Bicycle Safety

Registering your bike with Security helps reduce risk of theft, and registration makes it easier to track down your bike if stolen. The Town of Brunswick also technically requires that bicycles are registered (Code of ordinances ch. 15, article 7, section 141), and a Bowdoin registration works for this requirement.

Register your bicycle with security here.

For a full list of Bowdoin's policies, see Security's "Bicycles, Boards, and Scooters" page.

Most of these are common sense; note especially that locking bicycles to hand railings and blocking exits/entrances/ramps violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Generally, bikes obey same rules and laws as motor vehicles (yield to through traffic at T-intersections, yield to pedestrians, yield when turning left, follow all traffic lights and signs, etc.) “Idaho stops” (treating stop signs as yields) are not legal here. Bicycles must ride with the flow of traffic, not against it.

You must have functional brakes on your bike, and helmets are required for cyclists under 16.

You are required to ride as far to the right as is “practicable”, but it is fully legal to take the lane as needed (obstacles, turning left, going straight where right turns are also allowed). 

You can ride on designated paths/lanes but are not required to. Similarly, you are not required to ride in the shoulder.

At night, you must have and use headlights plus a rear light or reflectors.

Sidewalk riding is usually allowed, but varies somewhat between municipalities. In Brunswick, it’s allowed with the requirement that you yield to pedestrians.

Read more:

• Plain language summary of bike/ped-related laws with links for more resources (MDOT)
• 8-page summary of bicycle and pedestrian laws (MDOT)
• Compilation of various safety resources (Bicycle Coalition of Maine)

Generally, cyclists obey same rules and laws as motor vehicles (yield to through traffic at T-intersections, yield to pedestrians, yield when turning left, follow all traffic lights and signs, etc.). Remember that bicycles have a right to be on most roads in Maine; exceptions (eg., some highways) are signed as such.

Motorists must give 3 feet to pass both cyclists and pedestrians. Drivers may cross centerlines to pass bikes if it is safe to do so.

Motorists who are passing bicyclists proceeding in the same direction may not make a right turn unless they can do so with reasonable safety (no "right hooks").

Motorists should not unnecessarily sound a horn. Honking your horn when approaching a bicyclist could startle them and cause a crash.

Motorists may open car doors only after checking to see that it can be done safely, without interfering with traffic (no "dooring").

Read more:

• Plain language summary of bike/ped-related laws with links for more resources (MDOT)
• 8-page summary of bicycle and pedestrian laws (MDOT)
• Compilation of various safety resources (Bicycle Coalition of Maine)