May 20, 2010

Maine ranks 3rd for being bike-friendly

The Associated Press

PORTLAND — Maine's a great place to ride a bike. That's according to the League of American Bicyclists, which ranks the Pine Tree State third in the country for being bike-friendly.

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Bike lanes such as this one at the corner of Baxter Boulevard and Preble Street Extension let Portland get "more out of the infrastructure we have," says the leader of the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

John Ewing/Staff Photographer

The ranking is based on a survey of factors including legislation and enforcement; education and encouragement; policies and program; and infrastructure and planning.

Over the past year the first sections of the shared-use Down East Sunrise Trail and the Maine Mountain Division Trail have opened. And more than 60 miles of additional shared-use paths will be built this summer as part of those two projects and the Eastern Trail in York County.

Allison Vogt of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine says there's more to be done. The coalition wants bicycling and walking to be considered equal to other modes of transportation.

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