Miami Beach and Miami Shores Named Bicycle Friendly

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Miami Beach and Miami Shores were recognized by the League of American Bicyclists on Thursday as bicycle friendly communities. They were among 37 communities around the country to receive the designation. Officials said that 50 communities had applied.

“We’re honored to have been recognized for our continuous efforts in creating safer roads and hosting active bicycle advocacy groups,” expressed Miami Beach Transportation Director Jose Gonzalez. “By enforcing bicycle friendly policies, engaging the community through outreach and improving overall conditions for our visitors and residents, we’re on our way to building a safer and stronger community for our cyclists.” (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Beach Patch.)

The League of American Bicyclists awarded Miami Beach Silver level status through its Bicycle Friendly Community program and bronze status to Miami Shores.

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The League of American Bicyclists is a national non-profit organization that promotes cycling as a fun and healthy transportation alternative through advocacy and education.

Based on the results of a 2016 resident survey, Miami Beach has been dedicated to building out a planned bicycle network as part of its bicycle pedestrian master plan, set for completion by 2035. Recently, the city implemented a significant amount of the proposed 23 miles of protected bicycle lanes, constructed additional green space lanes and created signage related to bicyclists. Miami Beach also expanded a county-wide campaign to educate cyclists and automobile drivers on proper road safety.

The league’s report noted high ridership scores, an excellent rating on bicycle education in schools, meritorious safety measures and a low number of crashes and fatalities. Miami Beach maintains the highest bicycle-friendly status in Miami-Dade County, according to city officials. Other nearby municipalities recognized as bronze-level communities include Key Biscayne, Miami, Weston, Broward County, Boca Raton, among others.

Here is the complete list of the newly added communities around the United States:

Platinum

Fort Collins, Colorado

Gold

Jackson and Teton County, Wyoming

Silver

Anchorage, Alaska
Appleton, Wisconsin
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Gainesville, Florida
Golden, Colorado
Irvine, California
Long Beach, California
Miami Beach, Florida
Oceanside, California
Saint Paul, Minnesota
St. Louis, Missouri

Bronze
Batavia, Illinois
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Carrollton, Georgia
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Columbia, South Carolina
Duluth, Minnesota
Fairfax County, Virginia
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kirkland, Washington
Lebanon, New Hampshire
Los Angeles, California
Miami Shores, Florida
New Ulm, Minnesota
Pueblo, Colorado
San Buenaventura (Ventura), California
Savannah, Georgia
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Silverthorne, Colorado
Springfield, Missouri
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. George City, Utah
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Tybee Island, Georgia
Watsonville, California

Cats ride bicycles too in Miami Beach as this cyclist enjoys Lincoln Road with his pet. Photo by Mr. Usaji via Flickr.