End of the Line for Miami Trolleys as Fear Takes Toll

The operators of a trolley service say they are halting their sightseeing tours of Miami because fear and violence are scaring riders away.

Old Town Trolleys, headquartered in Key West, Fla., will end its tours of Miami on July 31, according to a story in Wednesday’s Miami Herald. The company has ferried 500,000 passengers to attractions throughout Miami in the past six years.

Chief Executive Officer Christopher Belland said ridership dwindled to fewer than 40,000 last year. He blamed media reports that have heightened the fear of random violence, and hotel concierges, taxi drivers and local residents who advise visitors not to leave the safety of their seaside hotels.