Bicycling Laws

Thanks to the hard work of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, LD 1808, Maine's new bicycling laws took effect in September of 2007. The new rules clarify a lot of issues encountered by cyclists and drivers sharing the road. All Maine citizens and visitors should be aware of the new laws. Please follow the link below read about the law on the BCM's website:

     • An Act to Improve Road Safety and Update Bicycling Laws

Maine Landowner Immunity Law Information

Maine's landowner immunity law was written to provide landowners with broad protection from liability for recreational users.  The actual law can be read by opening the following link to the State of Maine's website:

     • Recreational Use Statute §159-A. Limited liability for recreational/harvesting activities

The following references provide additional detailed information:

• Maine Landowner Liability Explained

• Landowner Liability: This is a summary of recreational use liability in general

• Mountain Bike Liability Primer: Recreational use statutes, particularly applied to trails

The following links provide information about railroad & utility right-of-ways:

• LD 1611: An Act To Clarify That Certain Maine Landowner Liability Protection Laws Apply to Certain Railroad Properties, Railroad Rights-of-way and Utility Corridors

• Maine Legislature Summary of LD 1611: Bill status at the State of Maine's website

Below are links to Supreme Court cases upholding the landowner liability immunity law:

• Hafford v Great Northern Nekoosa

• Jordan v HC Haynes

• Robbins v Great Northern Paper

• Stanley v Tilcon

How do landowners react to this immunity? Plum Creek, owner of more than 900,000 acres of Maine  woodland, allows essentially unrestricted public access to his land:

• Plum Creek Maine Access Policy