Letter: Watch for Hilton Head cyclists during Easter week

Easter Week is arguably the single busiest week for bicyclists on Hilton Head Island. Here are some helpful safety tips.

When you drive up to a right-on-red turn signal or roadway intersection with a stop sign and crossing pathway, stop and look both ways twice before proceeding. And if there is a cyclist approaching or waiting, make eye contact and between you and them, make a joint decision about who goes first.

When you approach a crosswalk and see a waiting cyclist, avoid a rear-end collision and don’t stop: you have the right of way. The cyclist or pedestrian can wait for a traffic opening. If the cyclist or pedestrian is physically in the crosswalk, you must yield to them.

As you approach cyclists cycling in the roadway, remember, they are vehicles and have every right to be there even if there is an adjoining pathway. Be patient, share the road and pass them safely when there is ample room to do so. Our multi-use pathways are for recreational cyclists and pedestrians to share, not for the Spandex riders who are experienced, ride at speed and are out for serious exercise.

Our visitors are here to explore, experience and enjoy their families, our world class bikeways system, our beaches, the beauty of nature and all that our island has to offer. So please be patient, courteous and understanding residents of our nationally recognized bike friendly community.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Letter: Watch for Hilton Head cyclists during Easter week."