Walking in Miami: You better watch out

Miami has its walkable areas: it’s called Miami Beach. Everything else, take note.

I moved to Miami few years ago, but there is still something about it that makes me question if it was the right move. This is a city that is still developing into the city that it claims to be. This city — considered a large metropolitan area; a city supposed to be as big as its art scene; a city with so many international residents and visitors commuting between their urban and suburban areas, still lacks adequate pedestrian infrastructure (or is it awareness?). As an avid city walker myself who previously lived in a couple of US Northeastern and European cities, it was the very first thing I noticed (and complained about) when I moved to South Florida.

Among the things that make little sense in Miami, I must say that the lack of pedestrian infrastructure is a big one for me. I’ve had a big opinion about it ever since moving here, but a couple of weekends past I witnessed one of my biggest fears, and felt like I needed to write about it. 

As I was coming back from the grocery store in a residential area, where some streets just happen to connect to two major busy roads, I noticed a couple carrying some shopping bags from the same store where I had just shopped. They were walking ahead of me. I guess we checked out at the same time and were also headed towards the same direction. 

We came to a crossway — one that I must’ve crossed more than a dozen times before without issues. For people who are not from the area, there is no clear sign that it is a pedestrian path, even though there should be because it connects a shopping mall with a trolley stop. The pathway is more like a yield than a stop. And, get this: the crossing path is on a curve. Some motorists do slow down to give way or stop completely to let pedestrians cross. I’m always very careful, but most drivers stop — which is why I was surprised to see the unthinkable happen to a couple of pedestrians that fateful day. 

An accident that could’ve been avoided took place right before my eyes.

I know the couple walking ahead of me was chitchatting, but they seemed to be alert. Traffic was light from both ways. At some point, while they crossed to the middle first, I think I looked down. I was listening to music and was focused on shuffling. Naturally, as I always do on busy streets, especially in Miami, I looked both ways. I always do, even when it’s a one-way road, which is why I stopped for a few seconds to change the music before I crossed the street. 

But within seconds of me looking down, I lost sight of the couple in front of me. Almost immediately, though, I was startled by a loud BANG. My eyes quickly followed the sound of the impact, and I was shaken up when I saw where my sight ended: the couple was on the ground, still rolling. It was like watching a scary movie — I cover my eyes when the scary part is about to happen.  It all happened so fast, maybe it lasted less than 3 seconds. And even though my mind registered that it was an accident, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. I didn’t notice where the car came from or how fast it turned on the curve, but it must’ve been going over the speed limit. 

Fortunately, after putting myself together, of course, I realized that they weren’t seriously injured. The driver was a visibly elderly man. He stopped, but it seemed like he waited too long to hit the brakes and barely interacted with the couple or offered any help at all. Even his face looked detached from the scene. I didn’t see anyone exchange insurance information, I didn’t see this driver try to offer any assistance at all. I know that everyone was most likely in a state of shock, but it was bizarre and it was upsetting to watch.

It was hard to see from my angle whether the girl was conscious or not. She looked too calm for someone who just emerged from under a car (almost), and yet more shaken up than the guy. I tried to help in any way I could. I picked up some of her groceries and sunglasses from the ground and handed them to her. “Should I call the police?” I asked. My first instinct was actually to call 911, but you never know these days if cops will be of help or of more trouble for some people, so I made sure I asked first. She said no, even though it was obvious she could’ve used some medical attention. It was hard to tell what was going through her mind. 

There were some businessmen in the area who stopped to assist. Upon seeing the driver’s lack of interest in helping, I was glad they were there. One of the men kept asking is she got hit on the head at all. I think she kept saying she was OK, but I’m sure we saw her body close to being under the tires. Shortly after, it was evident that she was starting to come back from her shock because she was nearly crying. I wanted to give her a hug honestly. The guy she was with remained incredibly calm still, all things considered, and I was glad that they could keep it together until they felt safe and able to process what had just happened.

The old man drove off within minutes, without offering any help or insurance information. I couldn’t believe it. But by then, the girl could talk. She asked us to take a picture of his license plate. We did and she wrote it down afterwards. 

I walked away from the scene after she got the car info and some of her groceries off the ground, but I was kind of sad knowing that I’d have no way of knowing how things ended with them and if the man was ever held accountable. I know I could have asked for some sort of info to follow up, but I don’t know if that would’ve been appropriate. I hope they’re doing fine.

The point of my post is that witnessing this accident in Miami enraged me for various reasons. 

1. There is literally a mall across the street, meaning that if you drive by the area regularly, you will know a lot of people are crossing to and from. And if you don’t drive by regularly, read the room!
2. If the pedestrian zone had been clearly marked, this could have maybe been avoided. 
3. Here is yet another example of the lack of awareness and the disrespect for pedestrian in this city. Some drivers expect to be the only ones with the right of the road. There’s NO spatial awareness whatsoever, but I feel that with the right laws in place this could change. Some of us prefer walking or biking! Keep that in mind when you’re out there being a speed demon.   
4. It got me thinking, should people over 80 years of age be driving alone? Or at all? This one needs some kind of regulation, I’m sorry — too many incidents already. Let’s be conscious citizens.

This is also why I don’t drive in Miami. When I first moved here, I decided that I was not going to get a car because the problem is not just from a pedestrian’s perspective; people’s insane driving style simply scare me. There was a time when I let my guard down and thought that maybe it was time to start driving in Miami, but that was a brief moment. My new fear has been restored. Thanks a lot, Miami.

Perhaps there should be more regulations and more driving tests before granting a drivers license to anyone in Florida. I’m just saying.

And to the Miami drivers, here is a reminder: you’re NOT alone on the road. Be prudent. And for the love of all that is good, watch out for pedestrians!