Transit Is Collapsing in the Keys. Will Business Leaders Let It?

Posted on August 17, 2025     Leave a Comment

August 17, 2025. With Monroe County and the City of Key West walking back their commitments to public transportation, it’s time for the business community to step in. If our elected leaders won’t prioritize transit, then those who depend on a functioning economy and workers must step up. Business organizations have been too quiet on the subject and we need for them to take a more active role in addressing transit issues. Without their involvement, the workforce and economy of the Keys will continue to suffer.

In reaction to our August 3 story: Dumb and Dumber Transit Cuts: A Failure of Leadership in the Keys one commenter clapped back at our calling out the Commissioners, saying:

“This issue will never be resolved, and probably never helped without involvement (Leadership?) of the business community. This is very much a workforce issue. It certainly is a workforce problem. The business community is mute on the topic. You call the government folks to task regularly (good on you for that), but you don’t seem critical of the business community. I would imagine that the business community is sleeping easy knowing that you consistently put all the blame on government and deflect criticism from them. Look where it’s gotten you.”

He’s right. And thus, this story calling on the Keys business community to step up.

🚫 The Problem: A System That’s Failing Workers and Businesses

• Housing costs push workers farther away. Lodging, retail, and attractions in Key West rely on employees who increasingly live up the Keys while businesses up the Keys likewise rely on workers commuting from Homestead and Miami. Without reliable transit, these workers face long, costly commutes – leading to staffing shortages, burnout and turnover.
• Congestion and parking are choking commerce. The Overseas Highway is jammed. Downtown Key West and villages throughout the Keys suffer from gridlock and limited parking. Keys residents say this is their #2 issue behind the high cost of housing and this hurts workers, residents, and tourists alike. Public transit is the only scalable solution.
• We can’t build our way out. Limited land and environmental concerns inhibit our road capacity so, expanding the Overseas Highway or adding parking isn’t feasible—or desirable. The only way forward is smarter mobility.
• Transit is barely used—because it barely works. Less than half of one percent (0.2%) of Keys residents use transit to get to work. That’s not a failure of demand—it’s a failure of design. When service is infrequent, unreliable, or nonexistent, workers and visitors are forced into cars.
• Visitors drive everywhere. Nearly three-quarters of the millions of overnight tourists arrive by car, and thanks to the lack of alternatives, in most places they tend to use it for every trip once they get here. That means more traffic, more parking headaches, and a worse experience for everyone—including the businesses that depend on those customers. That’s why getting rid of the Duval Loop and not implementing similar services in villages up and down the Keys is nuts.

🛠 Transit Solutions: Already on the Books

Both the County and the City have adopted ambitious plans that address the mobility challenges hurting our workforce and economy:

• Monroe County’s vision: 30-minute bus service along the entire Overseas Highway, plus circulator vans and small vehicles serving communities throughout the Keys.
• Key West’s 10-Year Transit Plan: Expanded Duval Loop hours, 15-minute Workforce Express service, improved Lower Keys Shuttle frequency, and restored North/South Connector fixed routes—plus Key West Rides on-demand service to fill gaps.

These plans would transform mobility across the region. But now, both governments are proposing deep cuts—gutting existing services (Conch Connect gone. Duval Loop, Key West Rides, part of the Workforce Express and the entire County Transit Department and staff on the chopping block) and shelving future improvements. Their excuse? Federal and state funding shortfalls. But the truth is, they failed to plan ahead as we outlined in this story three years ago.

💰 Funding Solutions: We Can Use Some Business Savvy Here

Our elected officials didn’t treat transit as essential infrastructure, so they failed to plan for predictable funding shortfalls. Now, the system is collapsing—and unless we act, the economic consequences will deepen.

We know the business community understands how to build resilient systems. It’s time to apply that expertise to transit—because without it, the workforce can’t move, and commerce slows to a crawl.

Funding Ideas: A Strategic Overview. We’ve heard plenty of excuses about why transit funding is hard. But there are tools—real ones—already available. Here’s a scan of some funding mechanisms worth considering, grouped by how they work and why they make sense for the Keys economy:

Funding Source	Type	Rationale
Tolling visitors on Overseas Highway	User fee	Targets those who benefit from access
Parking fees	Local revenue	Already collected, could be reallocated
Tourist Development / Bed Tax	Earmarked tax	Tourism drives demand—transit supports it
Tourist Impact Tax	Earmarked tax	Designed to offset visitor impacts
Sales Tax portion	Broad-based tax	Scalable and predictable
Cruise ship disembarkation fees	User fee	High-volume visitor source
Special Assessment Districts	Targeted levy	Focused on areas with high transit benefit
Voter-approved ballot measure	Democratic mandate	Builds legitimacy and long-term support

These ideas aren’t easy—but they’re necessary. And elected officials won’t act unless business leaders give them cover. So we ask: which of these solutions will you champion?

📣 The Ask: Business Leaders Must Step Up

Transit isn’t just a public service—it’s economic infrastructure. Without it:

• Workers can’t get to jobs.
• Tourists face a frustrating experience.
• Local businesses lose revenue.
• The Keys become less livable, affordable and viable.

We’ve called out elected officials for failing to lead. With the exception of Sam Kaufman, they’ve let transit collapse. But the silence from the business community? That’s damaging.

Of the seven business organizations we contacted (Key West Chamber of Commerce, The Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West, Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, and Shop Mom and Pop Key West) only two responded. Kerry Baker of the Key West Chamber expressed concern and promised to raise the issue at an upcoming meeting.

Paul Menta of Shop Mom and Pop Key West has been a consistent, vocal advocate (witness here, here, here, here, and here) and at the August 11 Sustainability Advisory Board on which he sits called for better Duval Loop service, more frequent Workforce Express buses and said the City needed to find funding to provide real and useful transit options for workers and their families. He gets it. He’s shown up.

The rest? Quiet.

We contacted them three times over 10 days. That’s not just disappointing—it’s dangerous. Because without business pressure, elected officials won’t act. And without action, the system fails.

So, here’s the ask to the business community: Show up. Speak out. Demand better.

Attend the budget hearings. Make transit a priority. Push for funding. Back the plans already on the books. Because if you don’t, the workforce won’t move—and neither will the economy:

• Monroe County: First Public Hearing on September 3, Final Hearing on September 10
• City of Key West: Next Budget Hearing on September 11

Let’s stop the cuts. Let’s build the system our workers, visitors, and businesses deserve.

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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, VA’s 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.

Dumb and Dumber Transit Cuts: A Failure of Leadership in the Keys

Posted on August 3, 2025     Leave a Comment

August 3, 2025

The cuts keep coming—and Monroe County and the City of Key West are playing dumb as they actively dismantle the transit system that workers, businesses, and visitors rely on every single day.

• Conch Connect is gone. Duval Loop and Key West Rides are next. Even part of the Workforce Express may be axed.
• And now? The County wants to eliminate its entire Transit Department—along with its only staffer, Director Richard Clark, who’s spent nearly three years trying to build a regional system from scratch.

The result? Workers stranded. Downtown businesses losing foot traffic. Families facing ever higher rent and car payments without an alternative to get around. A community slipping further from its own stated goals.

These aren’t budget trims. They’re betrayals. Our leaders keep pointing fingers at Tallahassee and Washington—but they’ve had years to prepare. I mean how could they not have seen this coming? The warning signs from up north weren’t subtle. They were flashing red. Similar cuts have happened before. And still, they did nothing to get in front of the problem.

If you don’t own a car in the Keys, here’s the message: You don’t matter.

This article explores a regional transit system unraveling—not from lack of ideas, but from lack of courage. The vision exists. The need is urgent. What’s missing is the will to act—and the leadership to care.

