(PORTLAND, Maine) May 2: The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) is hosting Bike Day at the Capitol on May 4th at the Statehouse in Augusta. The Coalition is bringing back this popular event to raise awareness in the legislature and beyond of the needs and concerns of people walking and bicycling in Maine. All interested members of the public who bike, walk, and roll are invited to join Coalition staff and members to show state officials that they support investments in education and infrastructure. The event will take place rain or shine and all are welcome!
The event will include activities to engage participants directly with issues and movements in Maine’s active transportation scene. Attendees will be able to try out an e-bike, join us on a walk audit or bike ride, and hear members of the BCM, Maine DOT, and legislators speak about efforts related to bike/ped safety and infrastructure here in Maine. We’re looking forward to a fantastic spring day to share the work we are doing, and to get some folks out on bikes and walks.
Thursday, May 4, 2023:
- 11:30 a.m. – Ride to the Capitol. Meet at the parking lot at State and Manley Streets at 11:15 and we will leave promptly at 11:30 for a short ride to the Capitol
- 12:00 p.m. – Press conference in the courtyard between the State House and the Cross Building
- Jean Sideris, Executive Director of the BCM
- Joyce Taylor, Chief Engineer of the MaineDOT
- State Senator Mattie Daughtry
- State Representative Melanie Sachs
- 12:30-1:30 p.m – Walk audit in Augusta OR bike/e-bike ride to Hallowell & back on the Kennebec River Trail
- 12:30-2:30 p.m – Electric-bike demos
There are dozens of bicycle and pedestrian related bills moving through the legislature this year. Among the BCM’s top priorities are passing bills to:
- require one hour of age-appropriate traffic safety education per year in grades 2-12 (LD 730);
- add electric bikes to the Efficiency Maine Trust rebate program (LD 256);
- introduce first of its kind regulations on “micromobility” devices (LD 1780);
- create a $30million Trails Bond to provide funds for design, development, and maintenance of motorized, non-motorized, multi-use, and active transportation trails (LD 1156)
Learn more at https://www.bikemaine.org/advocacy/legislative-work/131st-legislature/
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is the statewide voice of cyclists and pedestrians. Since 1992, the BCM has led the effort to make Maine better for bicycling and walking by protecting the rights and safety of cyclists and pedestrians through education, advocacy, legislation, and encouragement. We support biking and walking for health, transportation, and recreation. For more information, visit www.bikemaine.org.