Please place on the May 15, 2024 agenda a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee to discuss various options to mitigate the increased traffic congestion, and potential safety issues, created by rideshare drivers picking up and dropping off passengers on the public rights-of-way.
Each day, the City of Miami Beach hosts thousands of tourists, day-trippers, and other individuals driving to, from, and within the City for employment, recreational, or other purposes. Many people also arrive, depart, and commute within the City through the utilization of various rideshare platforms (i.e., Lyft, Uber). As a result, traffic congestion in the City can be nearly unbearable on a regular basis, especially during the peak morning and afternoon hours Monday – Friday, and during most hours of the day/night on weekends and holidays. Moreover, the traffic congestion and public safety concerns arising from rideshare drivers stopping in the middle of the roadway for pickups and drop-offs is significant. These public right-of-way pickups and drop-offs disrupt traffic flow, increase the risk of vehicle, pedestrian and micromobility accidents, and create frustration for other motorists (which can also lead to “road rage” incidents and motorists driving on the shoulder of the roadway and/or in the bicycle lanes).
Accordingly, I would request that the Transportation and Mobility Department, along with the Parking Department, be prepared at Committee to discuss the available options to mitigate this issue including, but not limited to, directing rideshare drivers to utilize appropriate private property driveways, designating certain portions of public property as pickup and drop-off zones, encouraging rideshare drivers to pull over safely, and promoting alternative transportation options. Also, I would further request that the Police Department be prepared at Committee to discuss their enforcement efforts relating to rideshare drivers stopping in the roadway to pickup and drop-off passengers.