World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
Getting around Greater Miami can be difficult, mainly due to the sheer size of the city. Nevertheless, Miami-Dade Transit Agency (MDTA; tel: (305) 770 3131; fax: (305) 654 6583; e-mail: transit@miamidade.gov; website: www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/mdta) provides a variety of useful transport options, including Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover.

At 34km (21 miles), the Metrorail is the longest elevated rapid transit system in America. It runs from Kendall northwards through South Miami, Coral Gables, downtown Miami and then northwest to the Hialeah district. There are 22 stations (each about a mile apart) and the entire journey takes 42 minutes. Trains run 0500-2400 approximately every 10-20 minutes, every six minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes after 2000. Fares are US$1.25 each way – exact change only is placed in the slot at the entrance turnstiles. The trains connect to the Metrobus and Tri-Rail. Transfer to the Metromover (see below), at the Government Center station or Brickell station, costs US$0.25 and must be purchased at one’s original boarding station.

Metrobus (tel: (305) 638 6700; website: www.miamidade.gov/transit/metrobus.asp) operates a comprehensive bus service with 94 routes running 0400-0213 Monday to Friday (with extended hours at weekends). Blue and green bus-stop signs list the routes and destinations. Fares are US$1.25 each way – exact change only is handed to the driver upon boarding. A transfer from bus to bus or from bus to Metrorail costs US$0.25. Some express routes charge an additional US$1.50.

Downtown Miami is served by the futuristic, driverless Metromover (tel: (305) 770 3131; website: www.miamidade.gov/transit/metromover.asp), an elevated, three-loop, fully automated monorail. This links major business, entertainment and cultural centres, hotels, shopping malls, government buildings and the Brickell Financial District, and also connects with the Metrorail and Metrobus. It operates daily0500-2400, every three minutes or every 90 seconds during rush hour, with the outer Loop serving Brickell and Omni operating as one continuous loop from 1900-2400. The Metromover is free to all travellers. It is safe, air-conditioned and it also provides unparalleled views of downtown Miami.

The Electrowave (The Shuttle) (tel: (305) 535 9160; website: www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/electrowave.asp), South Beach’s electric shuttle service, provides transportation up and down Washington Avenue (between Lincoln Road and South Pointe Park) and along Collins Avenue (between Lincoln Road and Dade Boulevard). It operates every 12-15 minutes (0800-0100 Monday to Saturday, 1000-0100 Sundays and holidays) and costs just US$0.25 – tickets are purchased on board. It stops at 36 designated stops in the Art Deco Historic District.

A monthly Metropass, costing US$60, allows for unlimited travel on the Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover. This pass is available for purchase from the Transit Information Center on the second level of the Government Center Metrorail station and at designated outlets (website: www.miamidade.gov/transit/passtokens_outlet.asp). Passes bought in groups of five or more qualify for a discount. Please consult website for details.

Taxis
Taxis are plentiful but it is not the norm to hail one in the street. They are easily available from taxi stands outside most hotels and shopping malls, although it is more common to telephone for one.

Firms include Metro Taxi Co (tel: (305) 888 8888), Aventura Taxi (tel: (305) 599 9999), Coral Gables City Taxi (tel: (305) 899 9999) and South Dade Miami Taxi (tel: (305) 448 8888). All service providers offer flat-rate fares (including tolls but not tips) from Miami International Airport to some of the more popular destinations (see Getting There By Air), otherwise visitors should expect to pay US$3 for the first mile and US$2 for each mile thereafter. A tip of 15-20% of the fare is usual and expected.

Water Taxis
The waterways are served by a fleet of local ferries, known as water taxis. These operate along two main routes (from Bayside Marketplace to the Fifth Street Marina at the southwestern end of south Beach or to the western end of Lincoln Road) 1000-2300 daily. Fares are US$7 one way, US$12 round trip and US$15 for an all-day pass.

Limousines
Dolphin Limousine Service Inc (tel: (305) 651 1641; website: www.dolphin-limo.com), Protective Limousine Service (tel: (305) 255 3636; website: www.protectivelimo.com) and Signature Limousines (tel: (305) 717 5470; website: www.signature-limousine.com), all cater for both business and leisure needs. Visitors should expect to pay around US$150-175 per hour (for a minimum of three hours) or US$170-190 per hour at weekends.

