Marlins Traffic Disaster: We Raced by Bus, Car, Bike, Kayak, Rickshaw, and Potato Sack (VIDEO)

For months, anyone writing about the Marlins' new ballpark has had to mention the catastrophe sure to ensue whenever 37,000 fans descend on Little Havana's tiny side streets, only to find that Miami's finest civil engineers included only 5,000 new parking spots. But how bad would it really be? There was only...

By Tim Elfrink

April 11, 2012

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For months, anyone writing about the Marlins' new ballpark has had to mention the catastrophe sure to ensue whenever 37,000 fans descend on Little Havana's tiny side streets, only to find that Miami's finest civil engineers included only 5,000 new parking spots. But how bad would it really be? There was only one way to find out: an epic race to the ballpark on opening night.

We pitted a bike, car, and public transit against a kayak, a rickshaw pulled by Coconut Grove's Spider-Man, and for good measure, a potato sack. Check out a video of the race to the death:

If you're plotting out your own route to the ballpark when the Fish finally return home this Friday, check out our story about the race for all the finish times of each mode of transit.

(Spoiler alert: Leave the potato sack at home.)

Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes. Tim Elfrink writes about politics, crime and South Florida insanity @timelfrinkmia

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Tim Elfrink is a former investigative reporter and managing editor for Miami New Times. He has won the George Polk Award and was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Contact: Tim Elfrink

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Twitter: @timelfrinkmia