Miami Transit has created a Summer Challenge to encourage the public to ride public transportation at least once a week this summer. After you do ride the transportation, they want to hear about it.

First of all, I think this is a great idea, and hope that everyone participates as often as they can. As Miami Transit says, it can be to work, to an event, to a weekend outing…the possibilities are endless. Through the feedback, we’ll be able to provide the local government with real information that can be used to improve the system.

I’m also officially pledging to take part of this Challenge. I will start it on Monday for easier tracking. As opposed to my own Transportation Challenge, I will not "create" any special trips. I will need to find a way to use public transportation to get around where I need to go…at least once a week. Wish me luck!

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The final in the series. See the Intro, Early AM, & Mid-Day.

2:39 pm - I found it. I almost can’t believe I found it. I got really turned around, which is kind of strange for me. My husband calls me his human GPS. A SW/SE confusion cost me about 5 blocks of walking.

2:42 pm - I’m on my bus. The driver looked in confusion at my Earth Day coupon. I’m sure I was his first of the day. This is my 4th bus. Fourth style. This is like a small charter bus with nice cushioned seats. Clean. I’m one of 6 passengers.

2:49 pm - Just passed my house.

2:57 pm - Mercy Hospital. Nice, right at the hospital. One guy that’s been riding with me from downtown confirms with the driver that we’re headed to South Beach. Oops. Nope, sorry, we’re going to South Miami. Different.

3:08 pm - Arrive in Coconut Grove. I probably could have gone one more stop, to get a little closer.

3:23 pm - Green Street Cafe, the Grapevine’s recommendation. I’m sitting at my table, and decide to choose my next stop, so I can plan it out while I wait for my Green Salad. I picked #3, MIA. That will have to be my last stop of the day. By the time I get there & back home, it should be getting dark.

3:31 pm - Enjoying my salad. There is an older woman to my side who struck up a conversation with some gentlemen sitting nearby. A former Grove resident that now lives on the beach, she tells them, "You can take the girl out of the Grove, but you can’t take the Grove out of the girl." I love it! In front of me is a table with 3 middle-aged adults…one of which is a woman, around 60, with long bright purple hair. Classic. I don’t think I’ve ever been to the Grove during a weekday. Lots of locals here at Green Street, but in no way crowded.

3:48 pm - The same gentlemen I mentioned earlier are kind of flirting with the waitress. The ask if anyone has ever told her she looks like Betty Boop. I’m not sure that would be taken as a compliment. ..but the waitress is cute & very nice. I’ve found that I should take the 37 bus to MIA. So I’ll just need to walk to Grand & 37th. Not sure how far that is.

4:27 pm - Boarded the 37 bus. It was more that 5 long blocks to get to the stop. A little confusion as to which way was North and which way was South. I didn’t take out my map because I didn’t want to look lost…which was pointless since I crossed the intersection 5 times to get to my spot.

4:31 pm - This is the same kind of bus as the one I took to Miami Beach. The back part is a little higher than the front. There are about 20 passengers. We’re supposed to arrive at the airport at 5:00 pm.

4:39 pm - Coral Way stop. We’ve now got about 35 passengers.

5:08 pm - Arrived at the airport. A teenager named Jonathan helped me out. He was really nice. He’s learning English because he just moved here last year from Columbia. I had originally asked his friend my question, but later I found out that the first guy didn’t understand me. He spoke Portuguese. Jonathan was impressed with my Spanish and says I’m only the second gringa he’s ever met that speaks Spanish.

After taking my pics at the airport, I check out which bus I’ll need to take to get back home. Seems like my best bet is the #7, which will bring me back to Government Center. It seems to me that it leaves at 5:31 pm, so I pretend that Alesh gave me the challenge to buy a guava & cheese empanada from La Carreta before heading back outside.

5:19 pm - I check the schedule again and I realize that I’m an idiot. That time was westbound. I want eastbound. I just missed my bus & will have to wait 30 more minutes.

5:24 pm - A lady just asked me when the next Tri-Rail shuttle would leave. I got up- to check the schedule with her. A bus arrives. I check the schedule quickly and it seems that it will be dropping off at Douglas Station (MetroRail). That works for me, so I get on. But I can’t remember which number bus it is. I think I’m on the #37 again, going east. I ask someone. No, it’s the 42. Sounds good to me.

