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THE VOICE OF BICYCLISTS IN MAINE
SPRING 2011
Women’s Ride Draws Wide Spectrum of Cyclists
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Tenth Annual Women’s Ride on June 5 in Freeport
will draw the full spectrum of women cyclists. Some riders plan to spend a leisurely morning biking, chatting and enjoying a massage with their
girlfriends. Others use the event as part of their summer training
regime for upcoming triathlons and long distance events.
Ride last spring, her first biking event. The day before the ride, she drove the
route. “I was a ‘basket case’ after seeing all the hills,” she admits.
On the day of the Women’s Ride, “I did my best to ignore my nerves – but a
funny thing happened as we turned onto Route 1,” Lepage recalls. “I felt a
calmness in that here I was finally doing what I had visualized for so long,
and here was my opportunity to achieve the last goal.”
Women can choose from four distance options - from five miles to
50. The ride begins and ends at L.L. Bean’s Casco Conference Center.
The Blueberry Pancakes steel drum band from Portland will be on
hand to entertain participants. At the ride’s conclusion, cyclists can
enjoy a light breakfast, massage, yoga and health screenings.
“I was so ecstatic as I pulled into the (L.L. Bean) conference center at the
end of the ride,” she says. “This was such a big personal accomplishment
for me.”
Lepage’s success at the Women’s Ride encouraged her to take on more bicycling challenges last summer. She rode in three other events, including
50 miles in the Granite State Wheelmen Seacoast Century Ride.
If you are wondering whether you can complete the ride, draw
inspiration from Emily Lepage of Wolfeboro Falls, New Hampshire.
She took up biking five years ago, at the age of 61.
Emily Lepage
Lepage slowly built up to riding 10 miles a day on a local trail, until health problems forced her to stop in 2008.
“During my long recovery, I stayed focused by reading many biking books and
magazines and setting new goals for myself,” Lepage said. By the fall of 2009, she
was able to start spinning classes. She bought a road bike a year ago and set to
overcome her fear of biking on the road.
Lepage found a friend to ride with, and she signed up for the 25-mile Women’s
She’s kept up her training this winter by taking spinning classes and
lifting weights for the first time. And she’s planning to return to Freeport for the
Women’s Ride on June 5. “The Women’s Ride will always be a meaningful way for
me to start each new season,” she says.
If you still are wavering about taking on the challenge, Lepage has some final
words of advice: “You are never too old to become a ‘biker-chick!’”
For more information about the Women’s Ride and registration forms, please visit
www.BikeMaine.org.
Hamilton College student McKayla Dunfey, from Cape Elizabeth, spent 11 weeks biking in
Europe. Read about her research on bicycling infrastructure on page 10.
in this issue
COMPONENTS
THE RIDE
Zümvelo Gets Youth on Mt. Bikes
Coalition Expands Education Programs
A Beloved “Victory Bike”
Meet Maine’s DOT Commissioner
A Visit to Bicycle Heaven
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10
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Nancy Grant’s First Director’s Column
Upcoming Events
Spotlight on Back Bay Bicycle
Ask the Experts
Cadillac Challenge Joins Yellow Jersey Club
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Zümvelo Gets Young People on Mountain Bikes
A youth mountain biking club called Zümvelo will resume weekly rides later this month
at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal. The Maine Winter Sports Center’s Healthy
Hometowns program started the club last summer as a way to get young people
outdoors and physically active.
The club is open to elementary and middle school students of “all ages, all abilities” as
well as their parents and adult friends, said Connor Cushman, the
organizer. The Wednesday evening rides last about
an hour. There is no charge other than park
admission.
Cushman, 24, works year-round for Healthy
Hometowns. In the winter, he focuses on the
group’s cross-country skiing program for young people.
Last spring, he started Zümvelo as a way to encourage
more youth to try mountain biking. He figured that they
would enjoy the sport more if they were riding with their
peers on nice trails in a beautiful park.
One of last summer’s most popular rides took place on a rainy day. “The kids
were having a ball, sliding around every turn, hitting every mud puddle,” said
Cushman. “I’m not sure their parents were very happy with me.”
Cushman hopes to expand the program this year to include a second ride each
week, at a location that changes from time to time. That would allow more
young people to participate since they wouldn’t have to travel so far. He also
hopes to start a beginning road ride for parents and young people.
Some children who want to participate in the club
rides don’t have mountain bikes or helmets. Cushman
tries to find equipment for them to borrow. “My dream
goal is to have a small fleet of bikes to lend or lease out
to kids,” he said.
In case you are wondering how the club got its name,
it comes from a healthy energy snack, Zümbits, made
by a Yarmouth company. The company was founded
with a mission of promoting physical activity among
youth. Owners Bjorn and Amy Laukli have participated
in some of the Bradbury Mountain rides with their
children and they’ve donated snacks to the club.
“It started out slowly,” said Cushman. But the group eventually
grew to as many as 17 children and adults, including a group of Wiscasset
elementary students who came with their school nurse.
Connor Cushman
Cushman requires that everyone wear a helmet. He demonstrates safety tips, such as
how to use brakes properly and how to deal with loose gravel on the trail.
If you are interested in finding out more about
Zümvelo, e-mail Cushman at [email protected]. He will put your name
on a listserve to receive detailed information about the rides. (The Wednesday
ride’s start time changes depending on daylight.) He also hopes to start a blog
for the club.
Then, they take off. Even young people who haven’t ridden much before quickly pick it
up. When Cushman tells them how far they have ridden, they feel proud, he said.
Cushman could use adult volunteers. If you can help, contact him at the address above.
“A lot of the riders hadn’t been mountain biking on trails,” Cushman said.
“They’d just gone on dirt roads in their neighborhoods.”
Coalition Offers New Education Programs
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s education program has gone through some changes over the last year. This spring, we will roll out some new offerings alongside some of
the old favorites.
The bread and butter program of the coalition, our school-based bicycle education program, now includes a larger pedestrian component to make sure that kids know how
to walk and ride safely on our roadways. Urge the staff at your local schools to schedule a presentation by visiting: http://maine.gov/mdot/bikeped/saferoutes/training/.
The coalition’s other kids’ programs are moving toward more experiential learning models. In response to demand for information about bicycle safety fairs or “rodeos,”
the coalition is planning a regional bicycle safety rodeo training for the spring. Check http://www.bikemaine.org/trainingschedule for details. Interest also is high in our
Youth Bike Club program, which teaches kids about safe riding by taking them on bike rides led by trained instructors. Clubs are planned for Portland, Topsham, Yarmouth
and beyond.
But it’s not all kid stuff! This year, the coalition will offer several adult options, too. A new Adult Bike Club program is designed to get new or returning riders comfortable
getting back on a bike. Short riding sessions will provide tips on how to handle a bike, ride in traffic, dress, etc. Spandex is prohibited!
The other exciting adult program is our Worksite Bicycle Safety Education Program, which offers guidance to businesses that want to promote bicycling at their worksites.
Whether the aim is to improve employees’ health or to encourage bicycle commuting as part of a “greener” worksite culture, our program provides practical advice and
information for everyone from wobbly newbies to aspiring triathletes. Talk to your worksite wellness coordinator and urge him or her to set up a session!
For more information about the educational programs offered by the coalition, or to get involved, please visit http://www.bikemaine.org/what-we-do/education or
contact Jim Tasse, the coalition’s education director, at [email protected].
PAGE 2
www.BikeMaine.org
Spring 2011
Photo courtesy of Sarah McGuire
Chip Howe, a respected Maine State Police lieutenant, worked with the Bicycle Coalition
of Maine to educate law enforcement officers about bicycling laws and sharing the road.
Remembering Chip Howe
by Jeffrey Miller Bicycle Coalition of Maine Executive Director, 1996-2008
Since the early days of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, one of our goals was
to educate law enforcement officers about laws related to bicycling and
sharing the road. No one did more to advance this goal than Maine State
Police Lieutenant Chip Howe, who died in January at age 59.