Monroe County’s Retreat from Transit

Monroe County isn’t just trimming transit—it’s walking away from it. Its decision to eliminate the Transit Department means losing not only its sole employee, Transit Director Richard Clark—a seasoned public servant with deep expertise in resilient transit and a decade of experience navigating local, state, and federal policy—but also the last vestige of coordinated regional planning.

Monroe County isn’t just trimming transit—it’s walking away from it. Its decision to eliminate the Transit Department means losing not only its sole employee, Transit Director Richard Clark—a seasoned public servant with deep expertise in resilient transit and a decade of experience navigating local, state, and federal policy—but also the last vestige of coordinated regional planning

• With Conch Connect ending, riders on Stock Island and Key West are stranded.
• Freebee’s future in Islamorada is adrift—no funding path, no commitment.
• If Miami-Dade’s 301/302 buses from Miami to the Upper Keys get cut back, what’s the County going to do?
• The County’s exit leaves Key West Transit isolated and unsupported. Regional collaboration? Dead in the water.

This isn’t belt-tightening. It’s a retreat from public transit as a public responsibility—and a betrayal of anyone who depends on it.

The City’s Cuts Hurt Workers and Downtown Businesses

Key West’s proposed transit cuts aren’t just budget decisions—they’re blows to the backbone of the local economy.

• The Duval Loop, once a symbol of car-free convenience and the pride of downtown, is now slated for elimination.
• Key West Rides, which primarily serves workers and residents, is proposed to be drastically scaled back or totally eliminated.
• The Workforce Express service on the County side of Stock Island is in the “might” category for cuts, leaving low-income workers who rely on transit to reach jobs in Old Town at risk. These are the same workers who power the tourism engine, clean hotel rooms, serve meals, and keep the city running.

Here’s the thing about the City’s proposed cuts. Despite reductions in federal and state assistance they still have well north of $5M in projected revenues from all kinds of non-General Fund sources. What they need to do is find a source to absorb what they previously depended on from the current administrations in D.C. and Tallahassee. These cuts don’t just trim fat—they cut into the muscle of a city that claims to value its people and its future.

Why Transit Matters: A Lifeline for Workers, Businesses, and the Keys

In cities like Key West, public transit isn’t just a service—it’s a lifeline. Without it, our streets become congested, our neighborhoods fragmented, and our most vulnerable neighbors isolated.

• TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL FOR WORKERS. Many rely on it to reach jobs, schools, and healthcare. Cutting that lifeline isn’t thrift—it’s cruelty.
• TRANSIT FUELS DOWNTOWN AND TOURISM.The Duval Loop offers car-free access to shops, restaurants, and attractions. A vibrant Old Town isn’t built on parking—it’s built on foot traffic stepping off buses.
• TRANSIT HELPS EASE GRIDLOCK.The Overseas Highway is maxed out. Better service could relieve daily congestion and make life on our islands bearable again.
• TRANSIT LOWERS HOUSEHOLD COSTS. A car-free or car-light lifestyle saves thousands a year on gas, insurance, and repairs—making island life more attainable for working families.

The City and County say they support workers, small businesses, and affordability—but their retreat from transit tells a different story.

Retreat from the Future

What’s being cut isn’t just transit—it’s a blueprint for a better future.

The City of Key West’s recently adopted 10-Year Transit Development Plan (TDP) proposed expanded and new service, longer hours, and upgraded infrastructure. Monroe County’s soon to be defunct Transit Department, under Director Richard Clark, had envisioned frequent 30-minutere service along the entire Overseas Highway, supported by local connectors and hubs in the neighborhoods. These plans offered frequent, more connected transit—built from community input and local realities.

But now?

• The City’s proposed cuts openly contradict the TDP and the upgrades in existing and promises for new services it just approved.
• The County’s transit retreat erases the visionary regional framework Clark worked to build.

This isn’t just a missed chance—it’s a conscious retreat from a future that was fully mapped out. The plans are there. The need is clear. What’s missing is the will to deliver.

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🚫 Failure of Leadership: How We Got Here

This wasn’t an accident. It was a decision.

Transit in the Keys isn’t collapsing from lack of ideas—it’s being dismantled by leaders who refused to lead and get ahead of these recurring and predictable shortfalls.

• The finance departments treat transit like a costly nuisance, not a vital service.
• The electeds show no appetite to defend it—even when their own staff and constituents issue warnings.
• There’s no reliable local funding. Just a patchwork of grants, fees, and wishful thinking.
• Promising pilots like Conch Connect are scrapped before they can evolve.
• The shift to Key West Rides On-Demand 2 years ago? More improvisation to similar budget shortfalls than innovation.
• In fact, we wrote about this exact same problem three years ago saying the City’s over reliance on Federal and State funds wasn’t sustainable.

And the County’s attitude toward transit seems to reflect their disdain for people without cars, as on bikes they’re just as bad. Witness their rejection of one block of bike lane on Southard Street for car parking instead and ignoring the City’s bike plan in recommending bikes lanes on First and Bertha Streets for parking instead yet again—each one a case study in car-brain.

It’s not just dysfunction. It’s abandonment.

If you don’t own a car in the Keys, here’s the message: YOU DON’T MATTER.

And that’s a moral failure—one that’s deepening as housing costs skyrocket, the economy increasingly relies on service workers, and mobility shifts from a necessity to a privilege.

Still, not everyone’s given up. Only a few months into his new job, City Transit Director Rogelio Hernandez is scrambling for solutions. He told us:

“We have not given up. A committed group of leaders—including my team and I—are exploring every possible avenue to not only keep these vital services running for another year, but to identify a long-term, sustainable solution.”

His team’s dedication exposes what his bosses ‘leadership ought to look like—and what the rest of City Hall at the City and the County fails to deliver.

What Could Work In the Keys

The City and County’s financial neglect of transit is a symptom of a deeper problem: a lack of political will to prioritize public transportation as a community investment. Or we wouldn’t be here, right?

They say they support affordable housing. But they won’t fund the transit that makes it reachable or that allows them to lower life’s overall costs by going car-lite or car-free.

They say they support workers. But they won’t fund the transit that gets them to their jobs.

They say they support small businesses. But they won’t fund the transit that brings customers to their doors.

They say they support sustainability. But they won’t fund the transit that reduces car dependency.

They say they support tourism. But they won’t fund the transit that makes it easy for visitors to get around without clogging our streets and taking our resident’s and worker’s parking spaces with their cars.

If they truly meant what they say, they’d act. Here’s how they could start:

• TURN TOURIST AND/OR PARKING FEES INTO A LIFELINE. Visitors contribute significantly to the wear and tear on local infrastructure. A modest increase in tourist fees/taxes and/or directing more parking revenue could provide a dedicated revenue stream(s) for transit.
• TAP THE TDC TREASURE CHEST. The Tourist Development Council (TDC) collects millions annually to promote tourism. Allocating a fraction of these funds to transit could help sustain services that benefit both visitors and residents.
• BUILD BRIDGES, NOT SILOS. A unified regional transit authority could pool resources, streamline operations, and ensure consistent service across the Keys. This would require collaboration between the City, County, and neighboring municipalities.
• LET VOTERS LEAD THE WAY. A ballot measure for local transit funding could secure dedicated revenue, similar to initiatives passed in other communities facing similar challenges.
• BRING BACK THE TOLLS. Up until the late 1950s, the Overseas Highway had tolls. With modern tolling technology in Florida, toll booths are no longer necessary, avoiding traffic slowdowns. Strategic tolls along the highway – on visitors only – could generate funds specifically earmarked for transit improvements.

These aren’t silver bullets, but they’re a start for discussion.

And we should note that most of the above suggestions are beyond the direct control of the two transit directors. What’s clear is that the current approach—relying on federal and state grants while neglecting local investment—isn’t sustainable, and it is going to take top management and commissioners to figure it out.

Will Our Leaders Abandon Transit—and the People Who Depend on It?

If you can’t afford a car in the Florida Keys, you’re being told—loud and clear—you don’t belong. That’s the message Monroe County and the City of Key West are sending as they gut transit and neglect bike infrastructure.

