City officials in Key West are once again collaborating with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Institute for Police Technology and Management (IPTM) at the University of North Florida to address the persistent risks faced by pedestrians and bicyclists on local roads. The initiative, part of FDOT's ongoing High Visibility Enforcement program, provides funding for overtime enforcement operations aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities involving non-motorized road users.
The program, which often runs through periods including May, targets violations related to biking and walking on streets and sidewalks. Officers from the Key West Police Department (KWPD) conduct dedicated patrols, focusing on high-risk locations identified through crash data. The emphasis is on education: every interaction with drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians—whether resulting in a citation or not—serves to highlight avoidable hazards that arise when automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrians share the same pathways. Monroe County is one of Florida's 25 priority counties for pedestrian and bicycle safety due to its high rate of serious and fatal crashes involving vulnerable road users.
In 2025 alone, the county recorded 1,475 traffic crashes, with 916 resulting in injuries and 12 fatalities. Among these, there were 120 bicycle-related crashes and 36 pedestrian incidents, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. This data-driven approach is funded through FDOT grants administered by IPTM, allowing agencies like KWPD to deploy officers on overtime for visible patrols.
A recent grant to Key West amounted to nearly $10,000, supporting efforts to change dangerous behaviors among all road users. Similar programs operate statewide in high-priority areas, combining enforcement with public awareness to promote compliance with traffic laws.FDOT's broader Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program, under the Alert Today Florida initiative, seeks to mitigate crashes by increasing awareness and adherence to rules protecting walkers and cyclists. Crashes involving these groups are disproportionately likely to result in severe or fatal outcomes compared to other traffic incidents.
Officials stress that the goal is not punitive but preventive. "Each contact is intended to educate the public on the risks and best practices for sharing the road safely," a city spokesperson noted, echoing the program's core message. As tourism and local traffic continue to mix with high volumes of bicyclists and pedestrians in the Keys, this renewed partnership aims to foster safer streets for everyone. Residents and visitors are encouraged to obey speed limits, yield appropriately, and remain vigilant, especially in areas prone to blind spots or heavy shared use.