| June 23, 2010 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 4:00 pm |
Transit Miami received this email regarding Euclid Avenue from Gabrielle Redfern, on behalf of BASIC (Bicycle Activists for a Safe, Integrated City)
Another day, another bicycle facility on the chopping block in the City of Miami Beach. Current plans call for dedicated bike lanes on this road when it gets reconstructed in the nearer future. Even with out the new curb and gutter that the avenue is programmed to get, this 70 foot behemoth of a local road could benefit today from a little TLC, in the form of a small coat of paint, say running down each side of the lanes of traffic to narrow the car roadway to slow traffic and make more room for bikes. But no. The neighbors will have none of it!
Long story short: what say you? If you cannot make it tomorrow, no worries. This is just the first skirmish in what looks like a long war, and this battle will pay out in other conference rooms, and perhaps the Commission Chambers before all is said and done. BASIC objects to all this plan revision in the City of Miami Beach that involves removal of bicycle facilities.”
The extra large lanes, with no bike lanes, currently encourage a speedway effect from the foot of the Macarthur to Lincoln Road. Few lights, very residential, no trees, it is the perfect street to use in your car when traveling north south, avoiding Alton or even the scenic park-side Meridian. (If you never knew, and I blew it for the neighbors, I am sorry.) Something needs to be done, that is certain. I spent much time riding it yesterday, and this road is ugly, unsafe and hot! And thank God plans are in the works to make it so much better. But reconstruct a roadway, with 70 feet of ROW and not add dedicated bike lanes? Bike lanes currently called for in the City’s own Master Plan? That is what the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association plans to argue for in their streetscape sections before the committee on Wednesday. No bike lanes on Euclid Avenue.
To be fair, the neighborhood is proposing extra wide sidewalks they think will be good for sharing between pedestrians and bicycles. However, we disagree on this, the nature and manner of providing for bicycles. They see bicycles as recreation only. BASIC demands bicycles be given equal attention to cars in the transportation grid. We need a complete street that accommodates pedestrians, bicycles and cars. In that order. On that, the neighbors and I agree. How we get there, well, that is another battle brewing….
So how do we meet them halfway? (I pray daily to avoid war with folks I respect and admire). In the hope we can come to common ground, BASIC proposes a street section that includes two foot swales in front of all properties; providing for 12-foot sidewalks, clear of signs and other obstructions; a five foot street-side swale for landscaping and signage; two, one way, 15 foot travel lanes, with sharrows, separated by a two foot landscaped median. Currently all properties program right up to the sidewalk. Providing those landowners with two feet of green space running the length of their property will increase their property value. It would make for a beautiful street, in our opinion.”
MIAMI BEACH MAYORS BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE ON BIKEWAYS IN MIAMI BEACH
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010 2:00 p.m. (although this item may be a time certain 3:00 p.m)
MAYOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM
FOURTH FLOOR MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL
666 17TH STREET
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
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