In one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, this isn’t just bad budgeting—it’s systemic exclusion. Affordable housing and accessible transit are inseparable. Without both, we become a playground for the wealthy, not a home for working families.

Public transportation is a civic promise. To abandon it is to betray that promise—and the people who need it most.

County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln told us this week about the Conch Connect cuts:

“We still need a smarter, more efficient way to connect people from their homes to our business districts. I remain hopeful that we can reintroduce a solution like Conch Connect in the future—one that truly serves its purpose and supports our shared vision for a more sustainable, less car-dependent Key West.”

WHY WAIT for the future? Here’s what the County should do this budget cycle. Keep the transit department AND redirect funds that would have gone to the Conch Connect to the Lower Keys Shuttle and Workforce Express to increase the awful 90-120 minutes waits between buses.

City Commissioner Sam Kaufman continues to step up. He questioned the cuts directly at the City budget meeting saying:

“We had this exact same funding discussion two years ago. That led to ending fixed-route services and switching to the cheaper on-demand Key West Rides. The City just adopted a 10-year Transit Development Plan—isn’t this going in the opposite direction? How are we to move forward? Our workers and low-income people use these services! Are you telling us there’s no other choice? What do we aim for? What do we do? How do we recover?”

Lincoln understands. Kaufman gets it and has the fire. But where are the rest?

Every commissioner should be making the same demand: find the money, defend the City and County plans, and build the system that’s already beautifully mapped out. Stop hiding behind grant shortfalls, pretending you didn’t know this might happen and start leading.

The 10-Year Transit Development Plan lays out the blueprint. The County Transit Director’s vision fills in the gaps. What’s missing isn’t direction—it’s backbone.

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Tell Your Commissioners Transit Matters

Here’s the link to contact the Monroe County Commissioners, City of Key West Mayor, and the City of Key West Commissioners. To follow budget discussions here’s Monroe County’s Budget and Finance Department which has some FY26 Proposed Budget information. Here’s the City of Key West Finance Department but we can’t find any FY26 information yet.

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, VA’s 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.

Zero Fatalities by 2035 – Key West Aims for Safer Streets for All

Posted on July 27, 2025     Leave a Comment

July 27, 205

Key West is taking proactive steps to make its streets safer for residents and visitors — whether they’re 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 — and the combined energy of city leaders, experts, and residents signals a promising path toward safer streets. Let’s dive in and explore the details of this transformative plan…

🚦 Why Key West’s Streets Are Different — and Risky

Key West is different than most mainland towns — 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 — and many come from places where pedestrians and cyclists are rare. The result? A swirling mix of travel modes on narrow historic streets that weren’t built for it.

“Traffic 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.” — Ryan Stachurski, Multi-Modal Coordinator.

This isn’t just anecdotal — 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, “Unless we ditch some vehicles, the island’s gonna sink.”

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 — 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.

💥 What the Crash Numbers Say — and What’s Behind Them

Analyzing crash data has revealed several key insights into the safety challenges facing Key West:

📍 Where It Happens — and Why It Matters

One location stands out in both survey feedback and crash data: The Triangle. With over 100 recorded crashes, it’s more than busy — it’s 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 — crashes here occur at higher speeds, leading to far more serious injuries and fatalities.

This hotspot captured community concern and now anchors the city’s safety reevaluation. A slide from UF’s team maps the density with striking precision — reinforcing why targeted design fixes are a top priority.

🚲 A Typical Scenario

At high-conflict zones like parking lot entrances – think N. Roosevelt Boulevard, cyclists are often placed in harm’s 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

It’s scenarios like these that show why better visibility, design, and enforcement matter — especially at the city’s busiest crossings.

“I was hit by an e-Scooter while running on N Roosevelt. There is no enforcement of speed by eBikes and eScooters on the sidewalks.” — Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent

📈 2024 Crash Spike — 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 Plan’s measures. The data, echoed in community feedback and task force analysis, demands real solutions.

🛑 Not Just Accidents — They’re Patterns

These numbers reveal how often routine movements — parking, backing up, merging — carry outsized risks on Key West’s narrow, mixed-use streets:

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🛑 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 aren’t just bad habits — they’re direct contributors to Key West’s most severe crashes.

The takeaway: it’s not just how often crashes happen, but how devastating they are when they do.

📣 Survey Says — Locals Unfiltered and Direct

With 724 responses spanning every neighborhood and mode of travel, the Safety Action Plan’s survey didn’t just inform the process — it shaped it.

🔍 Top Concerns — What’s 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.

“Speeding and e-bikes on sidewalks is terrifying — especially for the elderly and kids.” — Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent

💡 Top Solutions — 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.

“Better safer and more bike lanes is a priority for me! My kids should be able to bike safely around Old Town.” — Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent

“Tourists shouldn’t drive in Key West. Bike, Uber, walk, Duval Loop, airport & resort shuttles are sufficient on a 2 by 4-mile island.” — Safety Action Plan Survey Respondent

The community’s 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 West’s streets safer for everyone.

🚀 What Comes Next — And How We Get There

The Safety Action Plan is moving into its next phase.

📅 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 — whether walking, biking, or driving — can navigate safely and confidently.

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📣 Stay Involved — Help Shape Safer Streets

Want to follow the progress or share your input? You can stay engaged through the City’s Safety Action Plan websites:

🔗 City of Key West Safety Action Plan 🔗 UF Project Site: A Safer Key West Starts With You 🔗  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, you’ll 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, VA’s 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.

Conch Disconnect: Repeal Without Replace Is Just Regression

Posted on July 24, 2025     Leave a Comment

July 24, 2025

Following our recent article on the discontinuation of Conch Connect, Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln responded with thoughtful insights. She reaffirmed the County’s shared goal of reducing car dependency and explained that the Freebee pilot, while well-intentioned, resulted in mostly single-passenger trips—undermining its purpose and potentially increasing traffic.

We appreciate Commissioner Lincoln’s transparency and her openness to future solutions. However, as we noted in our reply, workers were using Conch Connect, and there’s no evidence it cannibalized existing transit services. More importantly, no viable alternative has been proposed.

Last year the County’s Transit Director presented a vision for using electric vans as circulators serving neighborhoods up and down the Keys while implementing a 30-minute connecting service along the Overseas Highway from Key Largo to downtown Key West using passenger coaches. As the County builds towards this vision, if it is indeed even still on the table and if we’re serious about tackling congestion and supporting our workforce, the County can act right now by:

• Boosting Frequency: Contribute more to Key West Transit so the 90-120 minute frequency on the Lower Keys Shuttle increases to hourly service this year and 30-minute service next year. Do the same for Workforce Express.
• Funding the Vision: Use a dedicated increase in tourist taxes to sustainably fund expanded service.
• Building Neighborhood Transit: Implement on-demand or fixed-route circulator services in Stock Island, the Lower Keys, Marathon, Islamorada, Key Colony and Key Largo.

Locals consistently rank traffic and affordability as top concerns. A robust transit system addresses both—reducing the need for car ownership and its financial burden.

We’re grateful for Commissioner Lincoln’s engagement and hope this dialogue sparks real action to not just repeal the County’s fledgling service but to replace it with something better.
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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, VA’s 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.

Conch Disconnect: County Scraps Transit Service for Local Workers

Posted on July 20, 2025     2 Comments

July 20, 2025

Key West’s workforce increasingly lives beyond the island, pushed outward by housing costs and pulled into long, exhausting commutes. With infrequent transit and few alternatives, driving becomes an expensive necessity.

Last year, Monroe County launched the Conch Connect micro-transit service, a bold step toward addressing the region’s transit challenges. The eventual program promised more and better services up and down the Keys, offering a glimmer of hope for strapped workers in an area long underserved by public transportation.

