A People-First Corridor Through the Heart of South Beach
"Slow Streets" is a traffic-calming strategy that transforms residential streets dominated by fast-moving cars into corridors designed around people — cyclists, walkers, kids, and neighbors.
Jefferson Ave and 13th Street were chosen because they connect some of South Beach's densest residential blocks directly to Flamingo Park — but today, that trip means sharing narrow sidewalks with fast vehicles and crossing wide, unprotected intersections.
The goal: a calm, connected, car-light corridor that feels safe enough for an 8-year-old to bike and an 80-year-old to walk.
Modular concrete curb modules define the protected lane boundary along Jefferson Ave.
Drag the handle to compare. · Photo placeholder — 13th St intersection
Tightening the Corner, Slowing the Turn
Each corner is built out with painted concrete, shortening the pedestrian crossing distance.
Tighter turning radii force drivers to slow down — and signal that they're entering a calmed zone.
Curb extensions work by narrowing the effective crossing width and eliminating the sight-line that lets drivers cut turns fast. Shorter crossing distance means pedestrians spend less time exposed in the street.
The Parking Row Is the Buffer
The centerpiece of the Jefferson Ave Slow Streets project is a 2-way, parking-protected bike lane running the full length of the corridor. It works like this: the existing on-street parking lane is repositioned to sit between the bike lane and the travel lane — so parked cars become the physical barrier protecting people on bikes.
The result: a wide, separated bike lane that feels fundamentally different from paint-only bike lanes. No door zone. No cars brushing past. Just a clear, comfortable space that works for all ages and abilities.
The corridor connects 14 residential blocks and terminates at the north entrance of Flamingo Park — making this a genuine transportation link, not just a recreational amenity.
"The parking row itself acts as the physical buffer."
Lane configuration from left: sidewalk · parking (buffer) · 2-way protected bike lane · travel lane
"This corridor is the missing link — connecting South Beach residential blocks directly to 35 acres of park."
BEFORE & AFTER
Yes, There Are Trade-offs. Here's Why They're Worth It.
The Slow Streets configuration means fewer on-street parking spaces and narrower travel lanes. That's real, and we won't minimize it. Some residents use those parking spaces. Some drivers will find the lanes tighter than they're used to.
But the old configuration traded enormous amounts of public street space for car storage and car speed — at the cost of safety, comfort, and basic walkability for everyone who doesn't drive. On a residential street that feeds into a major park, that trade-off is the wrong one.
Narrower travel lanes are safer travel lanes. Decades of traffic research show that lane width directly correlates with vehicle speed — and speed correlates directly with pedestrian fatality rates. A 25 mph impact has a 10% fatality rate. A 40 mph impact: 85%.
"The community debated this honestly. The result was clear: safety for everyone, every day, outweighs convenience parking."
— Community input process, 2024
Community meeting · Nov 2024
Street walkthrough · Dec 2024
"I've lived on Jefferson for twelve years. For the first time, I feel comfortable letting my kids ride bikes to Flamingo Park. That's everything."
— Jefferson Ave resident, community input session
Community engagement: 3 public meetings · 1 street walkthrough · 147 resident comments submitted
Construction Status
Expected completion: Summer 2025
When Construction Wraps
Once the corridor opens, Better Streets Miami Beach will monitor vehicle speeds, count cyclists and pedestrians, and report back to the community. Upcoming city meetings will address the remaining network connections needed to extend the Slow Streets corridor northward.
Time Until Next Commission Meeting