This year felt more dreadful than usual, with hours of standstill traffic all over the South Florida metro area. And thanks to Miami-Dade County's lackluster public transit system, getting around was not a very pleasant experience.
People resorted to all modes of transportation — trains, planes, and automobiles — to travel around South Florida.5 things I learned at Art Basel Miami this year:
— HarryOtterNFT (@kurokeh) December 8, 2024
1. Traffic sucks
2. Traffic sucks
3. @whitewallsapp killed it at event after event all over Miami
4. How to take a 2 hour nap in the back of an Uber because traffic sucks
5. The Traffic in Miami is not ideal
"Just a girl who has to take a CitiBike in heels and a dress to her destination because Art Basel traffic says 45 minutes to go only two miles," one TikTok user posted.
New Times' very own social media editor Anna Magluta had quite the voyage to check out the various art installations around Miami Beach and downtown Miami on Saturday.
First, Magluta left her car in a parking lot on Collins Avenue. She then hopped on the bus. After that, she took the trolley to Lincoln Road and walked to the shuttle station for the water taxi, which she took to the Venetian Marina and Yacht Club near downtown Miami.
After checking out Art Miami, she was naturally famished, and walked all the way down to Bayside Marketplace to find Los Ranchos closed. But don't worry, she got a nice meal at ViceVersa across the street.
At this point, it was time to go back to Miami Beach to pick up her car. Unfortunately, she didn't have the energy to make the trek back via public transit. Instead, she succumbed to her dark thoughts and took an Uber back to Miami Beach.
Reddit users shared how they felt about the traffic hellscape over the last week.@notyouraveragerose_ One almost crash out and I still would rather risk my life than sit in an uber for almost an hour #artbasel #miami #artbaselmiami #miamibeach #southoffifth #faena #miamidesign #citibike #basel ♬ Just A Girl - No Doubt
"This week it is downright apocalyptic," one user wrote. "On Wednesday, it took me 1:40 minutes to get from a work event on the beach to home in Coral Gables; 13 miles. I won’t be going back any time soon as I imagine it is even worse."
A South Beach resident said traffic was an "absolute nightmare," just to travel a couple of blocks."I live on South Beach and this is the worst I've seen Art Basel traffic since I lived here," the user commented. "My neighborhood has been gridlock every day."
It took one person more than an hour just to drive from downtown Miami to Miami Beach.
"Dropped a friend off in Miami Beach because their Uber ride would have been $70," they wrote. "Took over an hour to get there and over an hour to get back home. Won’t be doing that again."
While many complained about the traffic, one user said," You got what you ask for," considering the county's public transportation infrastructure.
"No other reliable form of transportation. "Horrible public transportation and single family zoning creates a horrible and dangerous place to bike or walk," the user continued. "No bike infrastructure. And three mediocre rail passenger lines. What else do you expect? One more lane and it’s gonna be like LA traffic. Add more buses, trains, and bike routes separated from cars."
Though it's easy to complain, some people actually threw out some ideas for solutions.
"The only way to make traffic better is to have less cars on the road. In order for people to function is to have a proper public system," one comment read. "They don’t care, and car dealerships lobby every time there’s any talk of expanding transit."
Others think the traffic situation is a lost cause given the recent influx of people over the last few years and new development.
"Very densely populated city with a terrible road infrastructure," one user chimed in. "It would be ideal if public transportation were more useful, but since that isn't the case, everyone has cars. Metrorail and buses can only take you so far."
One user was ruthless.
"Possibly a more lethal pandemic?"