Now, Monroe County has announced the discontinuation of Conch Connect on August 15, 2025, with no alternative or back-up plan. Over 65,000 rides were taken in the first year—85% by locals, with 50% of trips for work. This decision is a betrayal of the workers, businesses and residents who relied on it.

What the County Says

The decision to discontinue the program was made during the July budget meeting by the Board of County Commissioners. The program cost Monroe County $426,000 annually. The statement said, “The ridership proved to be more for single riders, without the magnitude of ride sharing that was originally estimated.” This was disputed by riders on Facebook. Officials went on to say notices will be placed in Conch Connect vehicles to inform riders of the discontinuation, and information on Lower Keys bus routes is available through the City of Key West.

Christine Hurley, Assistant County Administrator, stated, “While Conch Connect provided valuable services, the financial sustainability of the program was a concern. We are committed to exploring other transit solutions that align with the County’s long-term goals and budgetary constraints.”

A Bad Move in the Face of Growing Challenges

This announcement marks a significant shift in Monroe County’s transportation strategy, as the Conch Connect service had been celebrated for its potential to reduce traffic congestion and provide a convenient option for workers and residents.

Yet, traffic congestion continues to worsen across the Overseas Highway (here and here), as documented in multiple studies over the past five years. The County’s own transit plans (here and here) acknowledge the need for solutions, but this decision undermines those goals.

Conch Connect was a pilot with promise—a step toward addressing these challenges. Its discontinuation sends the wrong message and risks further entrenching the inequities and inefficiencies of the current system.

What the Future Was Supposed to Be

The vision for Conch Connect extended far beyond its initial pilot phase. Monroe County’s transit plan envisioned expanding similar neighborhood-focused services throughout the Keys (Lower Keys, Marathon, Islamorada, Key Colony and Key Largo), supplemented by trunk line service every 30 minutes along the entire length of the Overseas Highway. They also planned to eventually replace the current 4-passenger electric Tesla’s with 13-passenger electric Ford vans to facilitate more ridesharing for the neighborhood services.

This ambitious plan aimed to address the inadequacies of existing transit options, including Key West Transit’s Lower Keys Shuttle, Workforce Express, and Key West Rides on-demand services, which are already infrequent and stretched thin. Census data reveals that less than ½ of 1% of commutes in the Keys are made by bus—a stark indicator of the system’s shortcomings.

Conch Connect’s early success was a beacon of hope, demonstrating the potential for transformative change in a region long underserved by public transportation. Its discontinuation leaves the community back at square one, with no viable alternatives to fill the void.

Community Voices

Belisa Lea, Keys
“Just a shame that the program couldn’t be kept at a lower operating cost. We’re alternatives or changes to the operating procedures been changed to be more cost efficient? A $3 or $4 charge vs $2? Did it support our elderly community? I didn’t use it because we live in Monroe County, yet outside Key West and must drive in to work with a lot of equipment. Yet it probably helped many who may not have been able to afford Uber or Lyft.”

Nicholas Clippinger, Key West
“The people like this and want to keep it. Shouldn’t we have had a chance to vote or weigh in? It’s not just about the rides—it’s about the message it sends. We need to push back.”

Phil Stathos, Key West
“I’ve used this service many times, and almost every time there were multiple passengers. This reason for termination is bullshit. Just say that you want my tax dollars for something that will benefit you and your colleagues.”

Christopher Herring, Key West
“Phil Stathos same it’s always 3 in the car when I ride”

Kim Frazier, Key West
“I actually think it is a great way to get around. Public transportation frees up parking, reduces cars on roads and probably has saved many folks from DUIs or worse. It is also a main way many hotel and restaurant workers get to and from work. I am sorry to see it go.”

Paul Menta, Leader Shop Mom-N-Pop business group
“Transportation or let me say proper as in bus schedules that meet the workers needs and drop off points that don’t leave them far away from good example would be something like a that goes in the areas like does are number 2 on the scale of importance only led by number one, which is Housing. I believe taxes are very reasonable and for certain things like this a slight adjustment taxes which at the end of the day wouldn’t cost everybody hardly anything to keep these programs going such as conch connect. A majority of workers do not live in Key west as you would notice by the triangle and even in the off-season the new traffic jams that we have created because people live on other islands now and commute to Key west. having programs and transportation for workers to get back-and-forth that are adequately done takes a stress and load off the island and also off the that makes it easier for them to so besides this is a big issue and any tourist area that is successful and stay successful has very good public transportation for the workforce.”

Steven Tepper, Key West
“The numbers show it is very popular and growing. Eliminating it will just make Key West Rides even harder to get. I’m guessing you drive and probably don’t use these services, but for some people public transportation is critical.”

Michael Clark, Key West
“Wow this and charging for Duvall Loop.”

Robert Stadnycki, Key West
“I use it all the time and love it!”

Clark Luster, Key West
“One of the more creative and innovative ideas ever to address automobile congestion in Key West. Cutting it would be pound foolish…”

Here’s more comments customers gave us in our January story.

The County Needs to Get More Involved With Transit, Not Less

The discontinuation of Conch Connect is a step backward for Monroe County, and a major loss of momentum at a time when we urgently need progress. The County hasn’t been doing its fair share to support and improve services like the Lower Keys Shuttle and Workforce Express, which lack the frequency needed for real utility.

Residents and workers increasingly live and work in more spread-out places that cross jurisdictional lines. That demands collaboration between the County, the City, and Key West Transit to build a system that’s frequent, reliable, and affordable—especially for workers burdened by soaring rents and the high costs of car ownership.

As Paul Menta said, housing and transportation are the two critical pillars of a thriving community. Our leaders must get creative, invest in public transit, and seriously consider using our ever-growing pool of TDC and visitor tax money to support these programs.

The vision for a seamless, easy-to-understand, and well-coordinated countywide transit system is not just ideal—it’s essential. It’s the kind of infrastructure that eases traffic, reduces parking conflicts, improves air quality, and helps local Mom & Pop businesses thrive.

Conch Connect wasn’t just a pilot—it was a step toward that vision. Rolling it back leaves us not only without a service, but without a strategy. We’re not just back at square one—we’re undoing the very progress residents and workers have been counting on.

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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, VA’s 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.

Making the Duval Loop Free and Easy Helps Downtown Prosper

Posted on July 14, 2025     Leave a Comment

 On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8 U.S. Radio One Evening Edition’s Nick Wright interviewed Chris Hamilton after reading the article “The $1 Mistake: How Key West Is Undermining the Duval Loop, Again,” published July 6, 2025 where it was generating buzz on Facebook. What follows is a transcript of that conversation. You can listen to that conversation here.

NICK WRIGHT:
“Welcome back to Evening Edition. In just a couple of minutes, we’re going to talk with Rhonda Lopez. She’s the chairman of the Monroe County Republican Party.

But first, we’ll talk with Chris Hamilton. He’s the editor at the Friends of Car-Free Key West blog and Facebook page. Hey there, Chris. Thanks for checking in with us on Evening Edition.”

CHRIS HAMILTON:
“Hey, Nick. How are you doing? I’m doing fantastic today.”

NICK WRIGHT:
“Busy day. So, like many of us, you wear a lot of hats here in the island community. But I’ve got you here today in your capacity with the group Friends of Car Free Key West, where you edit the Facebook page and blog. Can you take us back and tell us about Friends of Car Free Key West, what you guys do, and how long you’ve been around?”

CHRIS HAMILTON:
“We’ve been around since, I guess, COVID. And we started Friends of Car-Free Key West because we wanted to support the efforts of city staff and the transit department and the bike coordinator in promoting a more walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly downtown.”

NICK WRIGHT:
“OK, I called today because there’s recently been changes in the Duval Loop south of White Street in downtown Key West. First, can you go back to your COVID beginnings and tell us about the Duval Loop when it was first imagined and started?”

