Chris Hamilton

Key West has the good bones to become the Paris of small cities. All it would take is our leaders to double down on our natural assets and invest in bike infrastructure instead of always bowing to car-convenience. When will they ever learn we aren't suburban Boca Del Vista on the Florida mainland but a tiny island with a historic grid that begs to be different.

Could the Duval Loop and Fixed Routes Be Returning to Key West Streets? And Could the Lower Keys Shuttle and Workforce Express Finally Get Better Service? Our story at the link looks at what the new routes would do, what they would cost, how the City might pay for them, where Monroe County and workers beyond Key West fit in, why this matters even if you never ride the bus, and what happens next: carfreecities.com/2026/03/14/cou…

KEY WEST ADOPTS ROADMAP TO ZERO TRAFFIC DEATHS 297 fatal and serious injury crashes. 29 deaths. 4x the state average. That's Key West's traffic safety record from 2018-2024. The City just adopted a plan to fix that and get to zero deaths by 2035. Here's some of the 36 projects and 23 policies in it: · $650,000 for North Roosevelt improvements · $350,000 Triangle redesign · Island-wide crosswalk and signal upgrades · New enforcement on illegal e-motos · Protected bike lanes as standard and raised crosswalks Here's what it will take: · Budget allocation starting THIS summer · Federal grant applications · Political will to change speeds, enforce rules, fund projects Read our full breakdown we explore why Key West's streets are uniquely dangerous, what the data reveals about where and how crashes occur, how the community helped shape the plan, what specific improvements are coming, and what needs to happen next to turn this roadmap into reality: carfreecities.com/2026/03/07/key…

@MomentumMag You forgot Key West, FL

Where Should You Live If You Bike Everywhere? One Engineer Built a Bike Friendliness Tool to Find Out. buff.ly/Vh8qn4o

Key West?

WHY DOWNTOWN KEY WEST TRANSPORTATION MATTERS Our historic core is Key West's economic engine - where locals gather, tourists explore, and small businesses thrive. Duval Street isn't just another commercial district. It's what sets us apart from every car-choked, strip-mall-dominated place on the Florida mainland. But that special quality is fragile. If we let downtown become dominated by cars - by traffic congestion, parking lots, and the endless hunt for spaces - we lose what makes it work. We become just another drive-through destination. The question isn't "do we need more parking? The question is: "How do we keep downtown thriving as the walkable, bikeable, human-scaled place that is our competitive advantage?" In our story "City Pumps Brakes on Downtown Garage - Now It’s Time for Real Transportation Solutions" we provide 7 ways to make this happen: carfreecities.com/2026/02/15/cit…

City Pumps Brakes on Downtown Garage - Now It’s Time for Real Transportation Solutions With the garage paused, now what? This was never really about 85 new parking spaces. It's about something bigger: How do we keep downtown Key West thriving as the walkable, bikeable place that makes us special and not just another Florida mainland car-centric place? We already know how. We just need to commit to it. Seven solutions that actually work (none of them involve building more parking) at the link⬇️ carfreecities.com/2026/02/15/cit…

Interview with U.S.1 Evening Edition’s Nick Wright and Friends of Car-Free Key West's Chris Hamilton on why the City of Key West has failed to make the case for a new downtown garage... Listen here: carfreecities.com/2026/02/05/int…

After growing up with the @washingtonpost in my house, carrying it around in my backpack to school and then work on the subway for 30 years and then digitally subscribing when I moved to Key West, today I canceled my subscription because they canceled Sports and gutted the Opinions I cared. I'm sad and angry.

A Solution in Search of a Problem: Why the Simonton/Angela Street Garage Doesn’t Add Up We examine why the "meets the City's four‑strategic-goals" argument doesn’t hold up. We explore the missing data including a parking demand study, inventory of existing parking supply and the overall transportation context. We also highlight the concerns raised by residents. In earlier articles we left open the possibility that a well‑justified garage could be a win‑win for Key West. But after this meeting, it’s clear a convincing case hasn't been made. This project should not move forward until it does. carfreecities.com/2026/01/31/a-s…

Does a Stock Island Garage Make More Sense Than One Downtown? The city already has a full blown study that says yes because it addresses congestion and affordable housing better. Why aren't we talking about this? Story here: carfreecities.com/2026/01/24/doe…

Should Key West Be Building Another Downtown Parking Garage? With roughly 10,000+ parking spots already in the historic district, is more parking the answer? We explore the gap between the perceived need for more parking and the reality. We dive into the pros and cons of the project— and if it’s built, what things need to be included so that Old Town functions better for everyone, not just those in cars. Get the full story here: carfreecities.com/2026/01/17/sho…

Don’t Let the TDC Stonewall Using Tourist Monies for Tourist-Serving Transit Key Westers agree spending tourist tax dollars on tourist-serving transit like the Duval Loop is a good idea. The Tourist Development Council would rather delay this by studying it to death. Let's not let them. Story: carfreecities.com/2026/01/11/don…

FUNDING TRANSIT WITHOUT RAISING LOCAL TAXES: A WIN FOR TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS Commissioner Haskell is leading an initiative to use tourist tax funds to support visitor-serving transit like the Duval Loop. This enhances the visitor experience, reduces traffic, and strengthens the hospitality industry—leaving other funding sources to support more resident-based transit. Find out why this matters for Key West’s future at the link: carfreecities.com/2026/01/04/fun…

BIKES ADVANCE. TRANSIT COLLAPSES. 2025 was a year of progress for bikes but a disaster for transit in the Keys and Key West. Cuts, chaos, and leadership failures are leaving workers and residents stranded—and pushing tourists back into their cars. Our Year in Review lays bare the crisis and the path forward. Full story at the link: carfreecities.com/2025/12/21/bik…

AFTER THE LOOP IS GONE, WHAT’S NEXT FOR KEY WEST TRANSIT? Budget cuts have forced an upcoming Duval Loop pause. Despite this, staff is making some meaningful improvements to the on-demand software, adding new bike racks, a new electric bus and marketing support. But without new, steady and reliable funding these changes will only be window dressing as the community wants more frequent and expanded service. Discover what’s next for transit in our city and why your voice matters at the link: carfreecities.com/2025/11/29/aft…

THE CROSSTOWN GREENWAY - THE LOCALS' NOT SO SECRET BIKEWAY A safe, slower bike route born from local passion and persistence. From guerrilla campaigns to city-backed improvements, this path winds through the quiet heart of the city, helping cyclists avoid N. Roosevelt and Flagler. At the link we examine how the path was born, recent improvements including a roundabout, a new bike/ped bridge, paint and signage and new bike lanes to connect to the heart of downtown and plans for future improvements. carfreecities.com/2025/11/07/the…

CITY ANNOUNCES DUVAL LOOP TO BE "SUSPENDED" DEC 31 Last night, Key West announced service would be suspended on December 31. They also provided a summary and a communications and public meeting schedule. Neither the memo nor summary indicates when the Loop may return. Memo, summary and all the background are in the story at the link: carfreecities.com/2025/10/12/aft…

After the Cuts: Can Key West Transit Rise Again? Perhaps, if the plan is followed—and funded—there’s still a way forward. - FY2026 begins with $1.3M in budget cuts at the City - The Loop is slated to be "suspended" but is still running. - The City’s expansive 10-Year Plan exists—but will we follow it? At the link we analyze 10 years of ridership data, examine the efficacy of the remaining services, reveal what's in the recently adopted Transit Plan and recommend what needs to happen next in order to build the Plan's vision. carfreecities.com/2025/10/12/aft…