How to Get Involved

Locally - Community Bicycle/Pedestrian Plans

One place to begin involvement in advocating for bicycle/pedestrian improvements is in one's own community.  Call your local municipality if any group currently exists to do bicycle/pedestrian planning.  If not, ask your Council, Selectmen, or Planning Board to begin such a group.  This group can examine the local street and road system to determine the suitability of the existing system to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians.  It can then recommend and prioritize specific improvements for bicycling and walking and explore funding options.   The publication, “Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Guide”, developed specifically for Maine communities, is available free of charge from MaineDOT.  If your bicycle/planning group needs some technical assistance, please contact the MaineDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator at bike.info@maine.gov.

Statewide - The Maine Bicycle Council

Statement of Purpose

Adopted September, 1998

The Maine Bicycle Council will advise the Maine Department of Transportation and its Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator on bicycle-related issues and projects.

The Commissioner of the Department of Transportation will appoint all members.  Each member will serve for a term of three years with subsequent terms of three years’ duration for reappointments.  Vacancies on the Council will be filled by the Commissioner by appointment for unexpired terms.  These will be no less than eight nor more than twelve appointed members.

Members will make themselves familiar about issues and problems relating to bicycle planning, policy, and programming and represent all classes and ages of cyclist as well as people with disabilities.  These will include, but not be limited to, utilitarian, commuter, recreational, touring and employment related cyclists from childhood through maturity.

Representatives from State and Federal agencies which have responsibilities for, and interest in, bicycle issues will advise the Council where pertinent to their expertise.

The Bicycle Council will meet at least five times each year and be guided by the Maine Sensible Transportation Policy and the Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21).

The Council will consider and work on matters relating to bicycling, bicycle safety, bicycle safety education, bicycle access and any other pertinent issues and will make recommendations to appropriate State agencies.

Members may form Task Groups as needed to carry out their responsibilities.   Each Task Group will be led by a member but advisors and others may participate in the process when requested by the Council.

The Department of Transportation will provide staff support for the work of the Council. Council members will receive no salary or expenses.   For more information concerning the Council, please contact the MaineDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator at bike.info@maine.gov.