CHRIS HAMILTON:
“The cool thing about the Duval Loop was that the City envisioned that downtown, the whole Duval Street area, the Seaport, all the attractions, the restaurants, the shops, that they could function better if there were fewer cars. And 77% of our visitors who stay overnight get here by car. And the research told the City that if people have a car once they’re here, they tend to use it.

The survey research also told the city that if they offered alternatives that were easy, intuitive, simple, free, that people would use that and leave their car at the local hotel or the local parking lot. The whole idea of doing a Duval Loop circulator in the first place was economic development. It was supporting the downtown business community.

Think about it, if you visited any big city or small tourist town around the world, you’ll note most cities do have some sort of circulator bus that gets people around.

So, the city started this in 2017. It had wonderfully colorful buses. It had an easy-to-understand route that just went around Duval Street and went around the Seaport. It had long hours, and it came by every 15 minutes. People loved it.

The first couple of years, over 330,000 people rode it each year. And it took cars off the downtown streets. It made downtown more friendly.

It helped local mom-and-pop businesses because a lot of times, if people are at one end of Duval, they might not want to walk all the way to the other end. I mean, think about all the times you stop and see a tourist, and they’re schvitzing and sweating, and they’re like, oh, how do you guys stand the weather here? And I’ve got to walk up around here. And so, they might not walk to the other end of Duval.

They might not walk up to the Seaport and see all the wonderful restaurants and venues there. But by having the Duval Loop coming by every 15 minutes, you hop on, you hop off, it’s fun, it’s free. People took to it immediately. The business community especially took to it. It was very successful.

I guess if you fast-forward to COVID, COVID put a kibosh on a lot of stuff. And the city made some mistakes when the Duval Loop came back after COVID. They halved the number of buses on it. They shortened the hours. They took off the branded buses. They forgot about the bus stops. And as a result, ridership just really plummeted.

After COVID, the first couple of years, there was only like 70,000 people riding the bus, a long shot from 330,000. But the last couple of years, every year the ridership has slowly inched back.”

NICK WRIGHT:
“There’s been a comeback, right?”

CHRIS HAMILTON:
“It has. It has comeback. And so slowly, city staff has been making the bus stops nicer, putting up a QR code on the bus stops so people could pull up when the next bus is coming, putting maps on the bus stops so people could say, oh, all right, this is where it goes. I see that.

And it started coming back. And then on June 4^th with little explanation why, the City Commission said yes to a staff request to start charging a dollar fare.”

NICK WRIGHT:
“Okay, so what does that dollar fare mean to the Duval Loop, and what’s its impact on all of us down here?”

CHRIS HAMILTON:
“Well, you know what? They tried this five years ago, and the business community revolted.

The people who own all the local hotels and inns downtown, people who own the shops, they went to the City Commission, and they said, our visitors love this. Do not charge a dollar because they’re just not going to ride it, and then they won’t come to our shop, or they won’t get to our end of Duval Street. And when the City did a COVID Recovery Plan, one of the items that was in that recovery plan was to rescind that dollar fare.

So, they rescinded it, and it has been free since then. Taking away something that was advertised as FREE and frequent and charging a dollar just makes it like any other bus route now. It’s not a special amenity for downtown anymore.

And that likely means ridership will start to go down again.

Now, a lot of people will say, well, it’s just a dollar. Come on, pay the dollar.

But think about when you get on a bus and you have to make exact change, or you have to deal with a card reader that is going to charge your credit card, or you don’t know how much it costs. So, people queue up. There’s a line. It slows everything down. It makes it a hassle.

If you’ve got a family and you’ve got kids and you’re trying to figure it out, it just is like the next time they won’t get on the bus. So, ridership is likely to go down.

And one of the ironic things is that a lot of the City funding for public transit in Key West comes from federal and state dollars that are hinged on ridership.

If anything, you’d want to goose the ridership upward so you could get more state and federal money. But charging a $1 will drive ridership in the opposite direction.

Again, let’s bring it back to the business community.

If there’s less riders and there’s less people getting around to see all the different points of downtown, then that’s not good for our local mom-and-pop shops.”

NICK WRIGHT:
“Okay, so in your perspective, what should be addressed and what should be done by our city in terms of the Duval Loop?”

CHRIS HAMILTON:
“They should rescind the dollar fare as soon as they can. Make it free again.

Perhaps simplify the route.

Right now, I live on Fleming Street, and the bus just went by. It was a big, blank, white bus. They’ve got to repaint or rewrap the buses in the colorful Duval Loop brand that was originally done. In fact, the city put out a Facebook post today, and it showed the old Duval Loop that was nice and colorful, but they haven’t had one of those buses on the route in 2 or 3 years.

So, they need to get back to some basics and work with the business community to market better.”

NICK WRIGHT:
“Okay, so for like-minded people, how do they get in touch with you and or get more information on the cause?”

CHRIS AHMILTON
“You can always follow us at Friends of Car-Free Key West on Facebook and at the friendsofcarfreekeywest.org blog.

And talk to your commissioners. Tell them that you support public transit downtown, and especially the Duval Loop. It’s not like any other transit around the city.

It’s special. It’s supposed to help our downtown prosper, thrive, and be walk-friendly. We don’t want all those visitors that come down here with cars to get in their car to drive 8 blocks to the other end of Duval.

That’s just silly and stupid. Making the Duval Loop free and easy to use helps downtown prosper.”

“NICK WRIGHT
Okay, well, thanks for catching us up, Chris. We appreciate you keeping us up to date on the issue.”

CHRIS HAMILTON
“All right, thanks, Nick.”

NICK WRIGHT:
“That was Chris Hamilton, editor at the Friends of Carfree Key West blog and Facebook page, giving his perspective on the changes to the Duval Loop in downtown Key West.

Coming up, we’ll look at our local, state, and national politics with Rhonda Lopez, chairman of the Monroe County Republican Party. That’s up next on this Tuesday, July 8th evening edition, brought to you by Two Friends Patio Restaurant in Keys Auto Center. Stick with us on U.S. 1 Radio.”

♪ She told me to walk this way, ♪ Drive this way ♪ Walk this way, drive this way

 Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai.

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, VA’s 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.

The $1 Mistake: How Key West Is Undermining the Duval Loop, Again

Posted on July 6, 2025     1 Comment

July 6, 2025

In May 2020, the Key West City Commission voted 5–2 to impose a $1 fare on the Duval Loop, despite strong opposition from workers, downtown businesses, hoteliers and residents. Just six months later, the decision was reversed because the City’s Covid Recovery Plan prioritized free Loop access to support downtown recovery and mobility.

Fast forward to today and the $1 fare is being reintroduced on July 7. But this time it was done quietly. Little public discussion nor justification in the Commission Resolution or Authorizing Memo, and no acknowledgment of past backlash. The move echoes a history of tone-deaf decision-making about our public transportation system that undermines the Loop’s original success. It’s like Deja vu all over again.

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The Duval Loop Was Great – A Bright Start: The Loop That Worked

The Duval Loop was a game-changer for downtown mobility when it launched. It was free, frequent, and fun, making it an easy choice for visitors, workers and residents alike. The branding and marketing were top-notch, with eye-catching designs that made the service memorable. The simple, easy-to-navigate route ensured convenience, while the high frequency of buses meant minimal wait times. Riders flocked to the Loop, appreciating its reliability and the seamless experience it offered.

TripAdvisor ratings consistently praised the Loop for its convenience and value, with many users highlighting it as a must-try experience in Key West. Early ridership numbers also back this up: FY2018–2019 saw over 331,000 riders, a testament to the Loop’s initial popularity and effectiveness.

Duval Loop Flounders – Missteps and Missed Potential

Post Covid, the City never got it together with the Loop. They reduced the hours of service, elongated the route – making the ride longer, halved the numbers of buses and thus further reduced the frequency, took off the wonderfully branded buses, neglected the bus stops and didn’t do any marketing. Ridership plunged. We comprehensively documented the Loop’s hardships here and here.

