Car-Free St. Pete relaunches, expands as Connect Pinellas

A grassroots initiative that has encouraged St. Petersburg residents and visitors to forego driving downtown since 2019 has a new moniker and mission. 

Car-Free St. Pete is now Connect Pinellas, a newly established nonprofit. The change reflects the organization’s evolution from focusing on awareness to facilitating community-driven, small infrastructure projects that help improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. 

Nicole Roberts, former program manager of Car-Free St. Pete and vice president of Connect Pinellas, noted the importance of expanding in a county that annually ranks among the state’s most dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. The new nonprofit celebrated its launch Sept. 21 by partnering with local organizations, including the Pinellas Run Club, to host the World Car-Free Day Beer Crawl.

“Having a focus on St. Pete has been great, but transportation really needs to have a regional focus to be effective,” Roberts said. “In order for people to feel safe going car-free, they need to be in an environment that feels safe.” 

She explained that Car-Free St. Pete launched primarily as a marketing initiative. The group hoped to increase awareness of the SunRunner, the region’s first bus-rapid transit service, and the city’s burgeoning electric scooter program. 

In 2021, the organization collaborated with the City of St. Petersburg, the Grand Central District, the EDGE District, and Open Streets St. Pete to host the first annual Halloween on Central event. The group shut down 22 blocks along the thoroughfare. 

The event showcased what two miles of Central Avenue could look like without vehicles for residents, visitors and businesses. Attendance continued increasing exponentially, and Car-Free St. Pete subsequently ceded control to the EDGE and Grand Central Districts.

“We’re so glad the community loved it enough to carry it on,” Roberts said. 

Halloween on Central has grown exponentially since 2021. Photo: Grand Central District.

However, the area remains car-centric, particularly outside of the downtown core. In addition, a study found that Pinellas County had the highest percentage of pedestrian-involved crashes and fatalities in the state between 2019 and 2021. 

The report, conducted by the Schiller Kessler Group law firm, found that 35.5% of roadway deaths in Pinellas involved a pedestrian, 132% higher than the state average. The Connect Pinellas website notes that another study from Smart Growth America ranked the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area as the 8th most dangerous nationally. 

“We are really hopeful that will change,” Roberts said. “I think the city governments are really interested in making it change. I think the problem is, right now, there’s just a lack of funding in our communities for these things.” 

Connect Pinellas will support: 

• Community-driven transit initiatives informed by public feedback.
• Education and advocacy training that empowers residents to foster changes that increase safety. 
• Education that makes alternative transportation methods more approachable and accessible. 
• Funding and investment in associated infrastructure, including bike shelters, accessibility improvements and pedestrian safety projects. 
• Engaging community events that create positive associations with foregoing vehicles. 
• Smarter designs for infrastructure that mitigate serious injuries and deaths.

Roberts believes that many residents want to become transit advocates but are unsure of where to start. Connect Pinellas can gather those interested and provide information on how to make their neighborhoods more accessible to various transportation options, which benefits “the entire county.” 

While the nonprofit has not “given up hope” for state funding, Connect Pinellas will, at least initially, focus on securing private investments for projects. Roberts noted that area businesses have a vested interest in ensuring employees have multiple options to reach work safely and on time. 

Small initiatives that could make a big difference include adding planters or other barriers to bike lanes. Sheltered corrals could provide outlets to charge e-bikes. 

The organization already has a “great relationship” with the City of St. Petersburg, and Roberts hopes to strengthen connections with other municipalities and Forward Pinellas, the county’s planning agency. Another launch event is Sunday, Oct. 26, following the 2025 Halloween on Central. 

Roberts said people who once opposed the car-free event now realize the benefits of utilizing alternative transportation options. She believes the community would appreciate additional opportunities to walk downtown streets without dodging vehicles. 

Connect Pinellas is adding a Transportation Advocates Guide to its website for those with specific projects or “things they would like to see happen” in their neighborhoods. Residents can also request direct assistance from the nonprofit.