I first met Chip after teaching a “Bicycle Safety and the Law” class at the
Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro about seven years ago. Chip
was the commanding officer of the state police training division, and he
also was a passionate cyclist. Through his efforts over the following years,
he would help take our law enforcement training to a whole new level.
When Chip greeted me that spring morning, I was struck by his friendly and
inclusive demeanor. He introduced me to key staff members, showed me
around the amazing facility and explained how excited he was to have us
there to expand upon their core training program.
After the class, Chip floored me by making an incredible offer. He
explained that he planned to retire in the next year and that he was very
impressed with the Bicycle Coalition’s work. Then, he said that he’d like to
work with us to help teach more Bicycle Safety and the Law classes.
From the very first course that I taught with Chip, I realized that I had won the “working-with-the-coolest-guy”
lottery. Walking into the Portland Police Department,
I discovered I was hanging with arguably the most
popular policeman in Maine. Everyone knew Chip and
every officer’s face lit up when he approached.
Chip Howe
Two years earlier, we held a class in Portland and not a single officer from the city’s police department
participated. But that changed completely when Chip became involved.
Chip quickly became my trusted advisor and dear friend. As a bicycle advocate, I had a lot to learn
about how to teach police effectively. When Chip taught with me, it was like a magic wand had been
waved. It was crystal clear that every police officer had the highest respect and admiration for him.
There have been several key police officers over the last decade who advanced the coalition’s work and
helped train more police. But Chip was our greatest champion. He leaves a widespread legacy across
Maine in the enlightened knowledge and actions of hundreds of law enforcement professionals.
Thank you, Chip, for all that you did to make the roads of Maine safer for all cyclists. And thank you for
being the coolest guy and making it so much fun.
A Beloved “Victory Bike”
by Shoshana Hoose Communications Coordinator
The obituary of a South Portland woman who died
last fall caught my eye. The woman had been given
a Victory Bike while working as a “bookkeeping machine operator” at Maine Steel during World War II,
according to the obituary. She was so proud of that
bicycle that she kept it until her death at age 91.
I had never heard of a Victory Bike, but I was eager
to learn more. Was this an attempt by the federal government to encourage bicycle riding as a way to save energy,
along the lines of World War II victory gardens?
Kathryn DiPhilippo, director of the South Portland Historical
Society, told me that Maine Steel was located in the Ferry
Beach neighborhood of South Portland, near the shipyards
that built Liberty ships for the war effort. But she was
stumped when I first asked about Victory Bikes. “I’ve seen Victory badges
and pins, have talked about Victory gardens, but hadn’t heard of Victory
bikes,” she acknowledged.
After some research, DiPhilippo referred me to a good source of information, “Bicycle: The History” by David V. Herlihy (2004, Yale University Press).
With rubber and steel in short supply during World War II, the federal
government encouraged people to ride bicycles rather than cars for transportation, Herlihy wrote. The U.S. Office of Project Management allowed
Spring 2011
manufacturers to produce 750,000 bicycles in 1942 for this purpose.
Bicycle companies produced just two, stripped-down adult models, one for each
gender. Both were called Victory Bikes. Because they lacked a lot of the gadgets on
earlier bicycles, they weighed considerably less, about 34 pounds. They also were
priced affordably, at about $1 a pound.
“With automobile production suspended during the war, and the existing fleet shrinking daily in the midst of a shortage of spare parts and tires, the American public relied
increasingly on the bicycle for everyday transport,” Herlihy wrote. “In Chicago, dealers quadrupled
their sales. Across the nation, bicycle racks sprang up…Cities and utility companies sharply
curtailed motorized travel and encouraged their workers to make their rounds on bicycles. Even
the armament workers who churned out tanks and airplanes dutifully cycled to work.”
Photos courtesy Cole Land Transportation Museum
Herlihy noted that some offices allowed women to wear
slacks if they arrived on bike. I wonder if the South Portland woman did so. I wish I could find out more about
her bicycle commute during the 1940s.
If you live in the Bangor area, you can get a first-hand look at a Victory Bike at the Cole Land
Transportation Museum. A rusty, black Schwinn hangs from the museum’s ceiling. The bicycle was
purchase from Bicycle Sales Company in Boston for $32.50 on October 30, 1942. The original owner’s
son donated it to the museum.
I love the patriotic sound of “Victory Bike.” Maybe we should ask our congressional representatives to
promote a federal “Victory Bike” campaign now as a way to promote energy independence.
www.BikeMaine.org
PAGE 3
From the President
Board of Directors
President
John Wright, Woolrich
Past President
John Balicki, Brunswick
Treasurer
John Wright, Woolrich
Secretary
Mark Ishkanian, Readfield
Our Coalition is in Tiptop Shape
I want to formally welcome Nancy Grant, our new executive director, and say
goodbye to Allison Vogt, our former director. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s
change in leadership was nearly seamless. It helped that Nancy had been a
board member for the last five years, serving as president for the last two.
Additionally, there was a planned period of overlap between the two directors
to fully orient Nancy. In other words, we were able to swap riders without
stopping the bike.
We wish Allison the best in her new position in Washington, D.C. and we
recognize all of her accomplishments in her tenure at the coalition. I don’t have
the space to list all that she did. But I can sum it up by saying that she left an
organization that is stronger in many areas than when she arrived. The coalition is poised to move ahead
and to focus on our mission of making Maine a better place to bicycle. Thank you, Allison.
To give a quick snapshot of the coalition, our organization is robust. We are financially sound. We are in
year two of a five-year strategic plan. We have a committed board.
Most importantly, we have a solid membership base that contributes both dollars and thousands of
volunteer hours per year. Without the income we receive from membership and donations, we would not
be viable. Without the volunteer hours, our activities would be miniscule.
As an example of the dedication of our members, we were touched and honored to be named as beneficiary of in-memoriam gifts following the recent loss of two of our members.
Looking ahead, each of you is a huge resource for making Maine a better place to bicycle. Each of you bicycles in your own way for your own reasons. Think about being a better bicycle ambassador. Remember
that not everyone may believe as strongly as you in the benefits of bicycling. Encourage someone to take
up cycling again. Help someone ride a longer distance. Show someone a good bike route. Buy a child a
helmet (or a bike and a helmet!). Model safe riding. Making Maine a better place to bicycle means different things to different people, but there are common threads. Safety is universal. Having more people
cycling raises awareness and benefits everyone.
As always, we like to hear from you, and we thank you for your support. Enjoy your rides!
David Auclair, Winthrop
John Brooking, Westbrook
Richard Cleary, Houlton
Phil Coffin, Carrabassett Valley
Charley LaFlamme, Founder, Moody
Dana McEwan, Portland
Laurie McReel, Oakland
Julie Osgood, Portland
Dean Read, Bar Harbor
Fred Robie, Freeport
Larry Rubinstein, Scarborough
Jane Self, Camden
Nancy Stowell White, Hanover
Advisory Board
Kathryn Buxton
SW Collins Company
Dana Connors
Maine Chamber and Business Alliance
J. Scott Davis
Board of Overseers
Greg Dore
Skowhegan Road Commission
Jill Goldthwait
Jackson Lab
Ed Miller
American Lung Association of Maine
John Melrose
Maine Tomorrow
Michael Povich
Vaughn Stinson
Maine Tourism Association
Will Thomas
Tri-Maine Productions
Eliza Townsend
Maine Department of Conservation
Paul Violette
Happy cycling,
Buxton Communications
Gregg Collins
Maine Turnpike Authority
Eric Weinrich, Yarmouth
Portland Pirates
Ellen Wells
Inland Hospital, Waterville
Staff
Nancy Grant
John Wright
Board President
Executive Director
[email protected]
Jim Tasse
Education Director
[email protected]
Shoshana Hoose
Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
Maine Cyclist is published by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, a nonprofit organization working since 1992 to make Maine a better place to
bicycle. The coalition advocates for Maine cyclists at the Legislature and in Washington, D.C., teaches bicycle safety to thousands of Maine
schoolchildren each year, partners with state agencies on a Share the Road media campaign and serves as a resource on local bicycling issues.
