Miami Bike Safety

With dazzling Art Deco architecture, fashionable people living stylish lives and those famed glittering beaches, you’ll want to spend as much time outside as possible in sunny Miami. Bicycling along the boardwalk is an attractive alternative to wasting time in cabs or rideshares, but there’s an important consideration to keep in mind before pedaling to your next Miami destination: Florida has the highest rate of bicycle deaths in the nation, and Miami, specifically, is the fourth-deadliest city in the country for bicyclists (incidentally, all of the top three are in Florida, too!). But this doesn’t mean you can’t ride here; it just means you should take extra precaution and know the rules.

Miami Beach and Downtown Miami are home to an extensive Citi Bike program, which means you can rent bicycles 24 hours per day at low cost, and leave them near your destination instead of returning to your point of origin. These are great for both leisure riding, errands and nearby transport, so don’t be afraid to grab one. There are bike lanes on several Miami streets and bikes are also allowed in vehicle lanes, but you may be intimidated by Miami’s plethora of fast, flashy cars revving engines and speeding the short distances between traffic lights, craving the gawking attention of onlookers. Anyone in Miami will tell you their drivers are among the craziest in the nation, but there’s a safety net in place for bicyclists: You can ride on the sidewalk.

Anywhere in Miami, it’s legal for bikes to use pedestrian sidewalks as long as riders alert walkers when they approach, and use verbal or hand signals to indicate turns. Riders should always yield to pedestrians and helmets are highly recommended for all riders, but only required for those 16 and under.

Miami is a gorgeous city for bike riding — it’s a gorgeous city for anything, really — but stick to the sidewalks. There’s a reason you’re allowed to use them.