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Hilton Head Island, SC is the only town that has received Gold Level community status in the Southeast and one of 21 communities to achieve the Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community award.

The Town of Hilton Head does a great job at keeping our bike paths safe and available for all of the community members – residents or visitors renting bikes.

Hilton Head Island, SC is the only town that has received Gold Level community status in the Southeast and one of 21 communities to achieve the Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community award. We are so proud to be part of a community that cares about keeping residents and visitors safe in transportation and spends valuable time and money preserving our island so that we are able to enjoy every piece of it.

There are over 60 miles of public pathways and nature trails which you’re able to enjoy daily, or during your visit here. Most of these pathways are in private residential communities that the members are able to enjoy and visitors alike if the communities allow it. We suggest you always check with your rental company to see where and when you’re allowed to explore!

The Town of Hilton Head does a great job at keeping our bike paths safe and available for all of the community members – residents or visitors. Below is their list of safety tips and rules of the road while riding your bike through our beautiful little island!

Hilton Head Bike Tips & Rules of the Road

1. Please obey all traffic signals and pathway markings. Stop signs must be obeyed for safety. Bicycles are vehicles and must obey SC traffic laws.

2. Travel the pathways at speeds that allow for the safety of pedestrians and other users.

3. When riding in the roadway, ride with traffic, not against it. State law requires bicycles to drive like all other vehicles.

4. For your own safety, please consider riding bicycles on a pathway when one is available instead of the roadway.

5. Please ride single file and keep a safe distance from other bicyclists.

6. Watch out for motorists! In South Carolina, motorists must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists within marked crossings, but they may not see you.

7. Please yield to pedestrians. When resting or stopped, please move off the pathway.

8. 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.

9. When approaching slower pathway users from behind, please sound your warning device, or call out “Passing on your left.” Always pass on the left.

10. Bicyclists should always wear a helmet, especially children 12 and under.

11. 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.

12. 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 is so much more for the eye to see and your family to experience than what you can see from the road. Make sure to take advantage of everything Hilton Head has to offer!

For more information, visit hiltonheadisland.org.