Beach looks to ban bikes, roller blades on much of Baywalk

Balk may soon bar motorized and recreational transport such as roller skates and bicycles to enhance pedestrian safety. This month the Miami Beach Commission put a ban in motion.

The public walkway adjacent to Biscayne Bay offers “scenic views and pedestrian access to the waterfront,” says a memo with the legislation. But the “relative narrowness of the Baywalk” limits safe and comfortable pedestrian use and “creates safety concerns when shared with motorized means of transportation, bicycles, in-line skates, roller skates, and skateboards.”

“This item is coming forward for a public safety reason,” explained Commissioner Laura Dominguez. “We’ve had users get injured. There are parts of the Baywalk that are five or six feet wide, and so it’s not designed to have people walking and then also have motorized transportation.”

The ordinance is to face commissioners for a final vote in February.

Due to such equipment having the potential to harm pedestrians and cause injuries, the proposed ordinance would prohibit their use on the Baywalk. However, the ordinance carved out an exception for “motorized devices and wheelchairs when used by disabled persons.”

Additionally, the use of motorized means of transportation, bicycling, in-line skating, roller skating, and skateboarding on the Baywalk is prohibited with an exception of the Marina Baywalk south of Fifth Street, in which only motorized means of transportation would be prohibited.

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