In the state of Maine, there is legislation regarding an act to improve roadway safety and update bicycling laws. Although the legislation, L.D. #1808, hasn't completed its course through the statehouse,
it is so far in danger of being weakened. Thus far, the Maine House of Representatives has voted on it in a state that is weaker than its original language. It now faces the Maine Senate.

Major details of L.D. 1808 propose;

1. Require that motorists give three feet of clearance when passing bicyclists.
2. Allow motorists to cross the solid yellow centerline when safe to do so to pass bicyclists.
3. Clarify the requirement for bicyclists to ride to the right and give bicyclists some flexibility when
avoiding obstacles, glass, debris, drain grates, broken pavement, & right-turn lanes.
4. Strengthen Maine's bike helmet law for youths under age 16 with an enforcement option (i.e. 1st
offense; education, 2nd offense; $25 fine, that can be waived with proof of purchase of a
helmet).
5. Prohibit bicycle driving while under the influence of alcohol.
6. Provide a liability waiver for businesses with drive-up windows so they will be more likely to serve
bicyclists.
7. Separate bicycles from "toy vehicles" (skateboards, etc.) in Maine law.
8. Update the statute to include recumbent bicycles and other modern bicycle designs.

Full language of L.D. 1808 can be viewed at:
http.//janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/externalsiteframe.asp?
ID=280024789&LD=1808&Type=4SessionD=7

Although the house has voted on the bill today, the process isn't over in the senate and the more calls to state senators and house representatives can keep the bill alive in its original form. Contact your representatives and state senators of Maine and request that they support the Transportation Commitee's "Ought to pass" Report.

It's now up to you, Maine bicyclists.

maybe its a result of the foresterite VC'ists and foresters' work helping to finetune the anti bicycling efforts of the american dream coalition. www.americandreamcoalition.org

how anyone like forester, that calls themself a bicycle advocate, could be in bed with those people is beyond reproach.

Nice. It pretty much lays it out the way it should be.

You can have all the laws in the world, but until you are breeding creatures that are educated in them and care enough about others to be socially responsible, it won't do much good.

Enforecment of the laws we already have would be nice too.

Az

As an update, I learned late in the evening that contrary to original news, L.D. #1808 to improve roadway safety and update bicycling laws DID pass in the Maine House of Representatives 120 to 12 in its original language! It does still have to be passed by the Maine Senate to become law but it has survived intact so far.

If this thread did influence any of you Maine residents out there to contact your legislators to support the bill, thank you. If you haven't contacted your state senators yet, please do so. The process goes on.