Bike coalition lauds Maine lawmakers, firms, volunteers

AUGUSTA – The Bicycle Coalition of Maine presented 2007 awards to several legislators, businesses and volunteers at the coalition’s recent annual meeting as follows:

. Public Servants of the Year: Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton; Sen. Karl Turner, R-Cumberland; Rep. Boyd Marley, D-Portland; Rep. Richard Cleary, D-Houlton; Rep. Deborah Simpson, D-Auburn; Rep. Bill Browne, R-Vassalboro; and Rep. Ann Peoples, D-Westbrook, who worked to pass LD 1808, Maine’s new, comprehensive bicycle safety law.

. Bike Friendly Business Award: Kennebec Savings Bank, which provides bike parking for customers, serves cyclists at drive-up windows, hosted a bike safety course for employees, sponsors a team in the Trek Across Maine and encourages participation in Commute Another Way Week. Also Bank President Mark Johnston submitted testimony to the Maine Legislature this year in support of requiring businesses with drive-up windows to serve cyclists. The bank also has been a lead sponsor of the Kennebec River Rail Trail.

. Volunteers of the Year: Stan and Lisa McLaughlin of Millinocket, who were instrumental in forming the Katahdin Trails Alliance to promote trail development in the Millinocket region, organized the recent Golden Road Bike Tour, and teach bicycle safety in local schools and promote bicycling and walking in their community.

. Bicycle Safety Educator of the Year: Dave Kinsman of Fryeburg, for teaching bicycle safety classes at schools in western Maine for the last six years and for encouraging children to teach others in their families.

. Professional Partners Award: Kendra Jarrett, Nathan Tinsley and WCSH6 for helping produce Share the Road television spots in 2006 and 2007.

. Bike Commuter Award: Mark Nason of Bangor, who manages the radio station at New England School of Communications, helped produce the Share the Road radio spots, and for commuting to work by bicycle. In 2006, he used his bike so much that he only filled up his truck’s gas tank once in six weeks.

. Volunteer Extraordinaire: Eric Weinrich of Yarmouth, for serving as Bicycle Coalition of Maine spokesman in numerous events. He is a veteran National Hockey League defenseman and plays for the Portland Pirates.

. Harry Faust Leadership Award: Jane Self of Camden, Bicycle Coalition of Maine president for last two years, who plays key roles in the Maine Lobster Ride organizing committee and BCM’s Education Committee. She also helps organize two events in the Maine Time Trial Series.

. Walk and Bike to School Award: Tobin Scipione of Portland and Denise Delorie of Norridgewock. Scipione helped start Maine’s Safe Routes to School program. Delorie has worked on the program since 2006 and helped it expand to 78 schools.

. President’s Award: Sue Ellen Bordwell of Yarmouth and Maggie Warren of Hallowell. Bordwell has served on the coalition board, as its president (2003-2005) and as chairwoman of the Government Relations Committee. Warren has served as a board member, secretary and editor of the coalition’s newsletter and has staffed a booth at multiple events in Maine.

. Maine Bike Rally Leadership Award: Ken O’Brien of Gorham and Eric Dunn of Yarmouth. O’Brien and Dunn were co-chairmen of the rally for the past two years.