The Bicycle Coalition of Maine, in partnership with the MaineDOT, is pleased to announce the launch of a pilot Maine Library E-bike Loan Program, through which residents with library cards at participating libraries can borrow Class I electric-assist bicycles and explore how they can help with car-free personal transportation.
The BCM/MaineDOT LIbrary program hosts electric assist bicycles that members of participating libraries can borrow like books and use for a few days. The goal is to let more people see how practical and fun e-bikes are!
The pilot program will see the library bikes rotated through six libraries for a month at a time.
E-Bike Borrowing Requirements – Library User
- Borrowers must be over 18 years of age and be members of the library in good standing.
- Persons interested in borrowing an e-bike from one of these libraries MUST watch the following e-bike educational videos and take the short quizzes provided by the League of American Bicyclists, which takes about 20 mins.
- What is an Electric Bike? 1:50
- Battery Safety 1:40
- Preparing to Ride, Helmet Check, Bike Safety (ABCQ) 1:55
- Basic of Bike Safety and Rules of the Road 6:04
- Collison Awareness and Etiquette 5:51
- Persons interested in borrowing an e-bike must complete this waiver and borrower agreement. USE OF THE E-BIKES IS AT THE BORROWER’S OWN RISK. (PDF Version can be found here)
- Persons interested in borrowing a bicycle and wishing to move it with a car should note that only wheel tray style racks attached via a trailer receiver hitch are permissible for use with these bikes. The bicycles weigh more than 50 pounds and cannot be carried on any strap on racks. The bikes can only be moved inside of cars or trucks, or on a sturdy receiver hitch rack.
Participating Libraries include:
June
Scarborough Public Library (https://scarboroughlibrary.org/)
Prince Memorial Library – Cumberland(https://www.princememorial.org/)
Walker Memorial Library – Westbrook (https://www.westbrookmaine.com/826/Library)
July
Rockland Public Library (https://rocklandmaine.gov/municipal/departments/library/)
Kennebunk Free Library (https://www.kennebunklibrary.org/)
Orrington Public Library (https://orringtonlibrary.wordpress.com/)
We are looking for more libraries to participate! If your library is interested, please contact Dan Bassett at dbassett@bikemaine.org