Miami Ranks as 5th Riskiest Place to Ride Your Bike

New data from the League of American Bicyclists has revealed that Miami has become increasingly dangerous for cyclists. The new data shows that Miami ranks as the 5th most dangerous place in the US to ride a bike with an increase of 28% in fatal crashes from 2017 to 2021.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided the data to the League of American Bicyclists, with its findings indicating that many of the crashes occur on state-owned roads with high traffic volume, speed limits, and multiple lanes. To improve cyclist safety, policy director Ken McLeod says “the best practice would be separated bike lanes or shared-use paths that are separated from the roadway,” with less than 8% of bicyclist fatalities in the US occurring in bike lanes.

Miami-Dade’s Department of Transportation and Public Works, reports that there are 197 miles of unprotected bike lanes in the county, with only 10.2 miles are protected or “buffered”. The department’s Chief Planning Officer, Lisa Colmenares, stated that the county will continue to prioritize 100 hotspots as part of Miami-Dade’s “Vision Zero” strategy, aimed at eliminating fatalities and severe injuries by 2040.

While Miami-Dade considers investing in new infrastructure, not all cyclists believe protected bike lanes are the answer. Junior Pena, a Brickell cyclist, believes that protected bike lanes do not deter drivers from swerving into the lanes. An accident in February left Junior Pena in the hospital with multiple fractures after being hit by a truck. Pena was not riding in a protected bike lane, but the accident highlights the need for better safety measures.

By prioritizing cyclist safety and improving infrastructure, Miami can become a safer place for cycling and prevent tragic accidents from happening.

For more information on “Vision Zero” in Miami-Dade County, click here.

To see the League of American Bicyclists’ full report, click here.

Credit: nbcmiami.com

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