Duval Loop Sorta Makes Comeback – Signs of Life and What Sparked Them

Over the last few years, the Duval Loop ridership has inched upwards from its moribund numbers, although it is still nothing like the pre-Covid levels, despite the fact that tourism has been hopping. Part of the small comeback may have to do with some improvements such as putting two buses out on the route again (more frequency – but still not at initial levels because of the longer route) and better bus stop information. In the current fiscal year (FY25) numbers for the first seven months indicate the Loop was on track for over 150,000 riders.

Duval Loop Ridership Data by Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year	Ridership
FY2018–2019	331,603
FY2019–2020	201,077
FY2020–2021	63,055
FY2021–2022	71,981
FY2022–2023	109,044
FY2023–2024	125,655
FY2024–2025*	152,000+

*FY2025 projection based on 91,386 rides from October–April, a 21% increase over prior year

But Charging A $1 Fare Threatens to Halt this Progress

Charging a fare for the Duval Loop undermines its core strengths and creates barriers to ridership. Here’s why:

• Marketing Costs: The “FREE and FREQUENT” branding was simple and effective, requiring minimal marketing. Introducing a fare complicates the message and demands additional marketing investment.
• Loss of Amenity Value: The Loop shifts from being a valued amenity and economic development tool to just another bus service.
• Hop-On Hop-Off Convenience: The fare disrupts the seamless hop-on-hop-off experience, turning it into a traditional bus route requiring exact change and payment queues.
• Parking Incentives: Visitors encouraged to park at facilities like the Grinnell Street Garage and use the free shuttle may now reconsider, leading to reduced usage.
• Elasticity Impact: Even a small fare introduces cost sensitivity. Families face higher costs, and the hassle of exact change deters casual riders.
• Operational Delays: Payment queues slow down boarding, causing delays and friction that further discourage ridership.
• Stakeholder Trust: The fare change breaks commitments to local businesses and visitors who highly rated the service, eroding trust and goodwill.
• Increased Congestion: As the service becomes less accessible, more people may choose to drive, exacerbating downtown traffic.
• Economic Impact: Reduced ridership harms small businesses reliant on visitor foot traffic, weakening the downtown economy.

Addressing Financing Concerns

Critics may argue, “It’s just a dollar,” or question why tax dollars should fund the Loop. However, nearly all of the funding for transit comes from parking fees—85% of which are paid by tourists—and state and federal monies, which are often guided by the number of riders.

Is that dollar even worth collecting? In cities like Key West, where farebox revenue rarely covers even 20% of operating costs, a dollar fare can quickly become a net loss—especially when it risks reduced ridership and funding tied to usage.

Investing in a free and frequent Duval Loop is not just about mobility; it’s about leveraging these funding sources effectively to support downtown businesses, reduce congestion, and enhance the visitor experience.

City Commission Should, Again, Rescind This Penny Wise and Pound-Foolish Move

To foster the Loop’s success the City Commission needs to rescind the $1 fare and recommit to a service that’s free, frequent, and intuitive—what made the Loop a standout in the first place. And it also must brand the buses and work with the business community to better market the service.

This isn’t just about a dollar. It’s about public trust, economic vitality, and sustainable mobility in a dense downtown core. Businesses rely on it. Workers and residents depend on it. Visitors praise it. Quietly rolling back what worked doesn’t just threaten ridership—it undermines Key West’s non-mainland values.

The Loop was built on a vision for a better, more walk, bike and people-friendly historic old town. Reversing this fare decision would reaffirm this and put the city back on the path toward a transportation system that supports its downtown economy, environment, and community.

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Key West is Florida’s Best Biking City. Could It Become the Paris of Small Cities?

Posted on July 1, 2025     Leave a Comment

July 1, 2025

Key West has once again been recognized as one of the 2025 Best Places to Bike in the annual PeopleforBikes City Ratings, continuing its tradition of being a standout bicycling city. With a Score of 69 and a #1 ranking in Florida, Key West is making steady progress in becoming a top-tier bicycling destination. But why stop there? The potential to transform into the Paris of small bicycling cities is within our grasp — if we and our leaders choose to seize it boldly and decisively.

This year, Key West achieved a Score of 69 and the following rankings:

• Florida: Ranked #1
• United States: Ranked #47
• World: Ranked #148

In fact, of the 2,541 U.S. cities evaluated this year, only 234 scored above 50 — putting Key West’s 69 squarely in the nation’s top tier.

These rankings reflect a combination of factors that make Key West stand out:

• Natural Advantages: A very small and flat place with a compact street grid and great weather
• Ongoing Improvements: Recent bike infrastructure upgrades, including new bike lanes on United and South Streets

Key West’s score has steadily climbed from 58 in 2021 to 69 today.

A Look Back

Over the years, Key West has consistently performed well in the PeopleforBikes City Ratings. Here’s a quick recap of its recent rankings:

• 2025: A score of 69 and ranking of #1 in Florida, #47 in the U.S., and #148 in the world out of 2,901 cities, 2,743 of which are in the U.S.
• 2024: A score of 68 and ranking of #1 in Florida, #44 in the U.S., and #116 in the world out of 2,579 cities, 2,300 of which are in the U.S.
• 2023: A score of 66 and ranking of #68 out of 1,481 U.S. and 249 international places
• 2022: A score of 61 and ranking of #15 out of 1,105 places in North America.
• 2021: A score of 58 and ranked #39 out of 760 places (660 in the U.S.)

What Makes Key West Stand Out?

Key West’s strong showing in the PeopleForBikes City Ratings comes from a mix of natural advantages and intentional choices:

• Structural Advantages: Our small and flat footprint, compact street grid, and year-round good weather create the ideal foundation for a bikeable city. So, we start from a better place than most cities.
• Strategic Investments: Recent improvements — like new bike lanes on United (2024) and South Streets (2025) and the new Staples Avenue Bike Bridge (2025)— build on that foundation.
• Community Engagement: Local organizations (like Southernmost Slow Ride and Zombie Bike Ride) and residents actively promote cycling through events and initiatives.
• Sustainability Goals: A long-standing commitment to reduce carbon emissions aligns with efforts to make biking a primary mode of transportation.

Why It Matters

A good score or being a great bicycling city means more than just bragging rights. It reflects a community that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and quality of life. Great bicycling cities reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, and promote healthier lifestyles. They also attract tourism and economic growth, creating vibrant spaces for residents and visitors alike.

Looking Ahead

PeopleforBikes’s are evaluating more and more cities each year. And while they adhere to very tough standards in their scoring, witness the average score is 30 and only 234 U.S. cities scored higher than 50 on the 100-point scale, Key West’s natural advantages have helped it stand out. But what if we really tried hard? Could we be the Paris (ranked the #1 big city in the world) of small cities?

Despite some clear recent wins, too many projects continue to prioritize cars over people — just as we noted in last year’s analysis or more specifically in stories  here, here, here, here, here and here.

Paris as a Model

As we continue to ask the question, given our natural advantages, what would Key West’s score and ranking be if we really tried and put substantial dollars into making our island into a biking paradise?

Paris offers a compelling example of what’s possible. Under Mayor Hidalgo’s leadership, the city has invested €250 million to make 100% of streets cyclable by 2026, created over 1,000 km of safe cycle paths, and seen a visible shift in behavior — with some streets now seeing more bikes than cars during rush hour. “Transforming Paris from Below: Cycling as a Social Movement” captures both the infrastructure investments and the cultural shift that have made Paris a global leader in urban cycling. Here’s a couple more great articles: “Reclaiming the City: Paris’s Decade-long Ride Towards a More Liveable Future” and “Paris Cycling Numbers Double In One Year Thanks To Massive Investment and Its Not Stopping.”

