Today I’m taking the Transportation Challenge. Challenged by myself, I guess…utilizing the fact that Miami "Earth" Dade is celebrating today with free trains and buses. First thing in the morning I head off to the Government Center, because I’m going to need some schedules.

9:21 am - I arrive at the Financial District MetroMover station

9:25 am - Mover arrives. Next stop, Brickell. A weird thing happened. The Mover stopped. Powered down. Complete silence. (Update: We were at Brickell station, not in between stops!)

9:27 am - One of the passengers picks up the emergency phone. At the same time we hear an announcement. "…downtown power outage. Train will be moving shortly." Soon again, "We know your train does not have power. Train will be moving shortly." Then this one, "Power outage downtown, we have lost the entire system. Not only trains, but computers, too." One passenger carrying a big box full of wires says, "Jackasses. If they maintained this shit it wouldn’t happen." Hmm.

9:32 am - I’m sitting in the sun. No A/C. Getting warm. The Mover currently has 15 adults, 1 baby. Some professionals, some tourists, some locals.

9:33 am - People start taking out cell phones. One guy says, "I’m stuck on the bus in Brickell. Power went down or something. We can’t get out." No one has tried the "Door Release" button, as far as I know.

9:36 am - Some lady Stephani is on her phone, "…it’s like being stuck on a ski lift. Can’t get on, can’t get off."

9:37 am - Another announcement. "All movers are stopped. We are trying to fix it." The guy with the box of wires is really frustrated. He gets up and pulls the door release and the doors open. Everyone but me & two guys get off. All of the people that were waiting outside to get on the next Mover get on. Six more adults and one child. Finally there is an announcement stating that the Mover shuttles (buses) have started, and that we should take those.

9:42 am - I decide to take the MetroRail to Government Center. I show my coupon to the security guard and go on up.

9:46 am - Train arrives. Next stop is my stop. I sit behind the big guy stretched out across a few seats, sleeping. He’s got on a bright red wool cap and sandals with socks.

9:51 am - I’m inside Government Center. People are buying tokens. Lots of people. On this level of the building there is no promotion of Earth Day or free rides whatsoever. I go downstairs and check out the Earth Fair. There are booths on water conservation, solid waste, educational eco-programs, 311, transit, hybrid county fleet cars. They did have free transit coupons at this level.

10:13 am - I sit down and pull a number out of my bag. I get number 9. That’s to get to the closest library. Oops. It’s right next to me. I’ll pop over to renew some items & blog a little. (Hence this post.)

10:41 am - I’m finishing up this post. I want to see where I’ll go next. I’m hungry, so I hope it’s somewhere with food. Number 1. Log Cabin Nursery. Miami Beach. I’m on my way!

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