Hilton Head Island, SC is the only town that has received Gold Level community status in the Southeast, and one of 36 communities to achieve the Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community award. We are so proud to be apart of a community that cares about keeping their residents and visitors safe in transportation. Putting valuable time and money into preserving our island so that we are able to enjoy every piece of it!
There are almost 65 miles of public pathways and nature trails, all of which you are able to enjoy on a daily basis or during a visit here. Most of these pathways are in private residential communities, allowing for members and visitors alike to enjoy them.
The Town of Hilton Head does a great job at keeping our bike paths safe and available for all of the community members – residents and visitors. Below is their list of safety tips and rules of the road. It is good to keep this list in mind while riding your bike through our beautiful little island!
Tips & Rules of the Road
- Please obey all traffic signals and pathway markings. Stop signs must be obeyed for safety. Bicycles are vehicles and must obey SC traffic laws.
- Travel the pathways at speeds that allow for the safety of pedestrians and other users.
- When riding in the roadway, ride with traffic, not against. State law requires bicycles to drive like all other vehicles.
- For your own safety, please consider riding bicycles on a pathway when one is available instead of the roadway.
- Please ride single file and keep a safe distance from other bicyclists.
- Watch out for motorists! In South Carolina, motorists must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists within marked crossings, but they may not see you.
- Please yield to pedestrians. When resting or stopped, please move off the pathway.
- Most sections of the pathways are not illuminated. If you must bike at night, please wear light colored clothing or carry a flashlight. Bicycles must have a red rear reflector and a headlight when biking at night.
- When approaching slower pathway users from behind, please sound your warning device, or call out “Passing on your left.” Always pass on the left.
- Bicyclists should always wear a helmet, especially children 12 and under.
- Make eye contact and use hand signals. Assume other bicyclists and motorists don’t see you. Hand signals tell motorists and other path users what you intend to do and will ensure everyone’s safe enjoyment of the pathways. An audible signal such as a bell or voice commands like “Passing on Left” are useful to let other pathway users know of your approach and/or intentions.
- Be courteous, alert, and predictable.
We want all of our bicyclists, from near and far, to remain safe and have fun while exploring Hilton Head. There’s so much more for you to see, and for your family to experience than what you can see from the road. Make sure to take advantage of everything Hilton Head has to offer!
To rent bikes during your time on the island, visit Wheelz of Hilton Head.