Darcy Whittemore
Maine Cyclist is printed four times a year. Submissions of writing or artwork are encouraged and should be sent to the coalition at
PO Box 5275, Augusta, Maine 04332 or emailed to [email protected].
Central Maine Safe Routes Coordinator
[email protected]
Sarah Cushman
Southern Maine Safe Routes Coordinator
[email protected]
Cecelia Garton
The coalition reserves the right to edit to fit budget and space requirements.
Newsletter Team: Shoshana Hoose, Editor and Melissa Arndt, Layout/Design
PAGE 4
www.BikeMaine.org
Office Manager
[email protected]
Spring 2011
Coalition Interviews MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt
MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt talked about his connection to bicycles
and his views on bicycle-related issues in this interview with Shoshana Hoose, the
coalition’s communications coordinator. The interview was conducted in mid-February, just a day after the Maine Senate unanimously approved his appointment as the
department’s commissioner.
Bernhardt has worked for MaineDOT since
1984. He was the director of engineering
and operations when Governor Paul LePage
picked him to head the agency. Earlier in
his career, Bernhardt served on one of the
first state committees to review bicycle infrastructure. He also played a role in setting
state standards for the width of shoulders
on rural roads.
Do you and/or your family members
bike? If so, where and how often?
I’ve got to believe that we will continue to see improvements in that. I couldn’t begin
to tell you how much…
We’re just now getting our numbers for our budget. With that said, (Maine) will
always continue to be out in front.
For years, until we had a (state bicycle-pedestrian)
coordinator, I played some part in bicycle issues. Back
then, because of what I was doing with highway design, my
role was setting design standards and policies that would
increase the ability to bike on our roads.
David Bernhardt
My kids do. They’re in college now. One’s in the Dominican Republic. So, (they don’t
do) so much biking now. Their bikes, they’re hanging up in my garage.
I used to do some biking. I haven’t for a while. There has always been interest…
Prior to the (formation of the Bicycle Coalition in 1992), I was (part of) one of the first
groups of people looking at biking throughout the state. I was the person from DOT.
For years, until we had a (state bicycle-pedestrian) coordinator, I played some part in
bicycle issues. Back then, because of what I was doing with highway design, my role
was setting design standards and policies that would increase the ability to bike on
our roads.
For instance, developing the shoulder paving policy. I played a part in that. We
started paving a lot more shoulders in the ’90s…
(There was discussion about minimum widths for shoulders, particularly on rural
roads with limited traffic.) It had a lot to do with cycling. (National standards set
wider shoulders for a lot of roads. In developing state standards), because of our
rural nature and low volume roads, we were able to narrow this down…but still
have cyclists and vehicles. Some of our roads in some of the design standards might
only have a two-foot shoulder, on very rural, low volume roads.
I read that you grew up in several places- different states and even a different country. What, if anything, did you experience or observe about bicycling
infrastructure in those various places?
As a kid, I did a lot of bicycling. Probably on my Stingray, with no helmet…
I have been in other states and I have seen some of these pedestrian-bicycle trails...
That probably started in the ’90s, an increase. We started seeing an increase in
people cycling (then).
Maine has made great strides in adding to its trail network in recent years
through opening or expansion of the Down East Sunrise Trail, the Kennebec
River Rail Trail, the Eastern Trail and the Maine Mountain Division Trail, among
others. MaineDOT has been involved in all of those projects. What are your
thoughts about Maine’s trail development going forward?
Certain federal dollars (such as Transportation Enhancement funds), we would
continue spending on that and we would match it with the necessary funds. The
Department of Transportation will continue to work with the Bicycle Coalition of
Maine and cyclists in improving those trails….
A lot of cyclists like to be on the roads. If we can make improvements there while we
are doing paving or construction, that’s a lot of times where you can get a lot of bang
for the buck.
Bicycling generates millions of tourism dollars in Maine each year. There is the
potential to increase that amount substantially, especially given Maine’s ranking as the third most bicycle friendly state in the country. Other states have
promoted bicycle tourism in ways that have reaped huge financial rewards.
For example, a recent study shows Wisconsin generates $1.5 billion in bicycle
tourism each year. Would you support having MaineDOT partner with Maine’s
tourism agencies and businesses to promote the state as a bicycling destination as a way to generate tourism and boost Maine’s economy?
I really haven’t thought about that. That is something we will look at, if we haven’t
started to do that.
What do you think is the best approach to improve the safety of bicyclists and
pedestrians?
I would have to say probably what (the coalition) is doing: education. Education
of your younger riders. If you can get to elementary students…even through high
school. For instance, like the seat belts, you start talking to them as kids, they don’t
have a problem with that…
There’s things from an engineering aspect that we can do - improve access, signage.
But I’ve got to believe a good piece of it is education (of cyclists and motorists.)
My kids, when they were going through drivers’ ed, I went to a couple of their classes.
They did talk about some of those things - driving through work zones or looking out
for bicyclists… To get more of that done would be good. (He notes that there was no
such discussion about sharing the road when he took drivers’ ed.)
You have a difficult job, balancing the need to fix and maintain Maine’s roads
and bridges while at the same time providing Mainers with a 21st century
transportation system that allows for safe access of all users. How will you
approach this challenge?
Continued on next page
Spring 2011
www.BikeMaine.org
PAGE 5
If any of your local legislators serve on the Transportation Committee, please reach out to
them. Let them know that you are a cyclist and interested in cycling issues.
Statehouse News
Meet the Transportation Committee
Most bills related to bicycling come before the Maine Legislature’s Transportation
Committee. The committee’s votes on bills carry a lot of weight with other lawmakers. Legislators have so many issues before them that they count on the expertise of
committee members to guide them.
mittee are new to that assignment. One reason is the change from Democratic to
Republican control of the Legislature. Another reason is that there are many new
faces in the Legislature. A third of all House members and 40 percent of senators
are serving in their first terms.
Public hearings and work sessions held by the Transportation Committee give the
public an opportunity to weigh in on the issues and to educate committee members.
This year, several of the representative and all of the senators serving on the com-
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine monitors all bicycle legislation as well as other,
related bills. We will send you updated information in our e-newsletters, and we
will encourage you to contact your elected representatives about bills of interest
to cyclists. If you don’t currently receive our e-newsletters and would like to do
so, please call the office (623-4511) or e-mail [email protected] with your
preferred e-mail address.
DOT Commissioner Interview
Continued from previous page
In the meantime, if any of your local legislators serve on the Transportation
Committee, please reach out to them. Let them know that you are a cyclist and
interested in cycling issues. Offer to serve as a sounding board for any bills that
come before their committee.
We’re going to take the funds that we have. We will prioritize. Typically you
would prioritize within categories. (For example, there is) a resource allocation for
highways, a resource allocation for bridges, bicycle and pedestrian projects, ports,
rail…(A lot of funding must be spent on a certain type of project. For example,)
you can’t spend highway funds on rail… You prioritize within (categories).
Transportation Committee Members:
I would take the kind of money we get through federal enhancement money (for
bike-ped projects) and whatever we have to match that…Whatever that dollar
amount is, then we would prioritize within that what we can do or where we put
the dollars.
Senator Ronald F. Collins (R-York), Chair
[email protected], 985-2485
Senator Douglas A. Thomas (R-Somerset)
[email protected], 277-3017
Of course, there’s a whole lot of planning that the Dan Stewarts* of the world have
done, basically setting up a candidates’ pool. From that candidates’ pool, you are
going to pick projects. (*Dan Stewart works for MaineDOT as the state’s bicycle
and pedestrian program manager.)
Senator Bill Diamond (D-Cumberland)
[email protected], 892-8941
Representative Richard M. Cebra (R-Naples), Chair
[email protected], 693-6782
What is the status of plans to replace Memorial Bridge between Portsmouth
and Kittery?
Representative Kimberley C. Rosen (R-Bucksport)
[email protected], 469-3779
(New Hampshire’s DOT put out a Request for Qualifications - or RFQ - for a designbuild firm to work on the project. New Hampshire has funding to move forward
but Maine does not.) They have the lead.
