2017 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 19: OPERATION
Subchapter 1: RULES OF THE ROAD
29-A §2063. Bicycles, roller skis, toy vehicles and scooters

§2063. Bicycles, roller skis, toy vehicles and scooters

1. Definitions. For the purpose of this section, "bicycle" includes a motorized bicycle, a motorized tricycle or a motorized scooter.

[ 2007, c. 400, §2 (AMD) .]

2. Riding to the right. A person operating a bicycle or roller skis upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time and place shall operate on the right portion of the way as far as practicable except when it is unsafe to do so as determined by the bicyclist or roller skier or:

A. When overtaking and passing another roller skier, bicycle or other vehicle proceeding in the same direction; [2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD).]

B. When preparing for or making a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; [2007, c. 400, §3 (NEW).]

C. When proceeding straight in a place where right turns are permitted; and [2007, c. 400, §3 (NEW).]

D. When necessary to avoid hazardous conditions, including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, roller skiers, 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 or roller skier and a vehicle to travel safely side by side in the lane. [2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD).]

This subsection does not apply in a municipality that, by ordinance approved by the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation, makes other provisions regarding the operating location of a bicycle or roller skier on a roadway.

[ 2013, c. 241, §4 (AMD) .]

2-A. Bicycle or roller skier traveling on shoulder. Notwithstanding subsection 2, a person operating a bicycle or roller skis may travel on paved shoulders.

[ 2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD) .]

3. Seating. A person operating a bicycle may not ride other than upon or astride a regular and permanently attached seat.

[ 2007, c. 400, §4 (AMD) .]

3-A. Number of persons. A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

[ 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §43 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF) .]

4. Hitching rides. A person riding on roller skis, a bicycle or a scooter may not attach it to a moving vehicle on a way.

[ 2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD) .]

5. Rights and duties. A person riding a bicycle or scooter or operating roller skis on a way has the rights and is subject to the duties applicable to the operator of a vehicle, except as to:

A. Special regulations; and [2001, c. 667, Pt. C, §17 (RPR).]

B. Provisions in this Title that by their nature can have no application. [2001, c. 667, Pt. C, §17 (RPR).]

[ 2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD) .]

6. Speed. A motorized bicycle or motorized scooter may not be operated in excess of 20 miles per hour.

[ 2001, c. 667, Pt. C, §17 (RPR) .]

7. Penalties. A person 17 years of age or over who violates subsection 2, 3, 3-A, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 commits a traffic infraction 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.

[ 2015, c. 164, §6 (AMD) .]

8. Impoundment. The chief of police of a municipality, or if there is no chief of police, the chair of the local legislative body, when satisfied that a juvenile under the age of 17 years has ridden a bicycle or scooter or has operated roller skis in violation of this section, may impound the bicycle, scooter or roller skis for a period not to exceed 5 days for the first offense, 10 days for a 2nd offense and 30 days for a subsequent offense.

[ 2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD) .]

9. Passing a school bus. A person operating a bicycle or roller skis on a way, in a parking area or on school property, on meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction when the bus has stopped with its red lights flashing to receive or discharge passengers, shall stop the bicycle or roller skis before reaching the school bus. The person may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the school bus operator to proceed.

The operator of a bicycle or roller skis on a way separated by curbing or other physical barrier need not stop on meeting or passing a school bus traveling in a lane separated by the barrier from the lane in which that person is traveling.

[ 2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD) .]

10. Duty to yield. A bicyclist, roller skier or other nonmotorized traffic must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the way in a marked crosswalk who is proceeding in accordance with a traffic-control device as provided in section 2057 or who is proceeding without a traffic-control device in operation. For purposes of this subsection, "yield the right-of-way" means to slow or stop to avoid colliding with or causing other harm to a pedestrian.

[ 2015, c. 164, §7 (NEW) .]

11. Traffic-control devices. A person operating a bicycle or roller skis shall obey a traffic-control device, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer. A traffic-control device conforming to the requirements for these devices is presumed to comply with this chapter.

[ 2015, c. 164, §7 (NEW) .]

12. Stop signs. Unless directed to proceed by a law enforcement officer or traffic-control device, a person operating a bicycle or roller skis approaching a stop sign shall stop and:

A. Yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that has entered the intersection or that is approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard; and [2015, c. 164, §7 (NEW).]

B. Having yielded, a person operating a bicycle or roller skis may proceed. All other operators approaching the intersection shall yield the right-of-way to the person operating a bicycle or roller skis so proceeding. [2015, c. 164, §7 (NEW).]

[ 2015, c. 164, §7 (NEW) .]

13. One-way road. On a public way posted for one-way traffic, unless directed to proceed by a law enforcement officer or traffic-control device, a bicycle may be ridden only in the direction designated.

[ 2015, c. 164, §7 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). 1995, c. 371, §1 (AMD). 2001, c. 148, §3 (AMD). 2001, c. 197, §6 (AMD). 2001, c. 360, §9 (AMD). 2001, c. 667, §C17 (RPR). 2003, c. 452, §§Q42,43 (AMD). 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). 2005, c. 577, §29 (AMD). 2007, c. 400, §§2-6 (AMD). 2009, c. 212, §1 (AMD). 2009, c. 484, §5 (AMD). 2013, c. 241, §4 (AMD). 2013, c. 482, §2 (AMD). 2015, c. 164, §§6, 7 (AMD).