Zero Fatalities by 2035 – Key West Aims for Safer Streets for All
July 27, 2025
Key West is taking proactive steps to make its streets safer for residents and visitors โ whether theyโre walking, biking, or driving. Through a collaborative effort with the University of Florida, the City has launched a Safety Action Plan grounded in the Vision Zero philosophy: eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. Community engagement is already strong, with more than 700 survey responses informing the early analysis of crash data and field analysis. A foundation is taking shape โ and the combined energy of city leaders, experts, and residents signals a promising path toward safer streets. Letโs dive in and explore the details of this transformative planโฆ
๐ฆ Why Key Westโs Streets Are Different โ and Risky
Key West is different than most mainland towns โ and our streets show it. With 15% of residents commuting by bike and another 8% on foot, we outpace national averages by a wide margin. Downtown sidewalks are packed, rental bikes are in high demand, and visitors navigate streets filled with everything from mopeds to e-scooters to golf carts. Most of those visitors arrive by car โ and many come from places where pedestrians and cyclists are rare. The result? A swirling mix of travel modes on narrow historic streets that werenโt built for it.
โTraffic crashes can be devastating for those directly involved, but the cost is also shared with the community through increased insurance prices, lost time, and environmental costs. The City of Key West set a goal of eliminating serious roadway injuries and fatalities within the City by 2035. This project will chart a course to enable us to meet our goal by identifying and ranking cost-effective projects with measurable crash reduction characteristics.โ โ Ryan Stachurski, Multi-Modal Coordinator.
This isnโt just anecdotal โ the data backs it up. Key West ranks high nationally for bike use, yet scores poorly on rider safety. Monroe County consistently shows among the worst crash rates in Florida for cyclists. And locals are sounding the alarm. Surveys reveal clear support for infrastructure fixes, better education, and traffic calming. As one local columnist put it, โUnless we ditch some vehicles, the islandโs gonna sink.โ
Recognizing this mismatch between mobility and safety, the City is partnering with the University of Florida to develop a Vision Zero-inspired Safety Action Plan โ designed to eliminate fatal and serious traffic injuries. Early outreach shows strong community engagement, and this phase of the project has already surfaced crash data, survey responses, and actionable ideas. What follows is a look at where the plan stands today.
๐ฅ What the Crash Numbers Say โ and Whatโs Behind Them
Analyzing crash data has revealed several key insights into the safety challenges facing Key West:
๐ Where It Happens โ and Why It Matters
One location stands out in both survey feedback and crash data: The Triangle. With over 100 recorded crashes, itโs more than busy โ itโs dangerous. At The Triangle, nearly 35% of crashes cause injuries, with 40% rear-end collisions and a troubling number in low-light conditions.
- 35% of crashes here led to injuries
- 40% were rear-end collisions
- 30% involved off-road or single-vehicle incidents
- 25% occurred in low-light conditions
While densely trafficked areas like Lower Duval Street register high crash volumes, zones like N. Roosevelt and The Triangle present greater danger โ crashes here occur at higher speeds, leading to far more serious injuries and fatalities.
This hotspot captured community concern and now anchors the cityโs safety reevaluation. A slide from UFโs team maps the density with striking precision โ reinforcing why targeted design fixes are a top priority.
๐ฒ A Typical Scenario
At high-conflict zones like parking lot entrances – think N. Roosevelt Boulevard, cyclists are often placed in harmโs way. A study at the Home Depot entrance revealed:
- Drivers are at fault in the majority of incidents
- Most crashes result in injuries, not just close calls
Itโs scenarios like these that show why better visibility, design, and enforcement matter โ especially at the cityโs busiest crossings.
โI was hit by an e-Scooter while running on N Roosevelt. There is no enforcement of speed by eBikes and eScooters on the sidewalks.โ โ Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent
๐ 2024 Crash Spike โ A Wake-Up Call
The year 2024 saw a dramatic surge in reported crashes, jumping from 1,160 to 1,896. This alarming increase underscores the urgency of implementing the Safety Action Planโs measures. The data, echoed in community feedback and task force analysis, demands real solutions.
๐ Not Just Accidents โ Theyโre Patterns
These numbers reveal how often routine movements โ parking, backing up, merging โ carry outsized risks on Key Westโs narrow, mixed-use streets:
๐ Risk Factors at a Glance
The data reveals not just where crashes occur, but why. Behavioral risks play an outsized role in high-severity incidents:
These factors arenโt just bad habits โ theyโre direct contributors to Key Westโs most severe crashes.
The takeaway: itโs not just how often crashes happen, but how devastating they are when they do.