Representative James S. Gillway (R-Searsport)
[email protected], 548-6429
(In the upcoming budget process, MaineDOT will develop a work plan. The Maine
Legislature will approve a dollar figure for transportation projects. Then MaineDOT,
in consultation with the legislature’s Transportation Committee, will decide how
the money is spent.)
Representative Wayne R. Parry (R-Arundel)
[email protected], 286-9145
Representative Peter B. Rioux (R-Winterport)
[email protected], 223-4732
Representative Alexander Reginald Willette (R-Mapleton)
[email protected], 768-0164
(The Memorial Bridge project) is moving ahead in Maine. We are partners with
New Hampshire. We agreed for them to send the RFQ out.
Representative Edward J. Mazurek (D-Rockland)
[email protected], 594-5647
Is there anything else that you would like to add about your views on bicycling in Maine?
Representative George Hogan (D-Old Orchard Beach)
[email protected], 934-0492
Representative Ann E. Peoples (D-Westbrook)
[email protected], 856-7264
I definitely have played a part and would like to continue playing a part in making
Maine a place people like to come and bike. My sister and my brother-in-law and
their kids, they come every year and spend a week in Bar Harbor and that’s what
they do, they bike and kayak. They come up from Pennsylvania.
PAGE 6
Representative Charles Kenneth Theriault (D-Madawaska)
[email protected], 728-4526
www.BikeMaine.org
Spring 2011
My Love Affair with Bikes
by Nancy Grant Bicycle Coalition of Maine Executive Director
I love bikes. It all started 30 years ago, when my
husband surprised me at our wedding with two
new black Treks (Reynolds 531 tubing, with the
classic Shimano 600 component set), wrapped
with red handlebar tape and tied together in a
red bow. Since we hadn’t planned a honeymoon,
the gift was especially symbolic. I’ve been hopelessly romantic and idealistic about anything to
do with bikes ever since.
Riding that Trek, which I did for 24 years, (being too sentimental to replace
it), was phase one in my relationship with bicycles. I loved exploring new
places by bike, I loved riding as hard and as fast as I could and I loved how
efficient and simple my bike was.
The next phase started in 2000. I innocently proposed to members of the
town council in my hometown of North Yarmouth that we build a sidewalk
and shoulder on a two-mile stretch of the main road. Their initial reaction
wasn’t exactly enthusiastic. But five years later, our main road was much
friendlier to and safer for cyclists and walkers.
The process of changing our road taught me a lot. I learned about transportation policy and funding, local town administration and politics and the
importance of collaboration and communication in effecting change.
One bonus of that project was that I learned about the Bicycle Coalition of
Maine. That started the third phase of my bicycle life. Through the coalition, I became aware of the local and national bicycle movement and the
many dimensions therein.
I joined the coalition’s board in 2005. The more time I spent involved with the organization,
the more interested I became in the work. When Allison Vogt announced in October that
she would be leaving her job as the coalition’s executive director, I simply had to apply.
I am honored to serve as the coalition’s third executive director. I look forward to working
with our members, legislators, the MaineDOT and other partners to make Maine better for
bicycling.
Now that I’m in the fourth phase of my life as a bicyclist, working for the coalition full-time,
my goal is to make Maine renowned for bicycling. To do that, we’ll need to make Maine
more bicycle-friendly at all levels. That will involve promotion, education, legislation and
infrastructure.
I hope to work closely with state tourism groups to better market Maine as a bicyclist’s
paradise. I want to expand our existing programming, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education and Safe Routes to School, to every county in the state. I also want to expand our new
Worksite Bicycle Program, which encourages bicycle commuting.
I would like bicycling to be included in any conversation that is addressing health, environmental, transportation and economic development issues. I believe that bicycles can be a
part of the solution for almost any problem. I appreciate your support of the work we do
and welcome conversations with you about how we can pursue our mission.
Just in case you’re wondering what happened to my first Trek, here’s the story: When my son
moved to New York City four years ago, I let him take the black Trek, despite the numerous
stories about the bike theft problem there. He rode around with two heavy chains over his
shoulders and a U-lock in his pack. But the bike was never stolen.
Maybe because he etched on the top tube: “Please don’t steal this bike- it’s my mom’s.”
How’s that for romantic?
Studies Show Effectiveness of Laws
Requiring Bicycle Helmets
A national survey and an international study show that laws requiring the use of bicycle helmets
encourage more people, especially children, to wear helmets. Maine law requires cyclists under 16
years old to wear helmets and parents can face a fine for repeated violations.
A parental survey conducted by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan found that
states with helmet laws have helmet use of 54 percent for children ages four to 17. By comparison,
states without such laws have helmet use of only 24 percent for that age group.
The 2009 survey found that older children (ages 12-17) were less likely to wear bicycle helmets than
younger children (ages four-11), that helmet use declined along with family income and that the vast
majority of parents (86 percent) support mandatory helmet laws. Parents said the main reason why
their child did not wear a helmet was that he or she didn’t like doing so.
A review of 12 studies in four countries about bicycle helmet laws found that helmet usage increased
after such laws were passed. While the impact of mandatory helmet laws varied, all boosted helmet
usage, according to a 2006 article in “Injury Prevention.” In some cases, helmet wearing increased by
more than 30 percent after mandatory laws took effect. The article found that mandatory laws are
particularly effective for children.
Spring 2011
www.BikeMaine.org
PAGE 7
Upcoming Events
Commute Another Way to Work on May 16-20
Mainers will get to work by bicycling, walking, rollerblading, kayaking and lots of other creative
ways during the week of May 16-20. The annual Commute Another Way Week is organized by Go
Maine Commuter Connections. Find out more at http://gomaine.org.
The League of American Bicyclists is promoting the entire month of May
as National Bike Month. May 16-20 is National Bike-to-Work Week and
May 20 is Bike-to-Work Day. Find out more at http://www.bikeleague.
org/programs/bikemonth.
Brunswick Ride Honors Cyclists Injured and Killed on the Road
The Sixth Annual Ride of Silence on May 18 at 7 p.m. in Brunswick honors bicyclists who have
been injured or killed while biking. The ride helps raise awareness about the need to share the
road. Similar events will take place that day around the world.
Sponsored by Merrymeeting Wheelers Bicycle Club,
the ride begins at the Gazebo on Brunswick’s Park
Row and follows a 10-mile route through Brunswick
and Topsham.
Photos courtesy of Tony Barrett
The Ride of Silence is free and open to all cyclists of
all ability levels. The only requirements are that riders remain silent, travel no faster than 12 miles per
hour and wear a helmet. Lights and black armbands
are recommended. Riders should arrive by 6:50 p.m.
Come to Rockland on July 23 for the
Maine Lobster Ride & Roll
The Maine Lobster Ride & Roll will take place on July 23, beginning
and ending at Oceanside High School (formerly Rockland District
High School). The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s premiere event
features beautiful bicycling through farm country and along the
Maine coast plus a freshly made lobster roll lunch.
The ride has four distance options: 16, 30, 50 or 100 miles. All
pass spectacular scenery, including Marshall Point Lighthouse. All
routes have support vehicles and rest stops. Riders receive a rousing welcome when they return to the high school for a delicious
lunch that includes tuna and veggie options.
Preregistration rates are $65 (members) or $85 (public rate,
including a six-month trial membership in the Bicycle Coalition
of Maine), with lower rates for children. The Maine Lobster Ride
& Roll supports the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s work to improve
bicycling in Maine.
For more information and to see a video of the ride, please visit
www.BikeMaine.org or call (207) 623-4511.
For more information, please contact Tony Barrett at
833-0939, e-mail mainegreenways@suscom-maine.
net or visit www.rideofsilence.org.
The Maine Lobster Ride & Roll includes a stop
at world-famous Marshall Point Light.
PAGE 8
www.BikeMaine.org
Spring 2011
New Coastal Bike Tour Benefits Bicycle Coalition
Summer Feet Cycling in Portland is offering a new,
coastal bicycle tour that will benefit the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. The Pedal the Coast camping tour on
September 4-10 will go from Boothbay Harbor to Bar
Harbor, ending on the summit of Cadillac Mountain.
75! You can compete on road bikes, single-speeds, mountain bikes or time trial
bikes. Time trials are the perfect opportunity to stay strong and healthy and
measure your fitness while doing so.
The tour, for moderate and advanced cyclists, will cover 50 to 70 miles per day.
The route passes through many scenic coastal towns, with only 10 miles on Route
One. Special attractions include 12 lighthouses, Penobscot Narrows Bridge, Acadia
National Park, a private sunset sail on a classic wooden schooner and a lobster feast.
The series consists of 14 races held throughout the summer on fantastic venues all
over the state, from Presque Isle to Mt. Agamenticus, Fryeburg to Bar Harbor and
many places in between. This year, we have added a few new events that are sure
to be both challenging and rewarding. Whether you are a highly talented racer or
a recreational cyclist just entering the competitive scene, time trialing is a perfect
opportunity to participate in a race.
The price of $1,195 per person includes six dinners and six breakfasts, six nights of
camping, experienced guides, detailed route notes and maps, van support including
fresh water, ample snacks, and mechanical support, souvenirs, daily transfer of luggage and camping gear and all lodging taxes and gratuities.
Riders can compete in as many races as they choose. In order to qualify for series
prizes, riders must participate in a minimum of four races. Riders will accumulate
points for each race they compete in, with their top eight scores counting towards
their overall score. The better you place, the more points you receive.
Find out more at http://www.summerfeet.net/trips/pedal-the-coast-camping/.
The male and female with the highest points at the end of the season will receive
the highly coveted perpetual trophies. In addition, top placers in all divisions
will win prizes at individual races as well as at the year-end celebration. We also
offer fabulous raffle prizes at all of the races and at the end of the year, giving all
participants a chance to win regardless of how fast you are.
Maine Time Trial Series Kicks Off 2011 Season
By Carol Meader / Maine Time Trial Series Coordinator
The racing season is about to begin, and you will not want to miss this year’s Maine
Time Trial Series.
Time trials are races averaging 16 miles. Competitors start separately at 30-second
intervals. Rather than racing in a group, which can be dangerous at high speeds,
each cyclist rides solo and races against the clock. This makes time trials
much more fun for those who want the challenge of measuring their
performance throughout the season without having to worry about
the intricacies of pack riding.
Along with the commitment of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, we are fortunate
to have many of our local bike shops and clubs sponsoring these races. Our race
directors and their teams of dedicated volunteers work hard to ensure the courses
are safe and the races are well run, fun events. For a schedule of this year’s races,
please visit MaineTTSeries.com. We look forward to seeing you at the races!
photos by Chris Linscott
Men and women of all ages
can race. Last year, we had
10 competitors under 17
years old and three above
u Chessell McGee of
Cumberland won her
first women’s title in
the 2010 Maine Time
Trial Series.
Spring 2011
t Fred Thomas of Cape
Elizabeth won the overall
men’s title in the 2010
Maine Time Trial Series for
the fourth year in a row.
www.BikeMaine.org
PAGE 9
Ideas from Away
A Visit to Bicycle Heaven
by McKayla Dunfey Cape Elizabeth college junior
I feel most alive while riding my bike. I think up my most creative ideas, appreciate Nature, push my physical limits and test my mental endurance. While riding,
I’m happiest.
While many of my college friends decided to study abroad for a semester, I chose
to bike abroad with two friends. Last September, we embarked on an 11-week
tour of Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland that spanned
nearly 3,000 kilometers.
I’ve become exceedingly concerned about America’s carbon footprint since
becoming an environmental studies major at Hamilton College. After seeing
how well Europeans use cycling to help reduce their negative impacts on the environment, I’ve come home invigorated to help increase the popularity of bicycle
commuting and recreation in the United States. The bicycle culture in cities like
Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva and Barcelona offers many lessons about how to help
create bicycle-friendly communities.
The city also has taken steps to solve Amsterdam’s bike theft problem. Amsterdam
now has a Bicycle Theft Prevention Team. Bike owners register their bikes with the
city, engraving special codes in bike frames and collaborating with bike shops to
make sure mechanics don’t repair, buy or resell stolen bikes. All new bicycles now
have individual codes, and some have micro-chips that can track a bicycle’s location.
Photos courtesy of McKayla Dunfey
We began our trip in Amsterdam,
the world’s most bike friendly city.
We found guarded parking lots
completely full of bikes, wide bike
lanes on every street, bike traffic lights
at every intersection, bike shops on
every block and permanent bike racks
built into the sides of many apartment
buildings.
Since 2007, Amsterdam has added 250 kilometers of bike paths and lanes, more
than doubling the city’s total. That makes cycling safer and more accessible.
City and suburban planners pack homes, stores, schools and workplaces closely
together, making bike travel the easiest and fastest mode of transportation.
Bicycles, rather than cars, create traffic
jams in the streets of Amsterdam. City
biking isn’t a dangerous feat for only daring souls, but rather a habitual routine
for everyone. Wake up, put on your suit and tie, grab your briefcase, hop on your
cruiser bike and pedal to your office. No big deal.
Cars are restricted in many central areas and parking spots are expensive. Amsterdam introduced a program where commuters can drive to the edge of the city, park
their cars, rent a bike for the price of their parking fee and finish their daily work
commute by bicycle.
Bram, a Dutch bike mechanic, told us that he doesn’t have a driver’s license
because it’s easier to bike everywhere. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time
he rode in a car.
In 2007, the Dutch traveled by bike for work, school, shopping and recreation 27
percent of the time. By comparison, Americans only used bikes for 1 percent of
those trips.
Bike commuting in Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ largest city, is no recent trend.
In 1955, bicycle travel made up 75 percent of all Dutch travel. By 1975, suburban
sprawl and increasing car ownership pushed the percentage down to 25 percent.
In the late 1970s, Amsterdam’s city council chose to improve bicycle transportation as a means to solve the city’s pressing transportation problems. Since then,
bicycle use has risen while automobile transport remains unchanged.
PAGE 10
Amsterdam transportation officials consider non-motorized modes of transport as
their primary area of focus. The city spends millions of euros each year on building
secure bicycle parking lots, improving traffic safety by decreasing speed limits in
neighborhoods, decreasing riders’ waiting time at bicycle street intersections and
teaching children and immigrants about bike safety.
In the Netherlands, people of all ages and income levels ride bicycles. Women
and the elderly are just as likely to ride as young men. Why? There are safe riding
conditions with statistics to prove it.
The Netherlands has the lowest cycling fatality rates worldwide. Between 2002
and 2005, the Netherlands suffered an average of 1.1 fatalities per 100 million
kilometers cycled, compared to the 3.6 for the United Kingdom and 5.8 for the U.S.
The Netherlands attracts a lot of bicycle tourists because of its national bike
trail system with more than 4,500 kilometers of trails. The flat terrain and short
distances between biker-friendly accommodations and services add to the appeal.
We all wished we had spent more than just three days in the world’s most bikefriendly country.
Read a longer version of this story with more photos at www.BikeMaine.org. The full
story includes extensive footnotes from McKayla’s research about bicycle infrastructure.
www.BikeMaine.org
Spring 2011
Time for Cyclists to Get Involved!
by Bob Bruce Bicycle Coalition Member
As a cyclist and bicycle advocate in the Brunswick/Topsham/Bath area for
many years, I have seen great things happen:
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has been involved in many of those projects and others
to promote bicycling facilities, laws, policies and safety education.
• The Brunswick Recreation Commission is promoting bicycling and
walking as part of its activities.
• Topsham has formed a committee to deal with
the trails in that town.
• A nearly completed feasibility study is looking
at the possibility for extending the Kennebec
River Trail to Topsham.
• Cycling already is taking place at the former
Brunswick Naval Air Station, and plans are
underway to add more bicycling facilities there.
