Metro Bus-Metro Transit Agency

This is the least user friendly transit system I’ve used so far. Signage at bus stops are particularly poor. Today, a bus operator got on his bus, didn’t bother to tell us that we were waiting in the wrong place when we were clearly waiting to board and proceeded to drive away. For some obscure reason, we were denied transfers on a different bus earlier. Even if there is some rule about transfers that we were not privy to as tourists, passengers should be informed by drivers or at least there should be adequate signage. I’ve ridden buses all over the world, and I actually enjoy experiencing public transit in different locations. Our experience so far with the Miami bus system has been nothing but frustrating.

I absolutely despise taking the Metro Buses in Miami.
The buses have roaches on and they smell appalling. I take the bus to work in the mornings and during these rides the bus is often packed with people and the bus drivers drive so badly that if you’re standing you get bumped around like crazy.
Phoning the customer service line is another story. They are unfriendly and most of the time have no idea whats going on.
Taking the Metro Bus is so annoying I suggest taking precautions against it!

I just moved here from Chicago. I don’t drive. I depend on public transportation. I love the Chicago system, buses, the L trains! I had to miss a day of work today. I reloaded my Easy card with a 7 day pass yesterday evening. When I got on the bus today I was told that the card was empty. The driver asked me what did I want her to do about it. I needed to pay or get off the bus. When I got off the bus I called MDT and was informed that it takes 48 HOURS for my purchase to credit my Easy Card. They debited my account within 30 seconds! EASY crap!!!

We made the mistake of not renting a car. Miami transit is awful! Nothing was on time, we waited for one bus for like an hour and a half. The first bus we were on had a man drinking and vomiting everywhere. The middle hub, metro mover, and the system in a whole seems like someone extremely high on cocaine thought up this layout. The worst transit system I have ever ridden on! Even compared to a Portland ME’s little system. Rent a car, or stay on Miami beach.

So Im just wrapping up my anniversary vacation and I have tons of reviews to write but I had to start with the freshest and ironically the worst experience from my entire trip: Miami Dade Transit… This ones for you.
So Im leaving the MIA for downtown Miami and the security officer at the ticket kiosk comes over to assist me and helps me get 4 tickets to and from MIA and downtown Miami. I had to return for my flight the very next day for a 805am flight. So we get from Miami Airport to downtown Miami on the 150 Bus with no problem. Getting back… Ummm not so much.
We walk over to the bus stop to catch the 6:31am bus on Lincoln St and Washington Ave. we get there in time, get on the bus and scan the tickets and the tickets say: INVALID FUNDS. This has to be wrong, we just bought them last night… Welp! The security officer failed to tell us that all tickets purchased needed to be used by 2am!
Now this is where I want to get specific and focus in on what I like to call the «fuckery» of the bus driver of the 150 bus for that particular time… Instead of this inconsiderate idiot making attempts to work with us as we had no cash only debit and credit cards we asked if we could buy our tickets once we arrived to the airport and give them to her, or if she could drive us to a stop with an ATM so we could run out and jump back on… This asshole drops us off at the next stop and says to catch her at the following stop at the next light… However she drops us off at a stop with not a store in sight, no ATM, nothing! And then when we start walking towards the next stop, this dumb b*tch drives off.
I do apologize for my vulgar language but Im just pissed cause she cost us $ 33 for a cab! So if your looking for anything more than hospitality and assistance please dont go to Florida. Additionally, don’t expect any customer service from Miami Dade transit. Ive always overheard people talking about how unfriendly everyone in Florida is and this just co-​signed that for me.
Thanks alot whatever your name is. I hope that donut you were stuffing your face with while driving was as good as your lack of assistance.

Miami Dade Transit… OMG…the ‘worse of the worse… is mega dirty, buses and metrorail are old and in bad shape (full of cockroaches)…full of rude and clueless drivers… inconsistency and mediocrity is there goal. Always running super late or they do not show up. For latin americans Miami, FL is a improved latin american city… for Americans. Miami have become a Third World Country… simply everything is falling a part in pieces. Miami have a Ghetto looking atmosphere in every sense. Is really sad! a City that many years a go use to be a jewel between many top cities of the world.

