The Bicycle Coalition of Maine Wins Source Award
We are so thrilled that one of our partner organizations, The Bicycle Coalition of Maine, is a 2020 recipient of the Portland Press Herald’s “Source Maine Sustainability Awards”! These annual awards, announced in May, recognize the myriad of ways in which community groups and individuals contribute to sustainability in Maine.
The Coalition aims to make Maine a better place to bike and walk. They do this by developing programming around advocacy, education, events, and outreach. The Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative works in partnership with the Coalition for their largest annual event, BikeMaine. This event, which brings up to 450 cyclists from around the world to rural Maine, aims to make remote Maine a bicycling destination and to use cycling as an economic development tool for local communities. Proceeds from the event support BikeMaine host communities and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s cycling and pedestrian initiatives. Funding from BikeMaine has been given back to host communities to build infrastructure, such as rail trails and bike racks, as well as to improve existing infrastructure for multi use. As of 2019, BikeMaine is responsible for over $4.1 million of direct economic impact to Maine’s communities.
MFSC holds a special role during BikeMaine, working with selected host communities on food planning and menus for meals. In 2019, over 74% of food was local for breakfast and dinner, and over 58% of food was local for lunch.
BikeMaine 2020 has been postponed for the 2020 ride and we already can't wait until 2021.
To learn more about the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and BikeMaine, visit:
