8-4-2020 Basch-Maine Bike Coalition

Slowing down on rural roads can save lives. (No Umbrella Media/Bicycle Coalition of Maine Photo)

With bicycling seeing a rise during the pandemic and a majority of schools opening in the coming days, it’s a good time to remind cyclists and motorists about the civilities of sharing area roadways.

One organization that’s stepped up over the past few months encouraging motorists to slow down to save cyclist, pedestrian and driver lives is the 2,000-pus member Bicycle Coalition of Maine with its Slow ME Down initiative.

(1) comment

Gregory Wallace

No we won't slow down below the posted speed limit and many roads are under posted for speed as defined by the MUTCD traffic engineering Div as the speed at which motorists safely drive regardless of the posted sped limit. The 85th percentile. Motorists, trucks and motorcycles who can ride 2 abreast and legally have "Full use of the whole rd". They all pay fuel tax, registration, road use taxes and the bicycle does not. 4 years ago the Maine legislature approved recreational pot use which is kicking in right now. Where was the BCM in opposition to that? I was there opposing it. There are a lot of pot smokers in Maine which is how the legislation was passed hence the crash rate rising. The BCM must be OK with stoned drivers driving behind them in the bicyclists blind spot with no way to avoid being struck from behind. I guess what you can't see can't hurt you?

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