Miami Art Basel is one of the biggest and most exciting art events in the world, attracting thousands of visitors, including artists, collectors, and tourists. However, with so many people coming to the city for this event, traffic becomes a big issue, especially around the Miami Beach area.
“I’ve been walking to work since Art Basel started because of how bad the traffic is,” said senior Madison Gaudioso.
During Art Basel, the streets around the Miami Beach Convention Center and nearby galleries get very crowded. Many roads are closed or have limited access because of the event, which makes it difficult for locals to get around. The rush of visitors means that there are more cars, taxis, buses, and even bikes on the road, all trying to get to the same place. As a result, traffic jams can be very long, and it might take much longer than usual to get from one place to another.
“It’s been taking me over an hour to get home from school everyday. Normally it takes about 20 minutes,” said junior Sienna Daughton-Weil.
Public transportation, like buses, are often crowded, and parking becomes a nightmare. People sometimes have to park far away and walk a long distance to reach the event. Some visitors also use ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, but with so many people trying to use these services at the same time, wait times can be long.
“I went to art Basel on Wednesday. The Uber took about 20 minutes to get to my house and then 40 to get to the event,” said senior Lucia Urdaneta.
To make things easier, many locals try to avoid driving in the Miami Beach area during Art Basel. Some even plan their trips to circumvent the busiest times, like the opening day and the weekend. Others choose to take advantage of shuttle services provided by the event to skip the traffic altogether.
While Miami Art Basel is a fun and cultural experience, the heavy traffic can be a challenge. It’s important to plan ahead, be patient, and use public transportation or carpool to avoid the worst of it. Plan for next year because Art Basel will definitely be back.
