Objective: Miami-Dade County, under the leadership of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, took swift action to make immediate safety enhancements on the Rickenbacker Causeway, to better protect bicyclists and pedestrians and make the Causeway safer for all users. The proposed improvements were developed with extensive input from various stakeholder groups including residents and leadership of Key Biscayne and City of Miami, Miami-Dade County District 7 Commissioner Raquel Regalado, cyclists who ride the Causeway, transit advocates, public safety officers, and more.


Background: As a result of recent incidents between cyclists and vehicular traffic at the conflict point west of the William Powell Bridge, Mayor Levine Cava directed the Department of Transportation and Public Works to take immediate action to implement short and long-term measures to improve safety on the Rickenbacker. DTPW spearheaded a meeting with the public and key stakeholders and identified specific recommendations.


Proposed Enhancements: The proposed improvements to be performed are below. The illustration explains the recommendation to close the existing U-Turn through the main highway and provide exclusive access to the U-Turn thru the Hobie Island Beach Park North Road.

• Removing “U Turn” movement at the conflict point where the two bike fatalities recently occurred (West of William Powell Bridge).

• Conducting short-term demonstration pilot to improve safety for cyclists and motorists during “peloton” group rides between 5:30am - 7:30am on July 12 (Tuesday), July 17 (Sunday), July 19 (Tuesday), and July 25 (Sunday)

• Closing an access point to vehicles crossing the bike lane East of William Powell Bridge and reestablishing a new access point further east to allow more space for vehicles to slow down before turning. 

• Assessing the Rickenbacker Causeway for installation of vertical barriers along the most dangerous stretches of the causeway, separating bikes from traffic lanes;.

• Coordinating to reduce the existing speed limit and deploying significant additional signage, officers, and radar technology to enforce that limit.

• Installing additional bicycle warning signs, supplementing the continuous, green-painted bicycle lanes.


It’s important to note that these additional measures represent phase 1 of our long-term safety improvements on the Rickenbacker, as DTPW explores further safety enhancements including creating greater permanent delineation of bike lanes to protect cyclists