Summary of Maine Bicycle Laws

Most Maine state statutes relative to the operation of bicycles are included in Title 29-A: Motor Vehicles, in the following locations. Please keep in mind that your local municipality may have additional ordinances.

• Chapter 1: General Provisions
  
  
  • §101. Definitions
    
    Paragraph 9: "Bicycle" defined as "a device primarily propelled by human power, operated by a person usually seated on a seat and driven on the ground on wheels by the operator".
    
    
• Chapter 11: Driver's License
  
  
  • §1254. Special licenses
    
    Paragraph 3: A driver's license is required to operate a motorized bicycle or tricycle.
  
  
• Chapter 15: Inspection and Repair
  
  
  • §1752. Motor vehicles exempt from inspection
    
    Paragraph 6: Motorized bicycles or tricycles are exempt from vehicle inspection.
    
  
  
• Chapter 19: Operation
  
  
  • §2057-A. Preemptive traffic light devices prohibited
    
    It is a Class E crime to possess a preemptive traffic light device, or to operate a motor vehicle, vehicle, motorized wheelchair, electric personal mobility device, scooter or bicycle so equipped.
    
    
  • §2060. Turning at intersections
    
    Paragraph 1, Right turns: Turns (all vehicles) must be made as close as practicable to the right, and (1-A) a vehicle passing a bicycle may not turn right unless it is safe to do so.
    
    
  • §2062. Motorcycles
    
    Paragraph 5, Passing: A motorcycle is allowed to pass a bicycle in the same lane.
    
    
  • §2063. Bicycles and scooters
    
    
    • "Bicycle" includes a motorized bicycle, a motorized tricycle or a motorized scooter.
      
    • Required to ride as far right as practicable when slower than other traffic, except:
      
      • When unsafe to do so;
        
      • (A) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or other vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
        
      • (B) When preparing for or making a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
        
      • (C) When proceeding straight in a place where right turns are permitted; and
        
      • (D) When necessary to avoid hazardous conditions, including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, broken pavement, glass, sand, puddles, ice, surface hazards or opening doors from parallel-parked vehicles, or a lane of substandard width that makes it unsafe to continue along the right portion of the way. For purposes of this paragraph, "lane of substandard width" means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side in the lane.
      
      (2-A) may [not "must"] travel on paved shoulders.
      
    • May not ride astride or upon other than normal seat, nor (3-A) carry more persons than designed for.
      
    • May not hitch ride to another vehicle.
      
    • Has all applicable rights and duties of a vehicle operator.
      
    • A motorized bicycle or scooter may not operate in excess of 20 MPH.
      
    • Violations by those age 17 or over are subject to fine of no more than $10.
      
    • Violations by those under age 17 may have bicycle or scooter temporarily impounded.
      
    
    
  • §2070. Passing another vehicle
    
    Paragraph 1-A: Passing bicycle. An operator of a motor vehicle that is passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall exercise due care by leaving a distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than 3 feet while the motor vehicle is passing the bicycle.
    
    Also paragraph 1-A: A motor vehicle operator may pass a bicycle traveling in the same direction in a no-passing zone only when it is safe to do so.
    
    Paragraph 6: Passing on the right: A person operating a bicycle may pass a vehicle on the right at the bicyclist's own risk.
    
    Paragraph 7: Penalties: A person 17 years of age or over who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $250 may be adjudged. A person under 17 years of age is not subject to a fine under this section.
    
    
  • §2071. Turning and signals
    
    Although this section is targeted mostly to motor vehicles, everything here should also be obeyed by cyclists where applicable, because of §2063 #5 above.
    
    Paragraph 5, Hand Signals, notes that a bicyclist is allowed to make a right-turn hand signal by extending the right arm outward (an optional alternative to the left arm raised), and "may return the hand used to signal a turn to the handlebars during the turn to maintain proper control of the bicycle." (Normally, a turn signal is required continuously from 100' before the turn until after the turn.)
    
    
  • §2075. Other speed regulations
    
    Paragraph 1, "Operation impeding movement of traffic", states "A person may not operate a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation of the motor vehicle or in compliance with law."
    
    Emphasis is mine. I interpret that, combined with the fact that I cannot find any statute talking about impeding motor vehicles with a bike, to mean that a cyclist cannot be cited simply for holding up traffic. A cyclist can only be cited for failing to keep as far right as practicable, per §2063 para 2. If is not practicable to ride any further right than you are, then you have no further legal obligation to not hold up traffic. Again, this is my interpretation only, and I am not a lawyer.
    
    
  • §2084. Bicycles and scooters
    
    
    • Lights and reflectors required for nighttime riding;
      
    • Brakes required.
      
    
    
• Chapter 20: Bicycle Safety Education Act
  
  
  • §2322. Definitions
    
    Definitions of terms: bicycle, bicycle helmet, bicycle passenger, bicycle passenger seat, bicycle taxi, bicycle taxi passenger, bikeway, operator, and public roadway.
    
    
  • §2323. Bicycle helmet use; passenger seat use
    
    
    • Helmet required for operators or passengers under 16 years old.
      
    • Passengers must be seated properly in a bicycle passenger seat.
    
    
  • §2324. Obligation of businesses renting bicycles
    
    Persons in business of renting bicycles must provide a written notice explaining this law, and must provide a helmet to operators or passengers under 16 years of age.
    
    
  • §2326. Violations and enforcement
    • Law enforcement may provide bicycle safety information to violators of §2323, and may provide information about this law and where to obtain a helmet to the violator's parent.
      
    • For a 2nd or subsequent violation of section 2323, subsection 1, a forfeiture of no more than $25 may be adjudged. The fine may be waived if a person presents proof of purchase of a bicycle helmet since the citation.
  • §2327. Exemption
    
    Bicycle taxi passengers are exempt from this Act.
    
    
  • §2328. Evidence
    
    In an accident involving a bicycle, the nonuse of a helmet by the operator or passenger is not admissible as evidence in a civil or criminal trial.
    

In addition these operational laws, Title 14: COURT PROCEDURE -- CIVIL, §159-D, provides that businesses operating drive-up windows, such as banks, restaurants, pharamacies, ATMs, etc. are extended a liablity waiver for bicyclists using the drive-up window, so that they may allow cyclists use of the window at the cyclist's own risk.

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