When can we use the bike paths on Hilton Head?

After Hurricane Matthew hit Hilton Head, the 64 miles of public bike paths stretching across the island have taken a backseat on the cleanup priority list.

“Our first priority was clearing the roads, so we had to push a lot of the debris to the pathways for the time being until we can dispose it,” Darrin Shoemaker, Hilton Head Island traffic and transportation engineer, said. “Some sections of the pathway are clear, while some are completely blocked off right now.”

Shoemaker said the town’s current focus on the bike paths is clearing and blocking off the sections that are a public safety concern.

“To my knowledge, there is no structural damage on the pathways,” Shoemaker said. “The issue is debris and obstacles blocking sight lines that make it dangerous.”

Shoemaker said the town doesn’t currently have an estimate on what percentage of the pathways are blocked, cluttered, or cleared.

“We have 64 miles of public pathway on Hilton Head, and about an equal amount of private pathways,” Shoemaker said. “Some plantations are more clear than others.”

Shoemaker said it would be several weeks before the pathways are clear.

“I wouldn’t recommend any recreational travel at this time,” Shoemaker said. “I wouldn't suggest it’s unsafe, but users need to be cautious.”

Shoemaker said several signs along the pathways were also destroyed during Hurricane Matthew.

“We will be fixing those (bike signs) as well, but we’re focused on replacing and fixing all the damaged street signs right now,” he said.

This story was originally published October 20, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "When can we use the bike paths on Hilton Head?."