 Bicycle Paths and Hilton Head
Although Hilton Head may be most notable for its excellent tennis and fantastic golf scenes, biking on Hilton Head Island has been an important part of island life since the infancy of its modern development. Sea Pines Plantation, the first residential/resort community on the island, was developed with certain amenities right from the beginning, including exceptional tennis courts, great golf courses, and… bicycling paths. The idea was that the communities would be developed around these amenities, meaning that biking on Hilton Head Island was a major part of developers’ original vision for island life. This strategy has meant that Hilton Head now boasts a very hefty—and thriving—network of bicycling paths which are used by both residents and guests year-round.
Bicycling on Hilton Head, unlike biking in many of the nation’s communities, is a very popular pastime. Many of the island’s residents are biking enthusiasts, taking advantage of every opportunity the weather affords them to travel the island by bike. There are more than 100 miles of biking paths on Hilton Head. About half of that total is located within private communities, meaning only island residents and visitors who are staying within the community are allowed to use them.
Thankfully, even with half of the bicycling paths situated on private land, there are still 50 miles of possible biking on Hilton Head for anyone and everyone to indulge in. The majority of the bike paths are shared with pedestrians, but there are also biking lanes located on some of the island’s major roads. The substantial biking paths lead to many prime destinations on Hilton Head Island, including beach access points, tennis courts, golf courses, and public parks. This means that anyone interested in bicycling on Hilton Head can get almost anywhere on the island they want to using the biking paths alone.
With miles of biking paths located on both public and private lands throughout the island, Hilton Head is easily one of the nation’s most bicycle-friendly communities. Biking aficionados throughout the United States come to experience biking on Hilton Head, exploring the island’s exquisiteness while getting some great exercise. For island residents and visitors who are environmentally conscious, these biking paths provide a “green” way to savor everything the island has to offer. Many companies on the island offer bicycle rentals, so that even those who don’t own bikes (or who don’t want to transport their bikes) can enjoy bicycling on Hilton Head Island.
While anyone can enjoy Hilton Head by vehicle, bicycling on Hilton Head is truly island life at its best. The many miles of bicycling paths provide residents and visitors the opportunity to see everything the island has to offer while never leaving the lovely environment for the confines of a vehicle. Anyone who visits owes it to themselves to try bicycling on Hilton Head, the best way to encounter the island. |
