Bicycle Lanes on Miracle Mile

The City of Coral Gables has commenced the design of their long-planned project for a complete makeover of its signature street, "Miracle Mile", the heart of the downtown area. This $20 million project will include shrinking travel lanes, and reconfiguring angled parking to parallel parking to allow more space for the pedestrian sidewalk. When designed correctly, there is adequate space to add a protected or standard bicycle lane, so that bicycle riders can access the many retail shops and restaurants on Miracle Mile.

The initial plans prepared by the firm hired by the Coral Gables Business Improvement District ("BID") in 2009 increased the sidewalk from 14.5' to 21'. Experts in street planning (Streetplans) found that by reducing travel lanes and parking lanes slightly, bicycle lanes could be added to Miracle Mile, providing a tremendous potential improvement to the safety of the street for pedestrians and bicycles, as well as allowing safe access to the bicycle riding community. Plans showing protected bicycle lanes were included and recommended in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan which was approved by the City Commission in 2014.
In 2014 a final financing plan was approved that would create an equal cost-share where the BID and the City (residents) would each pay 1/2 of the total cost. A firm was then hired to commence the design phase services. A steering committee was appointed and the design commenced. At its first public meeting, the designers showed that the travel lanes and parallel parking lane could be narrowed, and all of the extra space would be added to the pedestrian-only sidewalk. Bicycle riders seeking to shop, dine and work on Miracle Mile will be expected to ride on the street.

We the undersigned support the inclusion of dedicated bicycle lanes for bicycle riders of all ages to enjoy the many retail stores and restaurants on Miracle Mile without fear of harm from vehicles or risk of injuring pedestrians, and urge the City of Coral Gables to immediately direct the design consultants to include a bicycle lane in their plans.