Bicycle Coalition of Maine

Save the date for the 2025 Maine Woods Rambler! The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) and Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) are excited to return the Maine Woods Rambler to the AMC's Medawisla Lodge in the heart of Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness the weekend of September 26-28, 2025! The focus of the weekend will be the Saturday (9/27) ride, with multiple route length options, taking riders through a nationally renowned system of logging and sporting camp access roads spread throughout the region’s rugged landscapes and flourishing wilderness. We're planning a full weekend of activities and fun, including bikerafting opportunities, a family movie night, and stargazing to name a few. We hope you’ll join us for the full weekend for this unique ride and adventures in the pristine Maine Woods. Stay tuned for more information on registration, lodging, and meals for the event!

Thank you Kristina Egan and the GPCOG team for hosting Bicycle Coalition of Maine on Let's Connect Radio for a lively conversation about #VisionZero and why it matters. If you'd like more information or help bringing Vision Zero to your community, please reach out to me at bikemaine.org.

On Sunday June 8, our third annual BCM Joy Ride Fundraiser takes place along the coast in York, Maine, celebrating cycling, walking, good food, and community. This year we’re offering two ride options, an 18 mile family-friendly ride, and a more adventurous 35 mile ride, each with a break for “Shore-cuterie” by the beach and a finish line lunch by Mornings In Paris and afterparty at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust. We’ll have music by the Ideal Maine Band, and fun and games for all. Experience the best of Maine summer while supporting the BCM at our Joy Ride Fundraiser. Register on the events page on our website!

Our Executive Director Andrew Zarro, and Portland Trails' Executive Director Jon Kachmar penned this recent op-ed pushing for the city to take steps to stop the fatalities we are seeing in our streets. https://lnkd.in/ePTBmKX2

Thank you to Gillian Graham and the The Portland Press Herald for covering this important issue, as Portland alone has seen four pedestrian fatalities in just four months. We are calling on our local leaders to adopt a Vision Zero policy that prioritizes eliminating traffic deaths. https://lnkd.in/eMBYjA2i

Our work at the BCM focuses on bike/pedestrian safety education, infrastructure, and transportation networks here in Maine, but have you ever wondered how other countries approach these issues? As part of Partners of the Americas, a two-way network of volunteer partnerships that foster cultural exchange and education between the U.S. and Latin American countries, our Associate Education Director, Erik daSilva, got to experience first hand how our counterparts in Brazil build and advocate for bike/pedestrian transportation networks. Join us tomorrow, Wednesday February 19, at noon for our Wednesday Webinar where Erik talks about his trip and all he learned. Register at the Calendar page on our website.

We all know communication is key when it comes to being a safe roadway user, that's why we are proud to share that our website's printable info sheets on how to Be a Safe Bike Driver and how to Be a Safe Walker are now available in five languages to meet the needs of our community. Teachers, parents, kids, or anyone looking for these resources, you can access these guides in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Portuguese on the Education page of our website by clicking on Online and Printable Resources. A huge thank you to the instructors and students at UMaine and the Maine MultiCultural Center for their help in creating these resources!

We hope you'll join us tomorrow 2/6 at Orange Bike Brewing Company from 4:30-6:30pm for a meet and greet with our Executive Director, Andrew Zarro We'll be talking active transportation, bike/pedestrian safety, community, and we want to hear from you! Afterwards, stick around and enjoy music from The White Mountain Ramblers. RSVP for this or one of our other meet and greets (Lewiston 2/12, Rockport 2/20, Orono 2/27) on the Calendar page on our website. ??

“Your ability to bike or cross the street safely is absolutely a matter of infrastructure.” – Secretary Pete Buttigieg Right now, too many Maine roads are failing the people who use them. Whether you’re biking to work, walking to school, or simply trying to cross the street, your safety shouldn’t depend on luck—it should be built into the roads themselves. At the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, we work every day to make that vision a reality by advocating for safer infrastructure, better policies, and real investment in biking and walking. But we can’t do it alone. We need your help—from community members, policymakers, and businesses—to ensure Maine prioritizes safer streets. ? Advocate for complete streets and traffic-calming projects in your town. ? Support local, state, and federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure. ? Join BCM and help push for safer roads across Maine. Every Mainer deserves to travel safely—no matter how they get around. Let’s make it happen. Who’s ready to push for safer streets? Comment below or email and let us know how you can help! https://lnkd.in/gZhEC8hM

Is your community looking for funding to help with an active transportation related project or improvement? You have until March 5 to apply for the 2025 AARP Community Challenge grants! The grants fall under three categories: Flagship Grants- applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older including: - Creating vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities. - Delivering a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability and access to public and private transit Capacity-Building Microgrants -applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older including: -Walk and Bike Audits to assess and enhance safety walkability and bikeability in communities, especially for people age 50-plus Demonstration Grants- applications for projects that benefit residents, especially those age 50 and older including: -Enhancing pedestrian safety by creating safer streets and sidewalks, with a focus on people age 50-plus -Reconnecting communities divided by infrastructure, with a focus on people age 50-plus Visit https://lnkd.in/g7dbeCek for more info!