride the Rickenbacker Causeway "traffic-free" for three hours.
This event also celebrates
the movement to make
locations in the world. Working together, different county departments and
cities, along with state and federal agencies are in the process of creating a
web of bikeways and greenways that will provide cyclists with greater
opportunities to move around the county. When fully built, the 500-plus miles
of trails and bikeways will form a more livable and sustainable community and
will include etiquette signs, interpretive signs, educational signs, mile
markers, trail maps, and pedestrian directional signs.
"The bike lane project on the Rickenbacker Causeway,
along with the lanes on
for everyone to enjoy. This is the essence and vision of
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
The objective of the Rickenbacker Causeway road
resurfacing and bicycle path improvement project was to create continuous
bicycle lanes from the
volume of bicyclists that currently use the shoulder of this road. Today, in
combination with the
project, these improvements have been accomplished with bicycle lanes from the
mainland to
Park.
The resurfacing of the Rickenbacker Causeway and bike
path was accomplished in three phases. The first phase of this project was
from the east end of Bear Cut Bridge to the east entrance of the Crandon Marina,
and consisted of milling and resurfacing the causeway and off-road bicycle path,
widening at various intersections, pavement markings for roadway and delineation
for future bicycle lanes. Construction of this portion of the facility was
completed in July 2006.
Phase two of the project was from the west end of the
the east end of the
improvements as phase one, and also included shoulder widening at various
intersections. Construction of this portion of the facility was completed in
July 2007.
Phase three of the project is from
the west end of the
improvements as phases one and two, from west of the toll plaza of the east end
of
the
and the
This project also included the installation of handrails for the
the replacement of joints on the
further included shoulder widening at various intersections, signing and
pavement markings to include conversion of the shoulders to marked and signed
bicycle lanes for the length of all three phases, minor sidewalk repair,
construction of concrete path to connect bike lane to existing path, and
upgrading of pedestrian signals. Construction of this portion of the facility
was completed in December 2008.
"I look forward to participating in the 'Ride the
Rickenbacker' ceremony. This project will improve safety and better accommodate
the volume of cyclists who currently use the Rickenbacker. The improvements will
bring
Open Space Master Plan vision that connects all parks, green spaces, and
bikeways across the County. Our commitment is to provide a world class system
of parks that connect 500-plus miles of trails and bikeways. This goal will make
our community a more attractive one to live, work and play in," said
Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez, District 7.
"Reducing our carbon omissions by encouraging citizens
to use dedicated bicycle lanes and pathways linked to our existing Transit rail,
mover and bus service will lessen our impact on the environment while providing
outstanding recreational experiences," said Miami-Dade County Manager, George M.
Burgess.
Miami-Dade Parks creates outstanding recreational,
natural and cultural experiences to enrich you and to enhance our community for
this and future generations.
# # #
Miami-Dade Parks provides quality
and diverse cultural and recreational experiences for persons with disabilities.
Call 305-365-3128 (V) or 305-365-6705 (TDD) to request materials in accessible
format, a sign language interpreter (five days notice required) and for
information on access for persons with
disabilities.
