Over 100 bicycles swarm Miami streets for annual Wheels Up, Guns Down ride

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Law enforcement was fanned out across South Florida on Monday as officers, deputies and troopers braced for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day rideout known as Wheels Up, Guns Down.

In the past, it has created major problems on the road with hundreds of illegal vehicles taking over streets and highways while ignoring traffic laws.

Monday was not as eventful on the road as it has been in past years, which is a good thing.

Entrances and exits to several highways, including the Florida Turnpike, were being watched by officers to ensure no dangerous illegal vehicles made their way onto the busy roadways.

Shortly after 4 p.m. a group of riders on ATVs and what appeared to be dirt bikes were in the area of State Road 7 and Pembroke Road. They were seen running a red light and caused other drivers to slam on their breaks.

In Miami, over 100 bicyclists were riding around just north of downtown, in the area of Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 24th Street.

Cyclists and ATV riders take over some South Florida roads for Wheels Up, Guns Down

They went onto the I-95 for a brief time, eventually making their way north to Northeast 63rd Street.

Some of those cyclists told Local 10 News they meant no harm to others, but law enforcement, who tailed many of those riders from behind, said the stunts they were pulling can be deadly.

As of 9 p.m., Miami-Dade police said it had made two felony arrests, one traffic arrest and impounded one bicycle.


About the Authors
Janine Stanwood headshot

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

Andrew Perez headshot

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.

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