Non-Resident Cyclists in Village Face Fines or Jail Time During Virus Shutdown

Non Key Biscayne resident cyclists being turned around before reaching the Key (Key News/Nancy Beth Jackson)

Non-Key Biscayne resident cyclists risk a $500 fine or 60 days in Miami-Dade County jail if they disobey a new Village emergency order that specifically applies to “non-motorized” travel, according to a Village spokesman.

Emergency Order 20-7 went into effect the morning of Wednesday, April 22, approximately a month after the more general Emergency Order 20-3 had restricted non-essential, non-resident travel, which included bicycles along with automobiles, motorcycles and scooters.

A multitude of cyclists, attracted by the scenic 8.5-mile ride across the Rickenbacker Causeway, had continued to flock to the island, particularly on the weekends, despite the first emergency order.

On April 2, the Key Biscayne Police Department began waving away non-resident cyclists at an intermittent checkpoint at the turn-around just before the Village entrance.  The checkpoint  operated during peak cyclist hours, mostly in the early morning. The Village estimated that over 1,500 cyclists were turned away in the first four days, which included Palm Sunday weekend.

Entrance to the Key was restricted to Key residents only during the covid-19 pandemic (Key News/Nancy Beth Jackson)

The initial checkpoint set up the morning the first emergency order abruptly went into effect resulted in disruptive “traffic congestion and delays” and was discontinued.  But Key News spot checks and Police Department reports indicate the continuing intermittent cycling checkpoint has been uneventful. Flashing lights and two patrol officers motioning cyclists to turn around have sufficed to divert most bike traffic. A Coconut Grove rider observed that many riders turn around just before the Village anyway unless stopping at Oasis (now closed) or 7-Eleven.

Police initially reported fewer cyclists arriving each day, although they were still coming in droves on Easter weekend April 10-12. Eventually, weekday cycling traffic became so light that walkers and joggers moved into the biking lanes along Crandon Boulevard.

However, non-resident traffic was noticeably on the uptick Sunday, April 19 as small groups of Spandex-clad riders buzzed around town when the checkpoint was not being manned.  A half dozen Coral Gables riders dismounted at the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park entrance (closed since March 23) that morning to chat. They were surprised to learn Key Biscayne was discouraging non-resident riders. “What checkpoint?” they asked.

The increased traffic led the Village to enact the new emergency order, which cites “a compelling government interest in the protecting the health, safety and welfare of the residents” as the reason for the new restrictions.

Some authorities fear a potential health threat because few cyclists wear masks or gloves when riding. On the 19^th, cyclists wore masks or had cloths over their faces when entering 7-Eleven, but Key Biscayne Police in the parking lot warned a group of Aventura cyclists to maintain social distancing.

On Wednesday, April 22 at 8 a.m. the police checkpoint was busy, turning away a steady stream of riders just past an electronic sign stating parks and beaches are closed.