Miami-Dade 2040 LRTP - Oct. 23, 2014

6-44 | MOBILITY OPTIONS It is critical to enhance non-motorized transportation mobility and accessibility in Miami-Dade County to connect the county’s cities, neighborhoods, and surrounding facilities. Pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environments invite residents to patronize local businesses, walk or bike to work and school, and access public transportation for longer trips. Furthermore, promoting walking and bicycling in Miami-Dade County achieves important sustainability, health, and recreation goals as well. The Miami-Dade 2040 Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan presents a vision and improvement strategies to enhance the important non-motorized transportation network of Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade 2040 Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan serves as the non-motorized element of the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. The vision of the Miami-Dade 2040 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is to enhance the accessibility, safety, public health, social equity, environment, and overall quality of life within Miami-Dade County by creating interconnected bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities throughout the county. Bicycle facilities in Miami-Dade County are comprised of two different categories: On-road facilities and off- road facilities. On-road facilities are comprised of all roadways within Miami-Dade County’s roadway network. The county has approximately 160 miles of existing or under-construction on-road facilities and includes: Bicycle Lanes, Paved Shoulders, Wide Curb Lanes, and Multi-Use paths. Off-road facilities include greenways, trails, and shared-used paths and are considered more suitable for mountain biking and include: Unpaved Trails and Share-Use Trails. Bicycle and Pedestrian Set-Aside Projects Safe Routes to School is a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded program that looks to provide safer walking and bicycling routes for children to and from the school site. The program’s vision is to build sidewalks, bicycle paths, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to ensure safe connection to and from school. The program aims to reduce speeds in school zones and neighborhoods, and install speed bumps to encourage slower speeds for vehicles driving around the school. The program also looks to educate students on pedestrian safety for students walking and riding to and from school. The program also focuses on building parent involvement at school and promoting a community with safe school zones and public involvement in the general safety around schools.