All Discussions Tagged 'public' - MIAMIurbanlife.com2024-03-29T04:56:54Zhttp://www.miamiurbanlife.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=public&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMiami Trolley Review - Sure beats walking!tag:www.miamiurbanlife.com,2012-06-07:1256554:Topic:7595592012-06-07T18:51:32.933ZAlex (MUL)http://www.miamiurbanlife.com/profile/alex
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>What to expect when riding the Miami Trolley...</strong></span></p>
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<p>So I'm sure you've already heard about the new <a href="http://www.miamigov.com/trolley/" target="_blank">Miami Trolley</a>. The concept is pretty cool: Free transportation from Brickell to Omni and it runs every 15 minutes from 6:30am to 11pm Monday through Saturday (and on Sundays for special events).</p>
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<p>I live in Downtown Miami and work near the Performing Arts…</p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>What to expect when riding the Miami Trolley...</strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>So I'm sure you've already heard about the new <a href="http://www.miamigov.com/trolley/" target="_blank">Miami Trolley</a>. The concept is pretty cool: Free transportation from Brickell to Omni and it runs every 15 minutes from 6:30am to 11pm Monday through Saturday (and on Sundays for special events).</p>
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<p>I live in Downtown Miami and work near the Performing Arts Center. Jumping in my SUV and driving down the parking garage to drive up another parking garage just a few blocks away seems less practical every day. So I decided to give the trolley a shot.</p>
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<p>The first time I used it, I got lucky and it happened to be passing my building as I walked out. It must have been my lucky day. Every other time it has taken 20-30 minutes to come by (as opposed to the 15 minutes they claim). Wait a minute... it's a FREE service and I'm complaining? Well, it wouldn't be so bad to wait if it wasn't always blazing hot or raining in Miami.</p>
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<p>Once you actually get on the trolley, it's a pretty nice experience. First off, it's brand new, clean, and comfortable. It is not as crowded as the metro mover, and the AC is nice and cold.</p>
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<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>Great, but could be better...</strong></span></p>
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<p>Some observations and suggestions on how the trolley would be much better:</p>
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<li>Most of the stops have benches, but no canopies. Stand out there for about 2 minutes waiting and you will be drenched in sweat. On the other hand, if it's raining you are out of luck unless you have an umbrella. <strong>Some shade would make the experience a whole lot better - rain or shine. Add some canopies to the trolley stops!</strong></li>
<li>The trolley typically takes a lot more than 15 minutes to come by. What if there was a way to know how long it will take for the next trolley to get to your stop? On my last trip to NYC, I was impressed how Google Maps was integrated with public transportation. It gives you estimated time for arrival and departure of buses and trains. <strong>What if we had a smartphone app that showed us where the trolleys were located on a map? Offer a free app or tie in to Google Maps!</strong></li>
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<p>Overall the Miami Trolley is a great move to improving public transportation in Miami, but it could be better with some minor changes.</p>
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<p><strong>If you've had a chance to try it out, we would love to hear your thoughts!</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058942774?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058942774?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>For more info on the Miami Trolley:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.miamigov.com/trolley/">http://www.miamigov.com/trolley/</a></p>