MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Cellphone video of a driver slowly creeping down Lincoln Road Mall has raised concerns about security in the area.
The footage, recorded by a resident Friday night, shows the motorist moving down the pedestrian area, where vehicles are not allowed.
The Miami Herald reported that the resident who shot the video and later gave it to Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco told the city official that the driver was returning from dropping off a stroller near Euclid Avenue.
No one was hurt, but the incident nevertheless sparked concern about the effectiveness of concrete barriers the city installed at the Alton Road and Washington Avenue ends of Lincoln Road in August.
“The concern is the same one I raised back in January, which is Lincoln Road, which you can see, a soft target where we have little kids and families and folks walking around that either live here or from out of town, and it’s a soft target,” Grieco told 7 News.
The fear is of a similar situation like what happened in Spain where a terrorist used a van to plow into a crowd of people, killing 14 people and injuring hundreds more.
“We need to take it seriously. I proposed expediting the installation of retractable bollards at every street end,” Grieco said. “This is what they do in Europe. I mean Europe is decades ahead of us on a lot of things, and this is one of them.”
Some South Florida visitors said a situation like this can be alarming. “Well, we’ve had these discussions in Europe before, so it depends on a lot of the speed, the size, and if there is a big truck coming, a couple of small barriers won’t help you at all.”
The cost to install barriers along Lincoln Road has not yet been identified, but Grieco said whatever it is, it’s well worth the money.
“Public safety should be our number one concern, and this is low hanging-fruit, for us to be able to address a concern and actually fix it,” Grieco said.
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