State has a Far Right as Practicable Requirement

A bicyclist moving slower than traffic must ride as far right as practicable, except when the rider judges it unsafe, or when passing, turning left, going straight in a right-turn lane, or avoiding a hazard.

Allows Two Abreast Riding

Maine's bicycle statute does not directly address riding two abreast; general "rights and duties of a vehicle operator" apply, so practice varies and some municipalities regulate this locally.

Single File is Required

There is no statewide requirement that bicyclists ride single file.

Has a Safe Passing Law

Motorists must leave at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist, and may cross into a no-passing zone to do so only when it is safe.

Helmets are required on the road

Maine has no general bicycle helmet law. The only statewide helmet requirement applies to riders and passengers under 16 on an electric bicycle; there is no helmet mandate for anyone on a conventional (non-electric) bicycle.

If Bike Lanes are present, they are required ( except when unsafe )

Maine law lets a bicyclist use a paved shoulder as an option, but does not require using a bike lane, path, or shoulder instead of the roadway.

Riders may use the sidewalks

State law does not address bicycle riding on sidewalks one way or the other; it is left to municipalities, which commonly regulate or restrict sidewalk cycling by local ordinance, particularly downtown.

Does the Impeding Statute Apply to Bikes

Maine has no bicycle-specific "impeding traffic" statute. Bicyclists share the general duty (via the keep-right rule and the general rights-and-duties clause) to allow faster traffic to pass, but may leave the right-hand position when the rider judges it unsafe.

Whether cyclists may treat stop signs as yield signs (the "Idaho stop").

Maine has no "stop as yield" (Idaho Stop) law. A bicyclist approaching a stop sign must come to a complete stop, then yield, then may proceed — the same sequence required of any other vehicle.

Restrictions exist on e-bikes and usage

Maine regulates electric bicycles by class, capping motor-assisted speed (20 mph for throttle-driven, 28 mph for pedal-assist), restricting Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes to riders 16 and older, requiring a helmet for riders under 16, and letting local authorities restrict which bicycle paths allow which class.

Allows the concept of Contributory Negligence that allows any contributory fault resuls in 'no fault'

Maine uses modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar: an injured cyclist can recover damages reduced by their own share of fault, but recovers nothing if found equally or more at fault than the other party.