๐ฃ Survey Says โ Locals Unfiltered and Direct
With 724 responses spanning every neighborhood and mode of travel, the Safety Action Planโs survey didnโt just inform the process โ it shaped it.
๐ Top Concerns โ Whatโs Not Working
Respondents highlighted several key concerns:
- E-Bike and Scooter Safety: Excessive speed on promenades and sidewalks is a frequent complaint.
- Compliance with Traffic Laws: Residents voiced frustration with frequent violations across all travel modes.
- Distracted Driving: Cell phone use and inattentive behavior were flagged as leading safety hazards.
- Aggressive Driving: Speeding and unsafe overtaking create dangerous conditions on narrow streets.
- Dangerous Intersections: Locations like The Triangle are seen as chaotic and poorly signaled.
- Cellphone Use: Many respondents cited texting or calling while driving as a persistent issue.
โSpeeding and e-bikes on sidewalks is terrifying โ especially for the elderly and kids.โ โ Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent
๐ก Top Solutions โ What the Community Wants
The survey also surfaced actionable solutions:
- Separate Modes: Protected bike lanes and dedicated pedestrian paths to reduce conflicts.
- Slow Traffic: Speed bumps, roundabouts, and better enforcement of speed limits.
- Protect Crossings: Flashing beacons, better lighting, and raised crosswalks for pedestrian safety.
- Illuminate Streets: Improved street lighting, especially in high-crash zones.
- Enforce Rules: Stricter enforcement of traffic laws for all modes of travel.
- Educate Visitors: Campaigns to teach tourists local traffic rules and safety practices.
- Regulate E-Bikes: Introduce ordinances to manage e-bike usage, including speed limits and restrictions on sidewalk riding.
โBetter safer and more bike lanes is a priority for me! My kids should be able to bike safely around Old Town.โ โ Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent
โTourists shouldnโt drive in Key West. Bike, Uber, walk, Duval Loop, airport & resort shuttles are sufficient on a 2 by 4-mile island.โ โ Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent
The communityโs willingness to engage was evident, with 197 respondents asking to stay involved in the planning process. This enthusiasm underscores the collective desire to make Key Westโs streets safer for everyone.
๐ What Comes Next โ And How We Get There
The Safety Action Plan is moving into its next phase.
๐ Project Timeline at a Glance
The Safety Action Plan spans from spring 2025 through April 2026. Major milestones include crash analysis and community engagement in late 2025, strategy development early 2026, and grant assistance to support implementation starting in April. Task force meetings anchor key phases and will keep the process transparent and collaborative.
Key priorities for the build-out phase after April include:
- Targeted Design Fixes: Implementing changes at high-risk locations like The Triangle and N. Roosevelt, including flashing beacons, bulb-outs, and mode separation strategies.
- Education Campaigns: Launching initiatives to educate both residents and visitors on traffic rules and safety practices.
- Data-Driven Engineering: Using insights from crash data and community feedback to inform infrastructure improvements.
- Enhanced Reporting: Encouraging better reporting of incidents involving bikes, e-bikes, and scooters to capture a fuller picture of safety challenges.
This surge in crashes in 2024 is a wake-up call. The data, echoed in community feedback and task force analysis, demands real solutions. The Safety Action Plan is how Key West responds.
The City should be commended for committing to making Key West safer for all. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to support the initiative and stay engaged as the plan progresses. By weaving together community insights, expert analysis, and targeted actions, the Safety Action Plan aims to transform Key West into a model of safe, sustainable mobility.
Together, we can make Key West a place where everyone โ whether walking, biking, or driving โ can navigate safely and confidently.
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๐ฃ Stay Involved โ Help Shape Safer Streets
Want to follow the progress or share your input? You can stay engaged through the Cityโs Safety Action Plan websites:
๐ City of Key West Safety Action Plan ๐ UF Project Site: A Safer Key West Starts With You ๐ Key West City-Wide Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Task Force Meeting July 14, 2025 PowerPoint presentation (for those that want all the slides pertaining to the project, the surveys and crash data to date)
These sites will host updates, feedback opportunities, and project milestones. If you took the survey and provided your email, youโll receive updates directly.
Chris Hamilton is the founder of Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown, a local advocacy group championing sustainable mobility and vibrant public spaces. Subscribe to the blog and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Substack for updates. All stories are cross posted at KONK Life News. Originally from Washington, D.C., Chris spent over two decades leading nationally acclaimed initiatives in transit, biking, walking, and smart growth for Arlington County, VAโs DOT. Since moving to Key West in 2015, he has embraced a car-free lifestyle downtown, dedicating his time to non-profits and community projects. Explore all Streets for People column articles here.