Getting Around West Palm Beach: Walkability, Public Transit & Biking

West Palm Beach is somewhat walkable, particularly in its vibrant downtown area, where travelers can find a variety of shops, restaurants, and attractions like the Norton Museum of Art within easy reach. The waterfront offers pleasant walking paths and parks that enhance the pedestrian experience. However, outside of walk-friendly neighborhoods such as Downtown, Pleasant City, or Flamingo Park, a car becomes necessary for accessing many daily necessities and running errands, which might limit walkability for those looking to stay long-term outside these areas.

Public transport in West Palm Beach is fairly satisfactory for travelers who wish to avoid driving. The Palm Tran bus system and Tri-Rail commuter train connect the city to nearby locations like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, facilitating broader travel without a car. Additionally, the RideWPB circulator shuttle offers a convenient option for short-distance trips within downtown. While these services can help travelers get to major areas, limitations in frequency and coverage can make planning trips outside the central area a bit challenging, especially for those relying heavily on public transport.

West Palm Beach is quite accommodating for cyclists, with a growing network of bike lanes and paths making it a more bike-friendly city. The Southern Boulevard Bridge enhances cycling connectivity with its new wide bike lanes, and BrightBike, a bike-share program, provides easy bike access downtown. While biking is a viable way to explore the city, especially around the waterfront, some neighborhoods may still lack sufficient cycling infrastructure, although planned updates to the bike master plan suggest improvements in the near future, adding safety and connectivity for bikers.