Cycling in Miami

Miami may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of a cycling friendly city, but it’s being touted as an up and coming city for cyclists. The Kneedl team are keen cyclists and we’ve been pleasantly surprised at the the amount of cycling there is here.

If you’re looking at relocating to Miami and have heard it’s a no-go for cyclists, don’t worry.  We won’t pretend it’s perfect (despite the occasional share the road license plate, it can be a battle with drivers) but it is certainly putting a lot of effort into making itself a more bike friendly place.  There’s still a long way to go but as the Miami Herald noted, Miami has now held more car-free bike events than any other US city all thanks to Bike Miami Days.  Good Magazine has put Miami in the top seven cities with a burgeoning bike scene.

Road riding in Miami

If you’re a roadie, there are organized races/rides and a few teams who ride here. Key Biscayne is the main drag for roadies and time-triallists thanks to its long straight roads with good bike lanes. It also has the biggest hill in Miami if you want to practice some hill climbs!  There is also a monthly Critical Mass ride.

Mountain Biking in Miami

If you’re more into fat tyred antics then you’d be amazed that, despite the fact it’s flat, Miami has some pretty awesome mountain bike rails.  Oleta Park has plenty of man-made singletrack and the trails are rated from beginner to expert. Some of the trails are pretty technical too. Oleta also offers mountain bikes to rent.  If you’re after a bit of wildlife watching while you’re riding then Shark Valley in the Everglades is the place to go. There are also organized full moon rides along Shark Valley.  Just make sure you don’t puncture, as there are plenty of gators around!

Bike rental in Miami

If you’re visiting and fancy renting a bike, you can head to Oleta Park and hire them there. Or if you want to cruise around the beach and city there are a few places to hire bikes. Bike and Roll offers guided tours as well as hourly rental.

Hopefully that’s a good enough intro to cycling in Miami. If you want a bit more detail, there are some great blogs focusing on cycling in Miami:

Miami New Times Bike Blog

Miami Bike Scene

Bike Miami Days

Slow Bike Miami

Transit Miami

Spokes ‘n’ Folks

Free promotion for Miami realtors

Kneedl is almost ready to go live. We’re smoothing out a few kinks before we let it loose for feedback. The site aims to help people find the right neighborhood based on their preferences. We’re looking for Miami realtors who would like a bit of free promotion for their services.  Leave a comment and we’ll get back to you with details.

Buying a condo in Miami? The questions you need to ask first.

Life is pretty tough for everyone right now, so if you’re looking at buying in the current climate it’s essential to make sure you’re getting the right place for your money. Most of the newer high-rise condos in Miami offer great facilities: pool, gym, swanky lounges and much more. Plus you’re pretty much guaranteed that you can move straight in without having to  spend money fixing any of the fixtures and fittings.  But before you commit there are a few things you should find out first:

1. Can you show me the minutes of the latest home owners association? You may have fallen in love with the building, but if the residents are at each others’ throats it’s best to find out first. Your dream apartment could turn into a nightmare with the wrong neighbors or a misguided condo commando.
2. Can I see the condo bylaws? Don’t even think about making an offer before seeing this.  If you can, get a real estate lawyer to look them over too.  You don’t want to sign the contract and then find out that Fluffy, your beloved Doberman, won’t be able to move in with you as there’s a no pet clause.
3. What is the relationship with the building’s developer? Sometimes developers retain the rights to certain amenities or parts of the building and then rent them back to the condo association. They could then raise rents and the costs will be passed onto your monthly fees.
4. Are there any lawsuits filed against the condo association? Once you become an owner you could be responsible for covering the costs of any litigation.
5. How many units are owner-occupied? The higher the percentage, the more likely to building is to be kept in good condition.
6. How many units have been sold? Some mortgages may require a certain percentage of occupancy to guarantee their loan, or they might charge you a premium to gain financing. If it’s low, you may have more room to negotiate a good price.  There is the risk that if it’s still low when you come to sell it could hurt your resale value.
7. Are there any maintenance plans for the next year? If so, see if the condo association has enough money in their fund to cover it. Otherwise, yes you guessed it, you will be responsible for a portion as an owner.
8. What does the condo association insurance plan cover? Look through it and see what the plan covers and what you are responsible for.

Happy house hunting!

Miami residents: we need your help!

While the Kneedl build is underway, we’re also busy researching the neighborhoods of Miami.  We have plenty of statistics and figures, but what we really want is information from the people of Miami!  If you live in Miami and could spare a minute to answer a few questions about your neighborhood, we’d be very grateful. The survey is here - thanks in advance!