• Bath has formed a Bike/Ped Advisory Council to
assist the City Council.
• Building on last year’s success, the Maine Bike
Rally will return to Brunswick High School on
July 8-10.
Elsewhere in Maine, we also are making progress.
The 85-mile Down East Sunrise Trail in Hancock
and Washington counties was completed last
fall. The Eastern Trial Alliance continues to make
progress on plans for a 62-mile walking/biking
off-road trail from Kittery to South Portland.
Maine’s largest city has hired the state’s first local
bike-pedestrian coordinator to oversee projects in
Portland.
The coalition’s first executive director, Jeff Miller, left big shoes to fill in 2008 when he
moved on to the top job at the Alliance for Bicycling and Walking in Washington, D.C.
Our next director, Allison Vogt,
wisely chose not to fill his shoes
but to wear her own. She
has left the coalition in better
(n) One who enters into or offers himself for a service of his own free will.
shape, just as Jeff did. I feel
confident that our third direcby Cecelia Garton Volunteer Coordinator
tor, Nancy Grant, will continue
to move our organization and
Volunteers are seldom paid, not because they are worthless, but because
the state in the right direction
they are priceless. We seek those who are priceless, our members, to help
for bicycling.
us make our upcoming events the best that they can be.
VOL-UN-TEER
We need your help for our Portland and Orono Bike Swaps (April 10 and
May 1, respectively), our Women’s Ride (June 5) and the Maine Lobster
Ride & Roll (July 23). We have many shoes to fill, and that is where our
membership comes in.
Be a part of something bigger, be an active member and volunteer. Help
us welcome riders, check in bikes, set up, tear down or assist wherever
your talents lie. You can sign up to volunteer online or call the office at
623-4511 and see where you can best be used.
Discover why some of the richest people on earth are not millionaires,
they are volunteers.
Maine Celebrates
Walk and Bike to School Week
I encourage all cyclists to join a
local advocacy group as well as
the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
Call and ask, “What can I do
to help?” These organizations
depend on our dues and our
hands.
Welcome to the Bicycle Coalition
of Maine’s New Members
We welcome these new household members
joining from mid-December through mid-February.
Maine’s Walk and Bike to School Week will be held
May 16 - 20. Many schools throughout the state will
participate in the event, which coincides with Maine’s
Commute Another Way Week. Some schools will hold
one-day celebrations, while others plan walk and
bike to school events for the whole week or month.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Safe Routes to School
webpage has many materials to help local programs
plan for Walk and Bike to School Week. You’ll also
learn about inspiring programs happening elsewhere
in Maine.
Visit www.bikemaine.org/what-we-do/education/safe-routes-to-school or e-mail saferoutes@
bikemaine.org for more information.
Spring 2011
We have new governments in
Maine and Washington, D.C.
That will bring new challenges.
It is time for cyclists to step up
and be heard, in a positive way.
Jennifer Snow & David Wilby Brunswick
Craig Freshley Brunswick
Rich & Diane Grieves Cumberland
Anonymous Bangor
Gary Shaffer & Sara Huston Topsham
Tiffany Stanley Gray
Paul Cereste Peaks Island
Sarah Lee Houston, TX
David LaBrance South Portland
Richard Brautigam Brunswick
John Lehmus Portland
Jim Coleman Columbus, OH
Stacy Meyer Waterville
Nathaniel Hutchings Lee
David Trecartin Westbrook
Betts Armstrong Scarborough
Matt Chrysler Buxton
Judy Blake Bar Harbor
Douglas Couper Falmouth
Frank Nejezchleba Gorham
Aba Mbirika Brunswick
Brent Jepson Caribou
Anna Bockis Pittsfield
www.BikeMaine.org
PAGE 11
Spotlight on Back Bay Bicycle
Cheryl Oliver began working as a bicycle mechanic about 30 years ago. “I didn’t have
a car and I rode my bike everywhere,” she said. “I decided it would be a good match.”
Cheryl Oliver opened
Back Bay Bicycle with her
husband, Andy, in 1987.
Oliver asked the owner of the Portland Bike Exchange to hire her. He didn’t give her
a definitive answer. But she quit her other job anyway and showed up at the Bike
Exchange one day, ready to work. She stayed there for the next six years, until the
exchange closed.
In 1987, Oliver and her husband, Andy, opened Back Bay Bicycle on Portland Street
near Bubba’s Sulky Lounge. Four years later, they moved to their current location on
Forest Avenue near the University of Southern Maine.
In the mid-1980s, Oliver recalled, “Everybody wanted mountain bikes…There was
no road bike market at all.” At the time, only mountain bikes allowed people to sit in
an upright position with their hands on the handlebars and brakes.
Oliver has seen the pendulum swing back to road bikes. Back Bay Bicycle caters to a lot of bicycle commuters
and many of them choose hybrids for city riding. The store sells Bianchi, Masi, Haro and Raleigh bicycles and
runs a full-service repair shop.
Why does Back Bay Bicycle support the Bicycle Coalition of
Maine as a business member?
The staff includes “a lot of people who use their bikes for transportation as well as competition,” said Oliver.
That helps them give customers “really competent information… so their cycling experience is safe and
something that they want to do,” she said.
“It just makes a lot of sense, if you’re trying to do bicycles as a
business or lifestyle,” Oliver said. “The coalition is definitely a
great organization to back you up,… to support bikes on the
road.”
Back Bay Bicycle has repair classes once a week covering topics such as how to fix a flat tire. The classes are free
for customers. Back Bay also has three or four weekly bike rides. The store serves as home base for the Community Cycling Club of Portland, a group that provides free helmets to schools and other area organizations.
Back Bay Bicycle is located at 333 Forest Avenue, Portland and at
www.backbaybicycle.com. The store can be reached at 773-6906
and by writing to [email protected].
Making a Difference
by Dan Stewart MDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager
The people I meet and work with on improving transportation and communities continually amaze me. As the letters,
emails, and phone calls come in daily, I am constantly
reminded of how much people care and how willing they
are to get involved. The planning process for transportation
improvements is a clear indicator and example of democracy
at work…if you get involved, you make a difference.
I receive email messages and phone calls each day from countless individuals
concerned about safety or wanting to find out more about our democratic process of
making improvements to our towns, cities, and roads. People volunteer on planning
or safety committees, donate funding to non-profits, show up and participate at public
meetings, organize bicycle safety events, or join with friends and sign up for organized
bike rides (like the Trek across Maine) that serve good causes.
MaineDOT is made up of individual people working hard each day to fulfill the
mission of improving and maintaining the transportation system. The cities, towns,
counties, planning agencies, construction and engineering firms, advocacy groups,
and citizen groups and committees that we work with are all made up of individual
people involved in transforming Maine. Non-profit coalitions like the Bicycle Coalition
of Maine represent people from throughout the state who give time, energy and
resources to make a difference. Organized bicycle and pedestrian committees can be
found statewide and they meet regularly to help improve the safety of those traveling
by foot, wheelchair, or bicycle.
PAGE 12
Working with people throughout Maine has shown me that it is through individual involvement that enables change that improves our communities, and our lives. People like
Allison Vogt and Nancy Grant, BCM’s recently departed and newly arrived leaders. People
like Tony Barrett of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Jonathan LaBonte of the Androscoggin Land Trust, Peter Garrett from Waterville, Sally Jacobs from Orono, Maggie Warren
from Hallowell, Tim Bolton from Augusta, the parents of children walking to school…I
could fill this newsletter with the names of people working hard, volunteering time, and
bringing smiling faces and energy to events, meetings, coalitions, and the world we live.
It’s really about the everyday people who care enough to get involved.
In a world of limited resources in which we all see things that could be better, some
people are finding ways to make the most of what we have to work with. Individuals have
continuously shown that they will stand up proud with others at events, or speak up resolutely (or nervously) at a public forum, or write letters in support (or against), or to simply
thank those who have listened or responded. They bring laughter, kindness, patience,
respect, and understanding to the public process, and make endless contributions to the
social fabric of our society.