Driving in the City
Greater Miami comprises 30 municipalities, so familiarisation with the major neighbourhoods is extremely helpful for drivers. Coral Gables (actually a city in itself), Coconut Grove and Little Havana are the popular neighbourhoods in Miami, as well as the downtown area. Miami Beach, a city distinct from Miami, situated to the east, has the lively beachside and shopping centre of South Beach. Visitors should also note that Miami is divided into quadrants. Flagler Street runs east–west, thus dividing the city into north and south sections, while Miami Avenue runs north–south, splitting the city into east and west sections. Most Miami addresses refer to these quadrants.

Highway interchanges can be very confusing, so visitors should be sure to read the signs carefully. Main routes include the major east–west expressway State Road 836 (also called the Dolphin Expressway), which leads from Miami International Airport to the major north–south I-95 expressway and onto Miami Beach via I-195. Four main causeways link Miami and Miami Beach and, once there, the A1A (Collins Avenue) is the main thoroughfare running parallel to the coast. The orange ‘sun’ signs visible on selected highways identify official tourist routes – to Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, downtown Miami, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach and the Port of Miami, as well as to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Key West.

Construction is all-pervasive in booming Miami. Drivers should look for ‘smart’ signs, which convey alternate routes and warnings, and also keep an eye out for construction-induced potholes in torn-up areas. Greater Miami traffic can be terrible; cars can come to an absolute standstill along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue in South Beach during weekday rush hour and weekend nights. Visitors should be aware that short-tempered drivers are as prolific as road construction signs.

There is plenty of metered parking available in Miami but not elsewhere. Visitors should check displayed information for rates and hours of operation. The average rates for parking range from US$1 to US$3.25 per half-hour. The fine for an expired meter is US$18 (US$45 if not paid within 30 calendar days). On weekends, parking garages fill up with shoppers during the day and clubbers during the night, especially in Miami Beach and Coconut Grove. Further information on locations of car parks, hours and rates is available from the Miami Parking System, 190 NE Third Street, in downtown Miami (tel: (305) 373 6789; website: www.miamiparking.com).

Car Hire
Hiring a car is relatively straightforward. Drivers must be over 25 years old and possess a valid national driving licence and a credit card to hold a deposit of at least US$500. When arranging car hire, visitors should inquire about an all-inclusive rate and ask how this compares to the regular daily rate. An all-inclusive rate should include all taxes, airport fees and car handling fees. CWD (also known as LDW), which makes the rental company, rather than the driver, responsible for damage to the car, and SLI (supplementary liability insurance), also sometimes called top-up liability insurance or EP (extended protection), increases third-party liability coverage. All-inclusive rates may also include a tank of petrol and additional drivers (otherwise around US$5 per driver). There is usually an extra charge for child seats (US$3-5 per day).

It is worth shopping around for the best rates. These vary considerably, from a minimum of around US$170 per week or US$40 per day for a compact car with air conditioning, although this may vary from branch to branch and season to season. Convertible cars for travel in sunny Miami start at a higher rental rate. Free one-way drop-offs are normally possible within Florida, although rarely with the cheapest cars.

Major providers include Alamo, 3355 NW 22nd Street, Miami International Airport (tel: (305) 633 6076; website: www.alamo.com), Avis, 2300 NW 37th Avenue, Miami International Airport (tel: (305) 341 0936; website: www.avis.com), Budget, 3901 NW 28th Street, Miami International Airport (tel: (305) 871 3053; website: www.drivebudget.com), Hertz, 3795 NW 21st Street, Miami International Airport (tel: (305) 871 0300; website: www.hertz.com), Interamerican, Miami International Airport (tel: (305) 635 3060; website: www.interamerican.com), and Thrifty, 2875 NW 42nd Avenue, Miami International Airport (tel: (877) 283 0898; website: www.thrifty.com).

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
While Miami has busy thoroughfares, Miami Beach has smaller neighbourhood streets so most rental outlets are in bike-friendly Miami Beach. The Miami Beach Bicycle Center, 601 Fifth Street (tel: (305) 674 0150), charges around US$20 per day. Bikes to Go, 6600 SW 80th Street (tel: (305) 666 7702; website: http://bikestogo.net/), sells and rents bikes in Miami itself. Visitors interested in hiring an Italian scooter should visit Ride, 710 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach (tel: (305) 673 3307).

Bicycle hire rates are around US$20 per day and visitors should ask for a sturdy U-type or Kryptonite lock as bicycle theft is common, and wear a helmet.