5:33 pm - I check the schedule. It seems this should have left the airport at 5:27 pm, so it was a little early (or late?). I should be back at Douglas Road Station by 6:02 pm.

5:45 pm - We’re stuck in traffic in Coral Gables. Just inching along and hitting every red light. I’m so tired. What is all of this construction anyway? There are tearing up the streets. It’s just me & one other lady on the bus.

5:54 pm - Bus arrived at Douglas Station. Early also - maybe this was actually an earlier bus running late?

5:57 pm - MetroRail northbound arrives. I’ll take the train to the 3rd stop and get off at Brickell. Lots of kids on the train. Coming home from school, it seems.

6:04 pm - Arrive at Brickell.

6:06 pm - Waiting for MetroMover. normally I would walk all the way home from here, but I’m wiped out. I stay away from a guy who I think is talking to himself only to realize that he’s using his hands-free set for his cell phone.

6:08 pm - On MetroMover to Financial District.

6:09 pm - Arrive. Whew!

Thanks to everyone who participated (including Manola, who I previously failed to mention). I had a lot of fun, got a lot of exercise, and learned how to move around on public transit.

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Continued from previous…

11:08 am - It took me a while to figure out how to go. I decided to take the T route. It seemed like the easiest stop to board would be College North, but the MetroMover still wasn’t working. So I go out to take a shuttle. I was supposed to wait on the Inner Loop bus, but the Omni Loop came around and I decided to just hop on that. I was looking at my map and an older gentleman told me that I looked lost. He tells me he’s lived here 59 years. He can tell me how to get where I need to go. I tell him I want the T bus. He thinks I say "The Key" several times. Finally I say "The beach", "Oh," he says, "You want C to get to the beach." Then the bus driver yells back, "The T, that’s my normal route". Finally after a difficult to understand conversation taking place across 10 aisles of a noisy bus, the driver recommends that I get off at the corner to go to another stop that the T will soon pass by…otherwise I might miss it. Right…I forgot about having to worry about the timing off all of this! I got off, but too bad…I think I might have had a nice conversation with that gentleman.

So I’m waiting here at E Flagler & NE 1st Ave. Seems to me that the bus should be here around 11:19am, but I’m having a little trouble figuring out the map/timing on my schedule. While I’m waiting, I pick up some newspaper flying around and toss it in the trash. The 7A, 2, K, 6, 2(again), 10, 8, 9 go by…then the T!

11:24 am - Board bus. Show coupon. Get on. I’m one of 5 passengers. This is my first time on a real bus in Miami.

11:35 am - Omni stop. Huge stop. Good to know. The younger people on the bus tend to talk on their cells, text, or listen to their iPods. I check the schedule. I’m due to arrive around 12:05 pm. More passengers are boarding. They are paying. I feel bad, I have some extra coupons in my bag. I need to give them out soon or it will just be a waste.

11:48 am - We’re riding over the bridge & now are officially in Miami Beach. What a beautiful ride. A bumpy one, but pretty.

11:52 am - We’ve now got 22 people on the bus. The senior citizen seats are filled (with senior citizens). Something I’ve noticed is that if a younger person is using those "priority seats" and they see a senior citizen boarding, the younger person automatically gets up and changes seats.

11:55 am - This guy just got off with his CVS bags at a stop directly in front of his condo. Sweet!

12:15 pm - The bus is really emptying out. Eight adults, one child. 73rd & Collins. I’m such a dork, my stomach has been nervous for the past few minutes because I know I need to ring the bell for my stop soon.

12:19 pm - I’m here. And I didn’t even have to pull the lever. The nursery is pretty. Lots of plants that I’ve never seen before.

The nursery is a socially responsible project. From the website:

Serving the community since 1975, this not-for-profit 501-(c)3 organization works to provide a sheltered workplace for developmentally disabled adults, to provide them with marketable job skills, and to allow them to live more independent and personally satisfying lives.

I’ll have to write a little more about it later (in an update in this same post).

I didn’t get to drink a coco water, they weren’t open. I wonder if it’s only on the weekends?

I go across the street to the beach. The ocean looks like the Caribbean - light blue & gorgeous.

12:36 pm - Time to figure out my next stop. I pull out #2, Green Street Cafe…..TO BE CONTINUED (I need to get going!!! I’m looking for a southbound bus stop sign & start walking. It takes me 2 blocks  to figure out that I’m on a one-way Northbound street.