“Individuals” are making a difference in Maine. It is for the benefit of people, both present and future, that these individuals have given their time and energy. Lives have been
saved, communities have been improved, school children have been taught how to walk
and bike safely, and all of us have benefitted from the people who get involved…like you.
Dan Stewart can be reached at 624-3252.
www.BikeMaine.org
Spring 2011
Ask the Experts
Charley LaFlamme and John Brooking Explain Rules of the Road
Making the Move to Bicycle Commuting
Maybe you’ve been cycling for years and have decided this is finally the year to try a new
kind of riding. Maybe you’ve watched gas prices rise and thought about that old bicycle in
your basement. Whatever your circumstance, will this be the year you try biking to work?
Bicycle commuting offers many options, starting with the structure of the commute itself.
If you live way too far to ride the whole round-trip every day, you might be able to drive or
take a bus part of the way.
What bike should you use? To start, almost any bike will do. It just needs to fit you and be
in good working shape, including both brakes and the gears (unless it is single-speed).
Beyond that, it depends on your route. A road bike is better for a long route. A hybrid is a
good combination of solid frame, a wider range of tire choices and more opportunities for
mounting racks or other accessories. Consider a recumbent if you have a commute that is
longer than you are physically comfortable doing on a traditional bike.
If you are on a knobby-tired mountain bike, you might want to switch to smoother road
tires to get less rolling resistance. If you plan to ride under less than ideal weather conditions, a second bike can be useful
for mounting fenders, and to keep
the primary bike from exposure
to the elements. A very valuable
bike is not recommended unless
you have secure indoor storage at
your workplace.
by releasing a quick-release front wheel or seat post and keeping it with you.
• Lights: These are required for riding after dark, which you probably will be doing
in late fall or early spring. It’s a good idea to always keep your lights on your commuting bike, or carry them with you. A white headlight is required in the front, and
a red taillight or reflector in back, both visible from 200 feet. Reflectors on pedals,
shoes or ankles and other reflective material is helpful, along with a high-visibility
jacket. See our column in the Winter 2011 edition of “Maine Cyclist” for more
details about lighting.
• Fenders: If you plan to ride in rain, you will come to really appreciate these. You can
get clip-on plastic fenders if you don’t want to run them all the time, or if your road
bike doesn’t support any others. Newer fenders can be very form fitting and light.
• Mirror: Many cyclists use a handlebar- or helmet-mounted mirror, but we recommend you also use the head turn for superior vision without blind spots. Practice
this in an empty parking lot to make sure you can do it without swerving.
• Tools: If you don’t already carry basic tools and a spare tube,
commuting is a good reason to start. Learn to change the tube; that
will make you more independent when you get the inevitable flat.
Many bike shops offer classes.
photo by Mary Brooking
• Phone, ID, cash, medical bracelet: Most commutes are
uneventful, but it’s always good to be prepared.
Think about what you need to
carry to and from work. Putting it
in a backpack is fine to start. But
sore shoulders and back sweat
are good reasons to upgrade to a
basket or pannier. Many kinds of panniers are available these days, including some with a
pouch for a laptop and some shaped like a standard grocery bag.
Other useful accessories include:
• Lock: The highest security is a combination of U-lock and cable through both wheels
and the frame. Don’t make the mistake of locking just the wheel to a rack, especially
with quick release wheels! You can help ensure your bike is not easy to ride off with
With a little preparation and forethought, commuting by bike can be
a rewarding activity, extending your ride time, fitness, gas savings
and peace of mind in the great Maine outdoors. You also are helping
everyone by creating less congestion and pollution. Will this be the
year you try it?
Read a longer version of this article with advice about clothing, routes and rules of the
road at www.BikeMaine.org.
Charley LaFlamme, the coalition’s founder and a longtime board member, is a League
Cycling Instructor (LCI) with more than 35 years of experience teaching bicycle safety to
children and adults. John Brooking also is an LCI and serves on the coalition board. Send
your questions about safe bicycle driving to [email protected] and they will be
answered in future columns.
Think Spring and Trek Training!
The Trek Across Maine on June 17-19 promotes a healthy lifestyle while boasting great food and fun. For thousands of cyclists and volunteers from across the United States, the
annual Trek is more than just a worthy fundraiser - it’s a three-day, traveling party from Sunday River to Belfast. With appropriate training, cyclists of all levels can take on the
challenge of the Trek. Bike shops often have scheduled training rides throughout the spring. From the novice cyclist to the expert - there are training rides out there for everyone! Charley LaFlamme, Bicycle Coalition of Maine board member and captain of the coalition’s Trek team, leads progressive training rides throughout the spring. Scheduled for
Saturdays at 8 a.m., the rides with Charley and his ever-changing group depart from the Wells train station. For more information, contact Charley at [email protected].
Do you have non-cyclist friends or family members who want to become involved with the Trek? There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities. Some require only a few hours,
while others last all three days of the Trek. Rest stop volunteers, route marshals, luggage loaders and many others are needed to make up our force of 750 volunteers for the
2011 Trek. Contact Kim Denbow ([email protected]) for more information about how you can become involved! To register for the Trek Across Maine, or for volunteer opportunities, please visit www.biketreknewengland.org.
Spring 2011
www.BikeMaine.org
PAGE 13
CORPORATE
MEMBER
Auclair Cycle & Ski
Augusta 800-734-7171
Cycle Mania*
Portland 774-2933
mojo
Presque Isle 760-9500
Back Bay Bicycle
Portland 773-6906
Freeman’s Bicycle Service
Portland 347-1577
Pat’s Bike Shop
Brewer 989-2900
Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop
Bar Harbor 288-3886
Freeport Ski & Bike
Freeport 865-0523
Rainbow Bicycle & Fitness
Auburn 784-7576
Belfast Bicycles
Belfast 388-0008
Gorham Bike & Ski
Portland 773-1700
Saco 283-2453
Rose Bicycle
Orono 800-656-3525
Birgfeld’s Bike Shop
Searsport 548-2916
Cadillac Mountain Sports
Bar Harbor 288-4532
Ellsworth 667-7819
Center Street Cycles
Brunswick 729-5309
Jerry’s Bike Barn
Berwick 752-0580
Kingdom Bikes
Blue Hill 374-3230
LL Bean Bike, Boat & Ski Store
Freeport 877-755-2326
These clubs support the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s work
with annual memberships of $150 or more.
Belfast Bicycle Club
www.belfastbicycleclub.org
MEMBER BIKE CLUBS
MEMBER BIKE SHOPS
These bike shops support the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s work with annual memberships of $250 or above. Please thank
them for their support of the coalition when you’re in their shop. A complete list of member bike shops is posted at www.
BikeMaine.org.
*Yellow Jersey Club member
You can support our member bike shops by
getting your bicycle tuned during the winter.
That helps shops stay busy during the quieter
months, and it ensures that your bike will be
ready to ride as soon as the snow melts.
MEMBER BUSINESSES
Community Cycling Club of Portland
www.BikeCCCP.org
Downeast Bicycle Club
Bar Harbor, www.downeastbicycleclub.com
Maine Cycling Club
Auburn, www.mainecyclingclub.com
Portland Velo Club
www.portlandvelo.com
These businesses support the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s work with annual memberships of $250 or above. A complete list of
member businesses is posted at www.BikeMaine.org.
American Diabetes Association
Portland 888-DIABETES
GoMaine Commuter Connections
Portland 774-9891
Terrance J. DeWan and Assoc.
Yarmouth 846-0757
American Lung Association of Maine
Augusta 624-0302
Kennebec Savings Bank
Augusta 622-5801
T.Y. Lin International
Falmouth 781-4721
Apogee Adventures
Brunswick 725-7025
Maine Bike Rally Organization
www.mainebikerally.org
VBT Bicycling Vacations*
Bristol VT 800-245-3868
Bay Wrap of Augusta
Augusta 338-9757
Maine MS Society
Falmouth 781-7960
Body Symmetry
Brunswick 729-1122
Penobscot Environmental Consulting
Yarmouth 653-2452
Bread & Roses Bakery*
Ogunquit 646-4227
Planet Bike
Madison, WI 608-256-8510
Downeast Bicycle Specialists*
Fryeburg 935-4242
ReVision Energy
Portland 232-6595
Duratherm Window *
Vassalboro 872-5558
Summer Feet Maine Coast
Cycling Adventures
Portland 866-857-9544
Flatbread Company
Portland 772-8777
Casco Bay Bicycle Club
Portland, cascobaybicycleclub.org
*Yellow Jersey Club member
New Shirt!