Paris, ranked the world’s top large city, achieved its position through bold leadership and focused investments — a roadmap that small cities like Key West can adapt.

Could Key West follow suit and become the Paris of small cities? The potential is there — if we choose to seize it.

What’s at Stake

Year after year, we track these rankings not for the score — but for what that score represents: a safer way to get to school. A cleaner way to move around town. A more human-scaled future for our island community.

For Key West, the stakes are especially high. As a small town with a high volume of visitors, the impact of car-centric infrastructure degrades the very qualities that make our island special. By prioritizing biking, walking, and transit-friendly solutions, we won’t just preserve the unique character of our community — we’ll shape the future of our island, ensuring it remains distinct from the mainland and a beacon of sustainability and innovation.

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For readers who want to dive deeper…

Past Stories on Key West’s PeopleforBikes Scores

• June 28, 2024
• June 29, 2023
• July 1, 2022
• June 11, 2021
• June 10, 2020

About PeopleForBikes

PeopleForBikes is a national bicycling advocacy nonprofit and industry group that’s been publishing these City Ratings since 2018. The 2025 edition evaluates 2,901 cities worldwide — the most ever.

How City Ratings Work

PeopleForBikes scores cities on a 0–100 scale based on how safe and connected their bike networks are. The methodology, called Bicycle Network Analysis, looks at factors like protected lanes, safe intersections, and access to key destinations. Here’s a link to the Key West Stress Map used in the methodology.

Key West in Context

Key West’s #47 U.S. ranking and Score of 69 are strong, but there’s room to grow. For comparison:

Biggest climbers: Park City, UT (48→61), Richfield, MN (25→53) and Galena, IL (25→55 in five years – story here)

Select top U.S. small cities: Mackinac Island, MI (Score: 100), Provincetown, MA (Score: 96), Emerald Isle, NC (Score: 76), Sonoma, CA (Score: 74) Aspen, CO (Score: 74), Sedona, AZ (Score: 73), Ocean City, NJ (Score: 70), Sanibel, FL (Score: 64), Vail, CO (Score: 47)

Top mid-sized city: Davis, CA (Score: 81)

Top large city: Brooklyn, NY (Score: 73)

Top international City: Paris, France (Score: 89)

Just Six Months Old, Conch Connect Micro-Transit Is Already Beating Expectations

Posted on January 24, 2025     1 Comment

By Chris Hamilton. Story is cross posted at KONK Life on January 24, 2025. Follow us at  Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown on Facebook.

Just six months after its debut, the Conch Connect on-demand, Uber-like micro transit service is shattering forecasts by more than doubling expected ridership. In its first four full months of service, beginning August 1 through November, the Freebee transit company, which operates the service for Monroe County reports it is averaging over 5,300 monthly passengers. And this is before high season started. Transit officials had a goal of 2,000 riders a month for the first year. They added 85 percent of the passengers are locals and 50% of the trips are for work.

Meanwhile Key West Transit’s (KWT) two-years-old, on-demand bus service Key West Rides has maintained its passenger levels since the County’s service started. So, the County service doesn’t seem to be cannibalizing customers from the City but perhaps is expanding the market by introducing a new and different product. Combine the two together and add in the 18-month old KWT Work Force Express passengers and you get a bit closer to the number of passenger trips that were provided by KWT on its old “City Routes” on Key West and Stock Island pre-Covid. That’s good news for our transit systems and good news for people that need transit to get to work and get around.

Let’s dive into some of the data, talk to some local riders and ask what this means for the future of transit below.

A Closer Look at the Data

RIDERSHIP: At 5,300+ passengers a month and growing, Conch Connect is already providing 87% of the 6,100 passengers (average for the same months) the City’s Key West Rides is serving. Add in the Work Force Express Route’s about 1,400 monthly rides and that’s approximately 11,400 total trips mostly serving locals on our two islands. Before Covid the KWT Red, Orange, Green and Blue “City Routes” served more than 15,000 monthly passengers. So, the additional capacity that Conch Connect provides is helping to meet transit demand that has been lacking since Covid.

WAIT TIMES: The Freebee provided data shows that about half the trips (49%) have a wait time of 20 minutes or less and half (51%) are 20 minutes plus with an average wait time of 23 minutes 14 seconds. Yes, they provide data that precise. In fact, here are more specific breakdowns:

17% of trips at 0 – 10 Minutes
16% of trips at 10 – 15 Minutes
16% of trips at 15 – 20 Minutes
24% of trips at 20 – 30 Minutes
28% of trips at 30+ Minutes

When asked about some of the longer wait times, Richard Clark, Monroe County Transit Director tells us, “Most people understand that a $2 trip has advantages and disadvantages. During peak hours it will certainly slow down.”

SERVING LOCALS: Mr. Clark shared that one thing the report doesn’t show is that 85% of the passengers are local. When I asked how he knew that he responded: “It’s an electronic format that requires you to put in your information. Those that ride have their information in the system.” Based upon the comments about the service on the Key West Locals group page, we’d guess this is so.

AND SERVING WORKERS: Mr. Clark also shared that 50% of the rides are for work purposes. He said that: “Rides that originate and terminate in Key West are roughly 2/3^rd’s and Stock to Key West is roughly 1/3. The rides are typically to major resorts/ west Duval area.”

RIDERSHIP SKEWS YOUNGER: It caught our attention that 45% of the passengers identified as younger than 34 years old, especially in this town as us old people seem to rule and also because transit systems often seem to cater to the needs of seniors. 29 percent were ages 35 to 50 and 26% were 51+.

7-DAY A WEEK, ALL NIGHT TOWN: We all know this, but our town doesn’t have a 5-day a week, weekend feel. And it doesn’t slow down at night either. It’s always busy and people are always working. The daily and hourly passenger data confirms this as no day of the week – although Tuesday seems a bit busier – predominates and the rides don’t noticeably decline at night.

What Some Customers and Locals Are Saying

We asked locals on Facebook to share their experience with the new service and it didn’t take more than a few hours to get 60+ comments. Here’s small sample of what they were saying:

Some people liked it:

Yara Gabriela Mila, Key West: “It’s comfortable and affordable, BUT the wait time is too long most of the time and it’s not accurate either, so it’s not reliable if you want to use it to get to work or things like that.”

Kevin P Smith, Key West: “My friends use it all the time. And yes, it is inconsistent. It’s a work in progress. Going to be great!”

Claire Hurd, Key West: “I only took Conch Connect once, a few months ago. Took less than 30 minutes to pick me up on White St. and deliver me to a shop on North Roosevelt. The glass ceiling is sweet!”

Katherine Samantha, Key West: “ We have used it a handful of time, it has been great for us! Picked up in less than 10 minutes, nice drivers and great experience overall. Thnx!”

Dee Dee Green, Key West: “I use it a lot. Most of the time it is great. 15-20 seems about the average time. They there are the times its 1 to 1.5 hours (rush hour). They do have issues with logistics. Drivers say they can see all cars and ride requests. Seems most of the time, even if a car is empty and close to a person, they will see a different car from other side of the island is assigned the pickup. Also, estimate times. Sometimes app waits 15 minutes before telling you estimated time (this is usually when busy). Also, it will say ride is arriving and I can see car is still far away. I would like if the app added a tip option. All said, this has been a great option. Oh, it ends at 9pm. It will be great if the program extends at least until 11 pm.”

Robert Stadnycki, Key West: Used it yesterday. Perfect service.”

One of the drawbacks of an on-demand service is that some people compare it to Uber and Lyft where the wait times on this island are usually just minutes:

Vinny Koi, Key West: Tried it several times. Wait times are way too long. I’d love to support it but when I have to wait 15-20 mins for a pickup compared to 1-2 minutes for an Uber, it’s not worth it.”

Jill Marie, Key West: “LOVE IT…when I can get one….Wait times are outrageous. I usually just end up call an Uber.”