I cut over to Harding Ave. & find a stop. It’s going to be a little tricky to get to the Grove from here. I’ve basically decided to get on the next bus that comes - any route.

12:51 pm - Sweet! It’s the S. That looks like one that I wanted. A girl at my stop gets her money out and I tell her I’ll give her a coupon. I show the driver mine & say I’m going to give the girl another one. The drive wants to see "both, right here, right now". the girl looks confused & pays in the time it takes me to get it out. I give it to her anyway. That sucks that she paid. Oh well.

I’ve been on 3 buses so far today - all different styles (seating wise). It’s hard to count from here, but it seems like there are about 35 people on board.

12:59 pm - It looks like I’ll be getting off at Miami Ave & SW 1st St. I’ll want the number 48 bus. Checking the 48 schedule, I think I need the 1:40 pm bus. That might be a push.

1:04 pm - I just realized that the reason this bus is so big is because it’s a double. I’m sitting at the end of the front section & I didn’t even notice.

1:17 pm - We just turned onto Lincoln Rd. Bus is quite a bit emptier right now. I’m starving.

1:21 pm - Man, this is a bumpy ride . I just moved to the back of the bus. I’m sure it’s worse back here.

1:24 pm - We’re on Alton. A guy in a CVS Pharmacy polo shirt gets off. We just happen to be right in front of a CVS. Another drop-off right in front of the destination! I’m doubting I’m going to make the 1:40 pm #48 bus.

1:31 pm - Too bad people scratch the windows so much. It’s such a gorgeous view on the bridges, and really anywhere on the beach. We’ve only got about 9 people on the bus now.

1:38 pm - We’re passing the American Airlines Arena. I’m hoping that the 48 is running a little late.

1:41 pm - We’re in front of Bayside. Only 3 passengers on the bus.

1:43 pm - 1st Street. I wouldn’t want to be one of these drivers, that’s for sure. With all of the construction, they barely have one lane to drive in.

1:48 pm - I get off the bus after catting with the driver. I didn’t realize it, but we switched drivers mid-way through my ride. The road is blocked. I’m not clear on where I need to go. I wander around a bit, and the same bus driver comes around the corner (in the bus) and gives me a friendly honk and a wave. That’s nice! I pass a couple of stops that I think 48 might be at. I’m wrong.

By now, I’m almost back at Government Center & the Main Library. I’ll take a quick blogging stop & be on my way.

2:22 pm - Most of this post was written during this stop (the rest was added on March 21). I log off and leave the library.

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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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I just published my post on the free public transportation available in Miami Dade on Monday, and I’ve decided that I will take the challenge.

Here’s how it will work:

I will have individual locations pre-printed on strips of paper. These locations will be stores, restaurants, or office buildings in Miami-Dade county.

At 9am on Monday morning (I know I should start earlier like most people, but I think 9am will be fine) I will pick a pick piece of paper at random. I will then need to use my feet, the bus, the train, and the MetroMover to get there. Once there, I will pick another piece of paper and use the same method to arrive to my destination.

I will continue this process all day, until early evening.

How you can help:

I know it’s late notice, but I’d love to receive some suggestions for my destinations. You could send me to La Carreta in Key Biscayne, or the Publix in Hialeah. Please comment below with the name of the store/restaurant or similar location, the part of town, and the address, if known.

Thanks! We’ll see how I move around town with no car - full report will come later!

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On Monday, take public transportation for free in Miami-Dade: MetroRail & MetroBus will have no charge on March 20, 2006 - As long as you have the coupon.

Find all of the info, including the link to the coupon at the Miami Earth Dade Transit website. You just need one coupon and can reuse it all day.

I’m thinking about riding around all day and blogging it later. (So if I’m M.I.A. on Monday, you now know why.)

By the way, Miami-Dade, I love the idea, but why the coupon? Why not just have it be free to everyone? Maybe that would be too expensive? And one more thing - I’ve been left a bit confused if Earth Day is April 22 or March 20 …seems that one is the original and the other is the "new" one? Well, if there are two, we’ll celebrate both!

Start off Monday right by hopping onto the train or bus on your way to work. Check schedules & plan it out. You might even want to think about printing up a couple extra coupons to hand out during the day…

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