🎙️ Car Free Conversations — Episode: “From Chile to St. Pete: Building Car-Free Communities”

Hosts: Domenico & Saumitra
Guest: Alfonso Hernandez, Social Media Chair for Car-Free St. Pete and Connect Pinellas
In this episode of Car Free Conversations, hosts Domenico and Saumitra welcome Alfonso Hernandez, a passionate transit advocate originally from Chile who now calls St. Petersburg, Florida, home. Alfonso shares his personal journey—growing up in a car-dependent city, discovering public transit as a teen, and fully embracing a car-free lifestyle after moving to the U.S.
Alfonso dives into how his experiences in Gainesville, FL, shaped his perspective on walkability and sustainable transit. He also discusses how he became involved with Car-Free St. Pete, using his background in marketing to elevate their social media presence and community engagement.
A major focus of the conversation is the launch of Connect Pinellas, a new nonprofit born out of Car-Free St. Pete, with a broader mission to improve infrastructure, accessibility, and multimodal transit across all of Pinellas County—not just downtown St. Pete. Alfonso explains the goals of the new organization, the importance of expanding advocacy, and how they plan to include voices from across the region.
The group explores the cultural stigma around not owning a car, the benefits of active transit, and how small changes—like using the Pinellas Trail or choosing to bike to a local event—can inspire larger shifts toward sustainable city planning.
💡 Pro Tip from Alfonso: If you're in Central St. Pete, hop on the Pinellas Trail and see where it takes you. You might discover your next favorite spot—without ever getting in a car.
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Produced by: Sunshine 96.7FM / RadioStPete.com