The town of Hilton Head Island has done a great job this past year, helping to make our island even more bike- and pedestrian-friendly. New pathways and safety signage, crosswalks, signalized crossings, parking racks, rebuilt pathways and boardwalks, kiosks, and outstanding maintenance have all contributed. The public has responded; we have more bikes out there than ever before.

Let's do our part and help keep our visitors safe. When at an intersection with a crossing pathway, look both ways twice before leaving the intersection. When you stop at a red light, then get a go signal, please come to a full stop first, look for bicycles, and then go. At crosswalks, yield to bikes and pedestrians only when they are in, repeat, in the crosswalk, not standing by waiting to cross. Sudden stops by well-intended vehicles cause rear-end collisions. The active cyclists in spandex on our roads have a legal right to be there, so pass them when it's safe. And give them plenty of room.

When you are on a bike, ride predictably, stay to the right, call out or ring your bell when passing others, and ride defensively. Please, let's all pitch in and do our part. There is a lot of the summer left.

Frank Babel

Hilton Head Island

Editor's Note: Babel is chairman of the Town of Hilton Head Island's Bicycle Advisory Committee.