Thanks for adding all this Non-NonRev. It is probably a lot more than I ever knew about public transportation in Miami (even though I lived there for more than 20 years!). Bottom line is perhaps 99% of the people who use public transportation in Miami are people who commute to work during the day. And there aren't many of them compared to people who use cars (which is why the traffic is awful). The other 1% are people who use it to go to special events when the departure and arrival points are close to where they live - and where they want to go. I cannot recommend public transportation for tourists or business travelers.

Also- when it comes to things like cabs - more than a few cab drivers do not speak English. And more than a few have no idea where they're going (after a lot of cab rides over the course of many years - I concluded that most cabbies who take you out of your way aren't trying to cheat you - they honestly have no idea where they're going). It is always a good idea when you take a cab to know the general route between your point of departure and the place you want to go. It is good to have it in the form of a mapquest or similar map - because of the language difficulties. Quite a few cabbies speak Spanish - but our last trip to Miami - most spoke languages other than English or Spanish (and when it comes to Creole - I'm lost). If you take a map - and show it to the cabbie ahead of time - you won't take an unwanted expensive tour of Miami. Also note that there is supposed to be a "customer's bill of rights" when its comes to cabs in Miami. So when the cabbie has the AC turned off in August (to save on fuel) - it is your right to tell him to turn it on - and close the windows.

Miami isn't unique. Last time I was in New York - a cabbie who spoke perhaps 5 words of English didn't have the slightest idea where our upper west side destination was (from midtown). He wanted to "play it by ear" - on our nickel. We got out of the cab before we got started.

I now live in the Jacksonville Florida area. It costs a few bucks more to take something like Carey transportation (a town car or more exotic form of transportation) compared to a cab here - but it is worth it. I suspect the same is true in most cities in Florida. Robyn