For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Shoshana Hoose, Communications Coordinator
207-623-4511
shoshana@BikeMaine.org

Bicycle Coalition of Maine Awards Honor Legislators, Businesses, Volunteers

Augusta, Maine - The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) presented 2007 awards to several legislators, businesses and volunteers at the coalition's recent annual meeting. Here is a list of awards and recipients:

• 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). All played important roles in the passage of L.D. 1808, Maine's new, comprehensive bicycle safety law.

• Bike Friendly Business Award: Kennebec Savings Bank. The bank 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. Bank President Mark Johnston submitted testimony to the Maine Legislature this year in support of legislation that would require 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. The McLaughlins were instrumental in forming the Katahdin Trails Alliance to promote trail development in the Millinocket region. They organized the recent Golden Road Bike Tour. They 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 the past six years, Kinsman has taught bicycle safety classes at schools throughout western Maine. As he teaches children how to be safe bike drivers, he also encourages them to share the information with others in their families.

• Professional Partners Award: Kendra Jarrett, Nathan Tinsley and WCSH6. Jarrett and Tinsley helped the BCM produce Share the Road television spots in 2006 and 2007. The station embraced the campaign, including Share the Road features on its morning news show.

• Bike Commuter Award: Mark Nason of Bangor. Nason manages the radio station at New England School of Communications. When the BCM began partnering with the school on Share the Road ads, he helped produce the radio spots. Working on the campaign inspired Nason to take up biking again. In 2006, he used his bike so much that he only filled up his truck's gas tank once in six weeks. A year later, he continues to commute by bike.

• Volunteer Extraordinaire: Eric Weinrich of Yarmouth. Earlier this year, Weinrich agreed to serve as BCM's official spokesperson. He appears in a new Share the Road media campaign and he has participated in numerous BCM events. A veteran NHL defenseman who now plays for the Portland Pirates, Weinrich has helped BCM reach new audiences and garner regional and national attention.

• Harry Faust Leadership Award: Jane Self of Camden. Self served as BCM's president for the past two years. She plays key roles in the Maine Lobster Ride organizing committee and BCM's Education Committee. She also helps to 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 BCM board, as its president (2003-2005) and as chair of the Government Relations Committee. Warren has served as a board member, secretary and editor of BCM's newsletter. She has staffed BCM's booth at many biking events throughout Maine.

• Maine Bike Rally Leadership Award: Ken O'Brien of Gorham and Eric Dunn of Yarmouth. O'Brien and Dunn co-chaired the rally for the past two years. They organized dozens of volunteers and oversaw logistics for a weekend of bicycle rides in Yarmouth.

Advocating bicycling safety, education and access in Maine since 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine is working to make Maine accessible and safe for all residents and visitors so they may comfortably and responsibly bicycle. The BCM also promotes bicycling for transportation, health, recreation and fun to enhance our communities, environment and economy.

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