I ride a bus… I ride a bus by choice. I get my bus pass paid for monthly by my job — yippee. April of 2013 will mark TWENTY (20) years of riding the bus in Miami Dade County — yeppers since 1993 — I have been a bus boy.
Now to rate.
OMFG — could the buses get any worse in Miami-​Dade County!!! Rude drivers with attitude. Nasty attitude rude drivers who stop and take bathroom and coffee and soda purchasing breaks and lunch buying jihads when they’re supposed to be taking me somewhere. Evil wicked drivers who somehow decide it’s better to ALWAYS ARRIVE LATE then anywhere on time. Drivers who make the decision to be late by stopping in some obscure location, never in a bus hub where you could at least try to get off and catch another bus (i.e., the #3 or 93 or 16 stopping at say, 44^th and Biscayne and NOT at 36^th where you could transfer or even better, the Omni).
The magically stealing green bus pass that when I did load it up would sometimes still charge $ 2.00 at transfers and then you get to call to complain and be on hold for four hours until the disgruntled operator who is clearly the product of a nepotism and whose uncle/​mother/​father is a bus driver could care less about you or your stolen funds — it’s paying her overtime.
The buses that LEAK FILTHY WATER down your back because they’re old and poorly maintained.
Every morning on the L, S, 120, 3, 16 or 93 where you have to stand like a sardine — at least 30 people standing (isn’t there a rule for only ten?) in the aisle; and going home the same.
Waiting downtown for the S, C, 3 or 93 and watching about ten 77’s and 11’s go by because they service neighborhoods (excuse me — screw the political correctness; ghettos) where the city commissioner in that area gets more kick back from supporting the Transit Authorities and their obvious blatant cronyism.
The half penny tax that went NO WHERE except someone’s pocket and certainly didn’t lead to a metromover extension into Miami Beach.
Anyway — that’s my TEN CENT review and until the system improves don’t think I don’t have more to say but out of respect for people’s judeo-​christian morality and a New Year’s resolution to stop using foul language — I’ll stop… FOR NOW.

It’s pretty apparent, not much faith can be put into south Florida’s public transportation system. But in the midst of all the ambivalence, I would venture that the bad outweighs the good.
The good is that it takes you to your desired destination. The bad is everything else that comes along with the word ‘public’ in it.
The bus drivers are, at times, agitated by the burden that comes with the public. One could stand waiting for the magic city bus to swing by, only to have it wiz pass you (Miami-​Dade could use Broward’s offical bee mascot). At that point, and certain situation, a smartphone comes in handy. As a good rule of thumb, it would be wise to depart at an earlier trip, because it’s commonplace for lateness; and of course, you don’t want to be a victim of being fired from work.
I don’t speak on behalf of those with cars, and those with cars who had a few drink on a Saturday night.
Still, I think there’s room for change, and the prices have never been particularly discouraging.

Get’s the Job done. Got me just about anywhere in Miami. Very affordable for a student. Although, sometimes lunatics catch the bus I was always wise enough to avoid them and not pick-​up any trouble with them and not draw their attention. Just be sure to know at approximately what time the bus arrives.

Man I thought sitting in a bus terminal waiting for a bus meant that the bus driver would stop for you but apparently not. I had a 112 and 1119 at separate times just blow by my stop and one time I even waived the guy down. Oh well, it’s public transit I guess. Makes me feel better about MUNI in San Francisco!

