AUGUSTA – Want to order a burger and fries while pedaling your bike through a fast-food drive-through window? It could be legal after the House on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a bill covering an array of laws pertaining to bicycle safety on the roads.
The bill covers more than just biking to fast-food windows. In the past, bikers found that drive-in attendants were unwilling to serve them, out of concern that they might be sued in the event of an accident.
The legislation stopped short, however, of outlawing cycling while under the influence. That provision was in the original bill, but removed under a floor amendment by Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington.
Mills said it’s not clear that drunken bike riding is even a problem.
“This might result in police actions that aren’t necessary,” Mills said. “We’ve given the police a lot to do this year.”
The bill also changes the helmet laws. People under 16 caught riding without a helmet will first be given a warning, and then fined $25. If the juvenile then goes out and purchases a helmet, and provides proof of purchase, the fine would be dismissed.
Both the House and the Senate will vote on the bill within the next two weeks, and then it will go to the governor’s desk.
Other statutory changes include:
• Removing “toy vehicles” – skateboards, roller skates, wagons, sleds, coasters, etc. – from the statute and giving them their own section;
• Requires the operator of a motor vehicle to leave a margin of three feet from a bicyclist while passing;
• Allows the bicyclist to pass a motor vehicle on the right, at the rider’s risk;
• Allows motor vehicles to pass bicycles going in the same direction in otherwise “no-passing” zones.
House members rejected an amendment by Rep. Jonathan McKane, R-Newcastle, that would have decreased the three-foot margin while passing down to two feet.
The three-foot limitation in his town, “puts us in the other lane, or maybe in the ditch,” he said.
But Rep. Boyd Marley, D-Portland, countered that, “By going to a two-foot margin you’re putting people at risk.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.