Mulan Luangvitham, Key West: “Waiting time is long so plan ahead or have your day free…it’s $2 so if you’re in a rush take Uber…I wish that you can leave tips on your card…and I wish that the app can tell you how many ppl are in queue.”

As Richard Clark points out most people realize that for a $2 transit ride, there are going to be some compromises and many of the respondents agreed.

Misty Fulk, Key West: I’ve never had a problem with it! Except in the afternoon but early morning it is always great.”

Ryan Beer Adelphia, Key West: “Affordable and comfortable ride for when you aren’t in a hurry. I use it every few weeks instead of Uber.”

Some people didn’t like it when they tried it, others have problems with the app, while others chimed in that they didn’t like the idea of our local governments providing the service or wanted fixed route instead:

Walter Leeman, Key West: “The app is a pain in the a.. Along with letting them know. They could have been a good option but are not.”

Steven Tepper, Key West: “The wait times are too long to be practical, and they sometimes increase while you wait. This funding/system should have gone to provide better service for Key West Rides. If only the County and City knew how to work together.”

Thomas Mullet, Key West: “It’s replacing a car with a car? I’m confused how this helps? Parking I understand but dozens of trips are still being done only by a different car. It’s a city UBER? (Investing in) cycling would have been a real difference maker.”

Mr. Mullet may have a point about using a car to get mostly individuals around because with buses the ride is shared by lots of people. So, we asked Mr. Clark about that, and he replied that “About 25% of the trips are shared rides.” So, it’s a bit better than a personal Uber ride but not quite as good (efficient, beneficial, etc.) as traditional fixed-route transit…

Looking Ahead to the Future

…And so that brings us back to what this all means and what the future of transit should be in Key West and the Florida Keys. We asked Mr. Clark what’s in store for the near term and he said:

“In 2025 we have been asked to look into taking over the management of Islamorada’s service. Also, we are planning on how we build similar systems in Key Largo, Marathon/KCB and Big Pine-Cudjoe.”

Congrats are due to Mr. Clarke and the County for trying and getting something done. Back in the summer, Mr. Clark explained they’ve got to start somewhere, and Stock Island and Key West are underserved, and the City’s Key West Transit is struggling to meet demand. We agreed as we’ve written about here,  here, here and here. That and it was easy and quick for the County to hire Freebee to provide the service as a turnkey project.

Mr. Clark also told us there was more demand for transit than Key West Transit’s family of services could provide. Six months in the stats are showing there is indeed a market for more transit as there’s been no drop off in Key West Rides. Given this and the great numbers for the start of the service, we’d like to see more County investment in Stock Island and Key West before turning up the Keys, but that was always part of the original vision.

In a popular story last spring (A New Transit Service Is Coming This Summer. Our Workforce Needs It and Much More Transit Up and Down the Keys, May 24, 2024) we shared in detail Mr. Clark’s vision for a unified transit service county-wide with 30 minute continuous service over the entire length of the Overseas Highway, supplemented by on-demand service in the neighborhood hubs along the highway and a family of fixed-route circulator services on the islands of Key West and Stock Island.

Let’s Encourage the County and City to Make Better Transit

We’ve been down this path before of having nice plans that seem to go nowhere. So, it is good news the County’s Conch Connect is off to a fantastic start. The City/Key West Transit and County need to work together on building more and better transit options because our residents and workers increasingly live and work in more spread out places that cross jurisdictional lines. Our workers in particular need frequent, easy and reliable options to the high costs of owning and operating a vehicle, especially because our rent is so high.

Accomplishing this will help ease our workforce’s burden, take cars off our congested main road, reduce parking conflicts downtown, help clean our environment, assist our local Mom & Pop Shops be more prosperous and make our island chain paradise healthier and happier too.

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Rebuild of South Street Is Complete and Includes Brand New Bike Lane

Posted on January 17, 2025     1 Comment

By Chris Hamilton. Story is cross posted at KONK Life on January 17, 2025. Follow us at  Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown on Facebook.

A $3.5 million dollar City rebuild of South Street between Duval and Reynolds Streets is wrapping up as the first coat of paint has gone down on the newly repaved and well-traveled street. Prior to the fresh paving FKAA utilities work was done and then new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks and curb ramps, better drainage facilities with new curb and gutter, and new street trees were all installed. And yes, another wider than usual, brand new bicycle lane where none had existed before was installed for the entire length of the project going south towards the Southernmost Point Buoy.

We say “another” because just last April the City completed a similar rebuild project on United Street with all the same amenities and a brand new bike lane where none had existed before going northbound. Together the new South and United Street bicycle lanes act similar to the Fleming and Southard Streets bike lane pair in getting people into and out of downtown. They help create a more connected network of lanes that provide easier and safer riding for bicycles and cars. That’s good news that should be celebrated!

Wider Is Better and Safer and Bike Lanes, Even When Next to Parking Are Better Than Sharrows

Along South Street the new inbound bike lane is designed to be 4’ wide with 2’ feet of buffer space for a total of 6’. We’re told this is considered narrow for a door-zone bike lane by State minimum standards, but it’s larger than the 5’ width local bicyclists are familiar with along Southard and Fleming Streets.

The less than a year old United Street bike lane, where it is adjacent to on-street parking, is about to 7’ feet wide to provide some buffer space for bicyclists from car doors. The parking stalls are narrow to encourage motorists to park close to the curb. Along the rest of United, the bike lane is 5’ feet wide as there is no parking.

So wider is safer and that’s better.

For those that abhor any bike lanes next to parking we’d point out that 1. While dooring is a legitimate safety concern, bicycles always have the right to get out of the bicycle lane and “take the road” by moving into the traffic lane if they feel safer there. And 2. A bicycle lane next to parking – and again these are wider than those installed in the past – is still better than no lane at all.

We’ve interviewed lots of people on bicycles on the Southard and Fleming pair of bike lanes. And while people on bicycles would prefer no parking next to their lane, the reality is that this City doesn’t give up parking. So when asked to choose between a lane next to parking or Sharrows or no lane, nearly all bicyclists say please give us a lane.

So again, we consider these two new bicycle lanes, where none had existed before, progress, and we’d love to see more. Furthermore…

New Bike Lanes Enhance the Network Effect

There are many examples in Key West of pieces of bike trails and lanes that just end, leaving riders with no choice but to suddenly mix with cars, Southard Street being our most egregious example, often on our most crowded and busy streets. In surveys people say the lack of a connected network of safe bicycle facilities to get them to work, shop and play, is what inhibits many people from riding a bike for transportation. The new South United and Street bike lanes will help better connect with a growing network on this side of town.

The bike lanes map here shows the new bicycle lane pair connecting to the Reynolds Street bike lanes which take you to Higgs Beach and beyond that on the Atlantic Boulevard Trail to the Bertha Trail and onto the S. Roosevelt Promenade. So, this gets people safely from the beaches into downtown without having to mix with traffic. Similarly, those using the Crosstown Greenway from the top of the island at the Cow Key Channel will now be able to get downtown on a safe bike lane.

Better, Safer Bicycling = Better Key West

Key West is full of cars AND bikes and that’s different than most places. According to the U.S. Census 15% of Key West residents’ commute to work by bicycle. That’s a lot more than some of the top “bike” cities in the country. Key West bike rental companies continue to do a record business. So, there’s a lot of bikes and now e-bikes and e-scooters mixing with golf carts, scooters, and cars. As so many of these people on the street are visitors from car-centric mainland places, they aren’t used to this jumble of vehicle types and that’s a dangerous mix. And that is why we need a seamless, connected, and safe network of bike facilities. It also helps keep bikes off our crowded sidewalks. 

The South and United Streets projects represents progress toward that end. To make our little island a bicycle paradise that will help us fight traffic and parking congestion, improve our environment, and make us healthier, more prosperous, and happier too. Let’s applaud the City staff for continuing to move the ball of progress forward.

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