The Venetian Causeway Upgraded One of Miami’s Most Used Bike Routes

The Venetian Causeway, which is home to one of Miami’s most popular bike route, has upgraded the experience for cyclists by unveiling green bike lanes. The high emphasis green bike lane project began in December with plans to have it completed in the coming months.

The slip-resistant lanes were created to promote a “share the road” mentality, so that drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians could all have an enjoyable experience. Originally, the lanes were only planned to cover the Miami Beach city limit stretch but the county later agreed to allocate additional funds so that each 2.5-mile stretch could be covered.

The lanes head both east and west, so riders can enjoy the new bike lanes heading into and out of Miami Beach. Additionally, if you are riding east and heading for South Beach, you’ll now be able to find 65 long-term parking spots in the 17th Street garage. Miami Beach unveiled these spots last week with an option to park overnight if needed.

With the new green bike lanes providing cyclists with a safer biking experience, the Venetian Causeway should remain one of Miamians favorite bike routes for many more years to come.

The City of Miami Beach is Pressuring FDOT to Beef Up the Bike Lanes on the Julia Tuttle & MacArthur Causeways

Photo of the Julia Tuttle Causeway taken by Sean McCaughan a few years ago.

The City of Miami Beach is urging the Florida Department of Transportation to beef up the bicycle lanes on the Julia Tuttle and MacArthur Causeways before construction work resumes on the only causeway reasonably safe to bicycle across now, the Venetian. At a commission meeting on the 13th of last month they urged FDOT to paint green bicycle lanes along the entire  length of the MacArthur and put the Tuttle’s bike lanes behind protective barriers. The response so far hasn’t been very positive though.

According to City Transportation Director Jose Gonzalez, who recently met with FDOT, he basically got a lot of flack from the department about how little could be done in the short term even though FDOT does have a long term bike lane project planned for the Tuttle (and just the Tuttle). The response from commissioners was a unanimous vote to continue urging FDOT on this, as they attempted to avoid a repeat of the very limited bicycle connectivity situation that happened the last time work was underway on the Venetian.