BICYCLING AND BIKE PATHS
Bicycling is one of the best ways to see Hilton Head, is good exercise...and just plain fun. Because our island is flat, it shouldn't be too difficult for anyone.
Hilton Head Island is one of the best places anywhere to go biking. Where else can bikers choose between lightly travelled local roads, many miles of bike paths (reportedly over 40 miles in total!) and 12 miles of hard packed sand on our broad beaches?
Hilton Head is very flat, so bicyclers may either pedal along in a leisurely way...or, if so inclined, get more vigorous exercise by travelling at a higher rate of speed. Because most vacationers choose a relatively leisurely pace, most rental bikes are single speed "cruiser bikes" with wide seats and tires, and brakes operated using pedals. However, many rental companies offer mountain and other geared bikes...generally at a slightly higher rate than for cruisers.
Probably the best places for riding bikes are on our bike paths and on the beach. Sea Pines, Shipyard and Palmetto Dunes all have extensive networks of bike paths...as illustrated by the dotted lines on the bike routes map in this section. There also are paths along Pope Avenue, North and South Forest Beach Drive and William Hilton Parkway (Hwy. 278) between Sea Pines Circle, Palmetto Dunes and Hilton Head Plantation. In addition, for three or four hours before and after low tide (low tide oocurs approximately every 12 hours) the beach also effectively is a 12-mile-long bike route that runs up and down the island and connects the plantations. At high tide, however, the sand not covered by water is often too soft to support bikes.
Whether you are staying on a plantation or elsewhere, you will find that there are numerous access points from your part of the Island to the beach...and vice versa. You also will find, however, that access through plantation security gates normally is restricted to plantation residents and guests. Plantation security guards may object to non-plantation guests riding bikes on their plantations if you choose do so and should happen to be questioned.
The Best Way To See Hilton Head
Bicycling is among the very best ways to see much of what makes Hilton Head so attractive. Like being on a boat, both allow you to see the ocean, marshes, golf courses, forests and residences of our Island from a perspective that is much more revealing and attractive than is possible from an automobile.
Biking on the beach permits riders to cover miles of beach in a relatively short period of time. On one side you will see the ocean, while on the other you will see an ever-changing panorama of sand dunes and some of the more attractive homes and villas on the Island.
Riding on our many miles of smooth bike paths lets you see much of the rest of Hilton Head up close and at your leisure. It's an entirely different experience to look at fairways, a salt marsh or a lovely home from a bicycle than from an automobile.
Renting Bicycles
Hilton Head boasts numerous bicycle rental firms that rent many different kinds of bikes. Many firms offer delivery of bikes, often at no additional charge, to wherever you are if you ask. Bikes may be rented by the hour (a few firms), day (many rental firms) or week (all rental firms).
Words of Caution
We would like to offer you a few words of caution. Please do not ride on busy roads, such as Palmetto Bay Road or William Hilton Parkway. Secondly, please do not ride your bicycles in the water on the beach. Salt water is VERY hard on bicycles, and will quickly ruin them. If you should get salt water on them, be sure to hose them off as soon as possible. Thirdly, PLEASE pay attention to the mini-stop signs on our bike paths...and just in general when crossing intersecting roads and driveways. Too many bicycle riders are hit by automobiles when both fail to stop at stop signs or when both are just in too much of a hurry to be aware of their surroundings. Finally, please remember to lock your bikes when they are left unattended. Happily, there is much less theft on Hilton Head Island than in many places. Nevertheless, please protect yourself from thieves and joyriders who may ruin your day if you do not exercise caution.
COCONUT BIKE RENTALS
PEDALS BIKE RENTALS
