Miami - Transport

Getting around Greater Miami can be difficult, mainly due to the sheer size of the city. Nevertheless, Miami-Dade Transit Service (MDT) (tel: (305) 770 3131; website: www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit) provides a variety of useful transport options, including Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover.

At 34km (21 miles), the Metrorail is the longest elevated rapid transit system in America. It runs from Kendall northwards through South Miami, Coral Gables, downtown Miami and then northwest to the Hialeah district. There are 22 stations (each about a mile apart) and the entire journey takes 42 minutes. Trains run approximately every 10-20 minutes, every six minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes after 2000. Exact change only is placed in the slot at the entrance turnstiles. The trains connect to the Metrobus and Tri-Rail. Transfer to the Metrobus (see below), at the Government Center station or Brickell station, must be purchased at one's original boarding station.

Metrobus (tel: (305) 770 3131; website: www.miamidade.gov/transit/metrobus.asp) operates a comprehensive bus service with 94 routes, some running 24 hours a day. Blue and green bus-stop signs list the routes and destinations. Exact change only is handed to the driver upon boarding. A transfer from bus to bus or from bus to Metrorail costs a little more.

Downtown Miami is served by the futuristic, driverless Metromover (tel: (305) 770 3131; website: www.miamidade.gov/transit/metromover.asp), an elevated, three-loop, fully automated monorail. This links major business, entertainment and cultural centres, hotels, shopping malls, government buildings and the Brickell Financial District, and also connects with the Metrorail and Metrobus. It operates daily from about 0500 to midnight, every three minutes or every 90 seconds during rush hour, with the outer Loop serving Brickell and Omni operating as one continuous loop from about 1900 until midnight. The Metromover is free to all travellers. It is safe, air-conditioned and it also provides unparalleled views of downtown Miami.

The South Beach Local makes getting around South Beach a breeze (website: www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/sobe_local.asp). The bus runs every 10-15 minutes and is very cheap; it is the perfect way to explore the art deco historic district or find all the great shopping bargains in SoBe (the locals' name for South Beach).

A monthly Metropass allows for unlimited travel on the Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover. This pass is available for purchase from the Transit Information Center on the second level of the Government Center Metrorail station and at designated outlets (website: www.miamidade.gov/transit/passtokens_outlet.asp). Passes bought in groups of five or more qualify for a discount. Please consult website for details.

Taxis are plentiful but it is not the norm to hail one in the street. They are easily available from taxi stands outside most hotels and shopping malls, although it is more common to telephone for one.

Firms include Metro Taxi Co (tel: (305) 888 8888), Aventura Taxi (tel: (305) 599 9999), Coral Gables City Taxi (tel: (305) 899 9999), South Dade Miami Taxi (tel: (305) 448 8888) and Yellow Cabs (tel: (305) 444 4444). All service providers offer flat-rate fares (including tolls but not tips) from Miami International Airport to popular destinations (see Getting There By Air). A tip of 15-20% of the fare is usual and expected.

Greater Miami comprises 30 municipalities, so familiarisation with the major neighbourhoods is extremely helpful for drivers. Coral Gables (actually a city in itself), Coconut Grove and Little Havana are the popular neighbourhoods in Miami, as well as the downtown area. Miami Beach, a city distinct from Miami, situated to the east, has the lively beachside and shopping centre of South Beach. Visitors should also note that Miami is divided into quadrants. Flagler Street runs east-west, thus dividing the city into north and south sections, while Miami Avenue runs north-south, splitting the city into east and west sections. Most Miami addresses refer to these quadrants.

Highway interchanges can be very confusing, so visitors should be sure to read the signs carefully. Main routes include the major east-west expressway State Road 836 (also called the Dolphin Expressway), which leads from Miami International Airport to the major north-south I-95 expressway and onto Miami Beach via I-195. Four main causeways link Miami and Miami Beach and, once there, the A1A (Collins Avenue) is the main thoroughfare running parallel to the coast. The orange ‘sun' signs visible on selected highways identify official tourist routes - to Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, downtown Miami, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach and the Port of Miami, as well as to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Key West.

Construction is all-pervasive in booming Miami. Drivers should look for ‘smart' signs, which convey alternate routes and warnings, and also keep an eye out for construction-induced potholes in torn-up areas. Greater Miami traffic can be terrible; cars can come to an absolute standstill along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue in South Beach during weekday rush hour and weekend nights. Visitors should be aware that short-tempered drivers are as prolific as road construction signs.

There is plenty of metered parking available in Miami but not elsewhere. Visitors should check displayed information for rates and hours of operation. The average rates for parking meters range from US$0.50 to US$1.00 per hour. On weekends, parking garages fill up with shoppers during the day and clubbers during the night, especially in Miami Beach and Coconut Grove. Further information on locations of car parks, hours and rates is available from the Miami Parking System, 190 NE Third Street, in downtown Miami (tel: (305) 373 6789; website: www.miamiparking.com).

Hiring a car is relatively straightforward. Drivers must be over 25 years old and possess a valid national driving licence and a credit card to hold a deposit of at least US$500. When arranging car hire, visitors should enquire about an all-inclusive rate and ask how this compares to the regular daily rate. An all-inclusive rate should include all taxes, airport fees and car-handling fees. CWD (also known as LDW), which makes the hire company, rather than the driver, responsible for damage to the car, and SLI (supplementary liability insurance), also sometimes called top-up liability insurance or EP (extended protection), increases third-party liability coverage. All-inclusive rates may also include a tank of petrol and additional drivers. There is usually an extra charge for child seats.

It is worth shopping around for the best rates as these vary considerably. Convertible cars for travel in sunny Miami start at a higher rate than standard vehicles. Free one-way drop-offs are normally possible within Florida, although rarely with the cheapest cars.

Major providers include Alamo (tel: (305) 633 6076; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: (305) 341 0936; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (305) 871 3053; website: www.drivebudget.com), Hertz (tel: (305) 871 0300; website: www.hertz.com), Interamerican (tel: (305) 635 3060; website: www.interamerican.com), and Thrifty (tel: (877) 283 0898; website: www.thrifty.com).

While Miami has busy thoroughfares, Miami Beach has smaller neighbourhood streets so most hire outlets are in bike-friendly Miami Beach. They include the Miami Beach Bicycle Center, 601 Fifth Street (tel: (305) 674 0150) and Mangrove Cycles, 260 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne (tel: (305) 361 5555). Visitors should ask for a sturdy U-type or Kryptonite lock as bicycle theft is common, and wear a helmet.