(This review is for the Airport Express service only.)
Booked a flight out of town but didn’t want to bother anyone with the hassle of picking me up or dropping me off at the jungle that is Miami International Airport. I also didn’t feel up to paying a million dollars a day to park there. So what’s the next best solution after a taxi or airport shuttle? The Metro Bus!
After a minimal amount of research, I found that MDTA has created an «Airport Flyer» express service that will take riders from MIA to South Beach with only a couple of stops in between.
Having direct access to the Metrorail made my trip a breeze. I hopped on the train and got off at the Earlington Heights station, which is one of the few stops the Airport Flyer makes. After about a 10-​minute wait, up came the my ride. I hopped on the bus — a smaller version of the regular metrobus — and was pleasantly surprised at the design. It features luggage racks and has plenty of seating (which I did not get to use — see below).
After just a few minutes, we were dropped off right at the airport. Very efficient, very simple, very convenient.
3 stars only because:
1) you end up paying $ 5 for a ride if you don’t have the new EASY monthly card (you can only get a daily pass that costs $ 5) — otherwise the express ride w/​metrorail transfer should only cost $ 2.70.
2) Even though the ride from Earlington Heights to MIA is only 7 or 8 minutes, it’s a BUMPY ride. There were a plethora of seats available on the bus but I could not get to them because of 3 people who refused to move out of the damn aisle to let those of us just getting on the bus pass by. And the driver knew about it but was too busy flirting with a rider to care about the 7 of us struggling to hold on while he whipped the bus like he was driving a friggin’ Corvette. *deep breath*
Other’n that, I would recommend using the Airport Flyover service. Even at $ 5, it’s still worth it if getting to one of the 4 bus stops is easy for you. It just takes SO much hassle out of going to Miami International Airport. I’d jump on it again in a heartbeat.

I recently had a few errands to run in the same general vicinity and far enough from my job that I decided that I’d give public transit a shot. I’d figure I’d give Eleanor a rest, be green and make up my lack of gym time this week by doing some walking. Needless to say I think I more than made up gym time as I did more walking than expected!
The first bus (#37) leaving my office actually came on the scheduled time. The bus was clean, there was seating and the driver was perfunctory and functional (i.e. not friendly). Once I got to my first transfer point the first connection (#24) was running about 10 minutes behind, causing me to have to start walking earlier than anticipated.
Errand #2 I had to walk as the (#12) bus had just left when I was getting out of the first errand and according to the schedule it’s supposed to be 30 minutes apart. Not complaining yet, as I was getting my fitness and burned decent calories according to my pedometer.
Errand #3 was where Metro-​Dade Transit makes it to two stars. I got to the Coral Way and 17^th Avenue stop (after another decent walk) 7 minutes before the scheduled 3:59 bus for naught. The next bus (4:07) showed no sign of arriving, and I had to end up hoofing it to make my appointment. It ended up arriving 10 minutes later when I was already halfway to 27^th Avenue. That’s why for the trip back I just walked to the Metrorail, rushing back to the efficiency and comfort of my Eleanor!
There’s the rub — in my opinion — of why public transit use hasn’t taken off in Miami. The Metrorail runs pretty much linearly along US1. I can’t complain too much about it. It’s always run decently on time, the stations now take credit card, and the train supposedly has Wi-​Fi. However, if your destination is anywhere other than along the Metrorail line, the connection on buses makes it an epic disaster and causing you to take time off your day to account for bus routes. Add to that South Florida thunderstorms and public transit does not seem so «Hot»!

Shout out to Luis, whose girlfriend is from the Bronx, so that he
sounded just like someone I might know, but who insisted he
was born and bred in Miami. I THINK he drives the l20 line–
express between the big shopping center and downtown Miami!
Please let someone read this review of how helpful he
was-​and kind-​and knowledgeable. I use public transporation
all the time-​and complain all the time about how drivers here
in LA dont know where they are going, etc. NOT so in Miami
and not Luis! I wish they had a ‘guest or senior’ rate because
shoving in two dollars for each ride, while not expensive,
was a bit of a pain. HOWEVER, i LOVE The buses here–
and can’t say enough about how they get you from one
place to another-​in an efficient manner! Sorry I didnt
get to use the people mover-​but I’ll be back.

I used the bus to get to work, longgg time ago. I used to take a bus from Kendall to South Beach. It took me 50 mins approximately, between stations and the metro it was a feasable option, till the work schedule changed. If you think about it 50 mins it’s pretty good for 25 mile distance. If you were to drive, it would take more or less the same time, plus you add the miles to your car and the traffic harrassment in Miami!
The service is ok, but distances are so far that I hoped our bus system were quicker. The metro only takes you north and south, then you rely on busses to take you east or west! Service has been ok. Their busses have the A/​C at a blast! It’s super cold… always!
It will take you from point A to point B. But it will take you sometime to get there. The schedule they have on the internet is not accurate at all. But there’s always an available number where you can check were the bus is, or what time is supposed to get there, they get accident updates or traffic updates.

