Dunedin's First World Car Free Day Rolls Down the Pinellas Trail Today

Dunedin holds its first-ever World Car Free Day today, inviting residents to trade their cars for bikes and sneakers on a guided walk-and-ride down the Pinellas Trail into downtown. The event runs from 2:15 to 5:45 p.m., starting at Josiah Cephas Weaver Park, 1258 Bayshore Blvd., and organizers are hoping it becomes an annual tradition.

Connect Pinellas and Joy Rides Dunedin are running the event with the City of Dunedin. Registration opens at 2:15 p.m., and City Commissioner Jeff Gow kicks things off at 2:25 p.m. Twenty minutes later, the group heads out onto the trail toward downtown, passports in hand.

How the passport works

Each attendee gets a passport that doubles as a scavenger hunt. Stop at a participating business, get it stamped, and move on to the next. Cueni Brewing is hosting a Q&A with Commissioner Gow along the route. Kafe Racer, Dunedin Mockfusion and the Bike Lab are all offering car-free themed specials for the day.

Finish the loop and turn in a completed passport at Weaver Park by 5:45 p.m. for a shot at the raffle prizes.

Getting there without a car

The whole point of the day is to skip the parking lot. The Jolley Trolley's Coastal Route drops riders near the park, and the Clearwater Ferry is cutting its fare in half for anyone crossing over from downtown Clearwater to the Dunedin Marina. Tiki Rides is also taking part. Parking is still available at Weaver Park for anyone who needs it, but organizers are pitching this as a day to leave the car behind entirely.

Need a helmet before you roll out? The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is handing out free ones at the park, but only until 4 p.m., so riders who want one should get there early rather than after finishing the trail loop.

World Car Free Day is marked in cities around the globe each September, and Dunedin's version leans into what the city already has going for it: a flat, paved trail that runs straight from the park into a downtown full of small businesses. More details on the schedule and how to arrive car-free are available through Connect Pinellas.

Organizers haven't said whether this becomes a yearly fixture, but a strong turnout today would make the case. For now, the plan is simple: show up, stamp the passport, and see how much of downtown Dunedin you can cover without starting an engine.

For more Pinellas County news, visit the Pinellas County Community Website and follow us on Facebook. Got thoughts on the event or photos from the trail? Share them in our Community Forum. You can also find more local events coverage and community stories on our site.