ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Downtown St. Pete has a popular nightlife, especially in the 200 block of Central Avenue. 

What You Need To Know

  • Drop-offs and pickups that have been in the 200 block of Central Avenue will now be in the 200 block of First Avenue North

  • The trial run started on July 4

  • This change will operate from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

With so many people in this area on Friday and Saturday nights, St. Petersburg Police Department officials say they want to try and make the area safer.

Lt. Thomas Qualey said Uber and Lyft drop-offs and pickups that have been in the 200 block of Central Avenue will now be in the 200 block of First Avenue North.

He said this trial run is to relieve congestion and make the area safer.

"The last thing we want is someone to get hit by a car," he said. "That's the public safety aspect. So moving this alleviates that problem where people aren't getting backed up in the roadway and having near hits."

Qualey said they originally tried talking with drivers and then issuing tickets but found it wasn't working the way they wanted.

If the trial goes well, he said it could become permanent.

"What we're seeing is this is the best practice from other cities and that's why we're utilizing it," he said. "It seems to work."

This trial run started on July 4.

The shift in drop-off and pickup locations will operate from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.