Join or renew your membership in the
Bicycle Coalition
of Maine at the $75 level or higher and
you can receive
this T-shirt or a water bottle featuring
our new logo.
INVEST IN BETTER BICYCLING TODAY!
Please show your support and contribute to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Give $75 and
receive
our T-shirt
$1,000 Yellow Jersey Club
(receive limited edition Yellow Jersey,
other benefits)
$250 Leader
(receive Lighthouse jersey)
$125 Sustainer
(receive water bottle and T-shirt)
$75 Advocate
(choose water bottle ___
or shirt size:
)
$35 Supporter
SHIRT SIZE:
mens
S
M
www.BikeMaine.org
L
XL
Get Your Newsletter
the “Green” Way
Receive Newsletter Electronically?
YES
PAGE 14
womens
NO
Spring 2011
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Yellow Jersey Club
Our Yellow Jersey Club is a community of members who have chosen
to support better bicycling in Maine at the incredibly generous
level of $1,000 or more. Members who choose to give at the Yellow
Jersey Club level believe that a significant contribution to the Bicycle
Coalition of Maine is a worthy investment in our past, present and
future successes.
Photo by Tony Mourkas
In addition to receiving the yellow jersey featuring our new logo,
members of the Yellow Jersey Club are invited to special rides and
events and also to lead the rides at the Maine Lobster Ride & Roll.
Yellow Jersey Club members also receive invitations to special events
from Nancy Grant, the coalition’s executive director. For more information about joining the Yellow Jersey Club, please contact Nancy at
623-4511 or [email protected].
Yellow Jersey Club Members
The Cadillac Challenge on Mount Desert Island
Tony Mourkas of Hampden, his family and a few other dedicated folks organize the annual Cadillac Challenge on Mount Desert Island. They donated the proceeds from last year’s ride - about
$1,000 - to the Bicycle Coalition. The autumn ride through Acadia National Park and other parts
of Mount Desert Island is the first ever “event” to join the Yellow Jersey Club.
The road ride began 20 years ago as an event sponsored by the Maine Freewheelers bicycle club
in Bangor. Cyclists bike either 72 miles or 100 miles, ending with a climb up Cadillac Mountain
and a coast back to the park’s Visitors Center.
The ride began as a low-key affair. There were no rest stops, T-shirts or registration fees, said
Mourkas, who has been involved since the beginning. The focus always has been on “celebrating
the spirit of cycling,” he said.
Although the ride was planned for club members, others were allowed to participate. In the
early years, organizers advertised with flyers. As word spread and publicity moved to the Internet, attendance climbed quickly.
As many as 250 people have participated in the ride, perfectly timed to coincide with leaf-peeping season. Rest stops and support vehicles were added, and the organizers pass the hat to cover
expenses. “You operate on faith,” says Mourkas, “and faith has delivered.”
The Freewheelers disbanded about 10 years ago, but Mourkas, his wife Anne and their two
children have kept the ride going. His daughter and son, now grown, try to come home for the
weekend so that they can join their parents as volunteers. Dean Read, a Bicycle Coalition board
member from Bar Harbor, and other cyclists on Mount Desert Island have been instrumental in
ensuring the continued success of the Cadillac Challenge.
The ride still has no entry fee, but many people stick donations in the can by the registration
area. Last year, one person stuffed in a $100 bill.
The organizers have donated proceeds to the Bicycle Coalition for several years. “The coalition’s
proven track record of advocating for cycling awareness, education, legislation and facilities is
one that every Maine cyclist should consider supporting,” Mourkas said.
For more information about the Cadillac Challenge, please visit
http://web.mac.com/zorbathegeek/Cadillac/Home.html.
Spring 2011
www.BikeMaine.org
Anonymous
Harry Ankers Chelsea
Mary Breen Ogunquit
David Brink & Ed Quinn Portland
Cadillac Challenge Mount Desert Island
Philip Coffin & Susan Peck Carrabassett Valley
Tim Downing Vassalboro
Janika Eckert & Rob Johnston Albion
Dan & Lauren Emery North Yarmouth
Dillon Gillies Bethel
Leon & Lisa Gorman Yarmouth
Ellen Grant & Kevin Carley Kolonia
Nancy Grant & Mike Boyson Portland
Ralph Hamill & Susan Akers
Karen Herold & Mark Isaacson Cumberland
Mark & Ginger Ishkanian Readfield
Harold and Brigitte Kingsbury Cape Elizabeth
Richard Long Orono
John & Anne Marshall Addison
Gregg & Caroline Marston Bristol, VT
Laurie McReel & John Poirer Oakland
Jeffrey Miller & Lotte Schlegel Washington, D.C.
Doug Moore Fryeburg
Scott & Ponee Roberts Gorham
Larry & Robin Rubinstein Scarborough
Peter & Kerry Rubinstein New York, NY
Jeff Saffer Cape Elizabeth
Robert Satter Avon, CT
Jane Self & Ken Pote Camden
Cynthia Sortwell South Portland
Austin & Manny Watts Bowdoin
Mark & Kitty Wheeler Woolwich
Nancy & Bill White Bethel
Garth & Nancy Wilbanks Winterport
John & Loren Wright Woolwich
PAGE 15
The BCM is proudly affiliated with:
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TRAILS
CONSERVANCY
PO Box 5275, Augusta, ME 04332-5275
(207) 623-4511 • [email protected]
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Save the Dates
Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Great Portland Bike Swap
Coalition Partners with Casco Bay
High School on Bicycle “Intensive”
Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Great Orono Bike Swap
Casco Bay High School, an expeditionary learning school in Portland, is partnering with the Bicycle Coalition
of Maine and the Maine Safe Routes to School program to build a school-based bicycle culture that engages
both students and staff. Twice a year, the school offers week-long elective courses called intensives. One of
the spring intensives will teach students basic riding, mechanical and safety skills as they prepare for a short
bike tour to a local beach.
(Drop off bikes you wish to sell between 8 and 9:30 a.m.)
University of Maine Student Recreation and Fitness Center
Each day of the week will be completely focused on bicycling, and will include presentations on safe bicycle
operation, flat repair, bike commuting and touring. There will be daily rides that prepare participants for an
easy tour in the beautiful Casco Bay region on the last day.
April 10, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
(Drop off bikes you wish to sell between 8 and 9:30 a.m.)
University of Southern Maine’s Sullivan Gymnasium
May 1, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tenth Annual Women’s Ride
June 5, 9 a.m.
L.L. Bean’s Casco Conference Center, Freeport
July 8-10
Brunswick High School, Brunswick
Tenth Annual Maine Lobster Ride & Roll
July 23
Oceanside High School, Rockland
(formerly Rockland High School)
For updated information and registration,
please visit www.BikeMaine.org.
With the help of local bike mechanics, students
repaired bicycles to donate to needy children.
Some students analyzed the busy street in front of
the school for its “bike-ability.”
The Casco Bay High School program is being
viewed as a pilot that can be used by other schools
seeking to increase student involvement in
bicycling. For more information, contact darcy@
bikemaine.org or [email protected].
Students learn all about bicycles in week-long intensive
courses offered at Casco Bay High School in Portland.
Photo by Shoshana Hoose
23rd Annual Maine Bike Rally
The spring program builds on a successful bicycle intensive week in January. During that session, 21 students
were introduced to the many facets of bicycle culture such as roadies, commuters, BMXers and mountain
bikers. All students learned about bicycle mechanics, bicycle safety and the basics of bike/pedestrian
planning and design.