🥊 The Fight for Walkable South Beach
Emails and public comments are needed for this Thursday's battle for a people-focused South Beach
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Two of Miami Beach’s most exciting and transformative public space projects are in jeopardy.
This coming Thursday, Miami Beach’s City Commission will hold a workshop to discuss Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue. Specifically:
They will evaluate closing Ocean Drive to people and re-opening it for cars and;
They are considering removing the protected bike lanes on Washington Ave to allow private cars to drive through the street slightly faster.
Both projects have impacted the entertainment district in positive ways, one of many steps needed to breathe fresh life into the area.
Washington Ave has seen an increase in bicycle usage of over 465%, while cars’ travel times have gone up, on average, by 1 minute. Reverting back to the old configurations of Washington Avenue is irresponsible and, quite frankly, a failure in leadership. (Our friends at Transit Alliance captured the issue oh-so-perfectly.)
The new configuration for Ocean Drive isn’t perfect. But rather than come up with modern-day solutions for managing the street, some commissioners (click here to find out which ones) are actively pushing to return to the old status quo: adding cars to make the space uninviting and displace people.
The challenges that have emerged from the pedestrianization of Ocean Drive have always existed, and they demand thoughtful solutions, not shortsighted reactions. You do not destroy a public space simply because you do not like who is walking there.
“Solving” new problems by reverting to what wasn’t working before is a cop-out and an insult to both residents and visitors. Great public spaces make great cities. If Miami Beach would like to position itself as a worldwide destination, it better take note of what competing cities are doing around the world and build more car-free public spaces, not less.
“When you push the status quo, the status quo pushes right back.” – Janette Sadik-Khan, former transportation commissioner of New York City, responsible for the construction of nearly 400 miles of bike lanes and more than 60 pedestrian plazas in the Big Apple, including Times Square.
COMMISSION WORKSHOP DETAILS
What? Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue Hybrid Commission Workshop
When? Thursday, September 23rd at 3 PM
Where? In-person at Miami Beach City Hall's Commission Chambers (1700 Convention Center Drive, 3rd Floor, Miami Beach, FL 33139) or virtually at https://miamibeachfl-gov.zoom.us/j/81392857671
Can’t make it? Email your public comment right now!