Luckily I don’t actually have to use this system to get to and from my job. But merely take the bus on the weekend when I to avoid drink driving.
I might be wrong for writing a 1 star review because I came from a city with the best public transportation in Europe. I miss cities where its more of a nuisance to own a car than not.
But the bus system in miami really doesn’t take you too far. It won’t take you to Fort Lauderdale without changing 3 or 4 buses, basically, if you want to go anywhere, it takes AGES! Being the fact that it has to stop every 2 feet for lazy turds that can’t talk a block.
It would be useful to have more express buses! It would be useful to have buses that run more than once every 30 minutes.
I moved to this city with the intention that I will NOT buy a car! That lasted less than a week before I broke down.
If your gonna blow heaps of stimulas money, please add trains, buses to inner citys in South Florida please! If they are there, people will use it!

A special shot out to the public transportation for keeping my friends and I safe and mobile for the low price of one freaking quarter. Hell yes

This review is part 1 of 3 of my recent trek from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale airport using Miami’s public transportation system. When I found that I was flying out of FLL but flying back to MIA on this trip, I considered how best to get to FLL from the city of Miami. I didn’t want to impose and ask friends to ride me there, I was quoted $ 60 for a taxi, and though I’d been told that «Go Airport Shuttle» will take you from Miami to FLL for about $ 16, when I called I was told that there were no other scheduled pickups in Miami on this day and the best they could offer was a private airport limo service for $ 70. In contrast, using public transit was only $ 9, though it did take a few hours to get there.
For this journey I had to take Metrobus, then Metrorail, then Tri-​Rail before taking the Tri-​Rail shuttle to the airport.
The Metro Bus leg was relatively uneventful. It was a Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. when I boarded, there was little traffic and the bus was on time. When I smiled at the driver and wished her a good morning, she gave me a look that was part surprise, part nasty stare; I guess she wasn’t used to people being civil, I dunno.
Prior to making this trip, it was relatively simple to check the bus route map on the internet (
) and get the different bus schedules and the fare costs. For the bus ride to the Metrorail station it was $ 2.

Again with the mixed feelings about public transportation in Miami.
I rode the bus for A LONG TIME! It was horrific and exciting at the same time. First of all, I am grateful for the service they provide us residents of Miami Dade. But, they are always late. Dude seriously! Can you tell me how the three buses can arrive at the same time all going the same route? Why? Oh, because the 5 p.m. bus was late and now you have to take the 5:30 p.m. Frustrating!
Most of the bus drivers aren’t the friendliest people either. Also, the amount of hobos traveling on the buses is incredible. Where do they go? You would think that one bridge was just as good as the next but, perhaps, I am wrong.
I still love the fact that they go just about anywhere in Miami Dade for a very low price.

Thank you for getting me to the shops/​eateries of South Beach safely.
Shot out to the C-​Line Smasher… you know who you are ;) You are a cool bus driver-​dude. Thank You for laughing about Ross.
On another bus, I also met 2 Argentinian gentlemen (what’s up Guillermo and Ulysses?!) who I thought were lovers but maybe not. They’re just a couple of fun dudes who like shorts and topsiders with an occasional gold pinky ring. Made the ride very interesting and taught me a little spanish as spoken in Argentina. Gracias!
Thank you Metro. I am a fan!

I spent a fair number of days riding the bus to and fro Miami. On the first day, I was confusedly looking at all the maps in the station at Government Center. I was told I could take the Metro Mover to the Omni Station and walk across the Venetian Causeway into South Beach.
Well, I managed to get over there but the security guard laughed at me and said I needed to take the bus. I had already purchased a couple of tokens because there were brochures warning the buses would change over to a token system soon. Well, they actually still take cash. It was a dollar a token but the bus driver seemed to think one token was worth $ 2. So he said I overpaid. Well, I didn’t think so but managed to score a free transfer (which is normally $.50 cents).
The buses I were on were very clean and no one bothered you. I did miss a bus once because the driver never stopped. A woman at the stop with me said I needed to throw myself in front of it if I wanted to get it to stop. Huh.
I had a schedule with me and for the most part, they were generally on time. If I had stayed longer, I probably would have thought about getting a bus pass but paying a couple of bucks every now and then wasn’t’ bad. It was definitely cheaper than cab rides.