Andrews attended a conference in Philadelphia on how to accommodate bicycles on busy roads. That city has a well-designed network of bike lanes that use road striping, extended curbs and other techniques to separate bikes and cars. Andrews has led tours to Vinalhaven, North Haven and Acadia National Park on his 21-speed Univega hybrid bike. Simple, low-cost measures, such as installing signs that signal the presence of bicycles, can help make drivers more aware over time and create safer cycling. He already has seen a difference in the Boothbay Harbor area, where bike tours are becoming familiar.
Bikes are more accepted.
But bicycle advocates such as Andrews say Maine has a long way to go to promote itself as a bike-friendly destination. At MDOT, Balicki said the state is trying to strike a balance. The agency has a matching grant program to help towns buy bike racks. And Balicki said the state has begun paving shoulders when it rebuilds roads. But at a time when Maine has hundreds of miles of roads suffering from potholes and broken pavement, bike lanes aren't a top priority.