From: Mike Carey mikecarey123@gmail.com

All - Thank you for your previous support for the Roller Ski Safety Bill

in the Maine legislature. There was an administrative error and the

hearing was actually scheduled twice! Four of us spoke yesterday, and

there will be another public hearing on next Tuesday, the 19th. This is

unusual, but it allows us to address concerns that were expressed.

As you know, the bill would help ensure the safety of roller-skiers on

Maine roads. Skiing in the direction of traffic is the safest way to

ski, but current law is not clear that skiing should go in the direction

of traffic. The bill would clarify that.

Based on the questions yesterday, this bill could go either way. The

committee chair testified in support. He sponsored the Bicycle Rules of

the Road bill a couple years ago, and talked about this as the logical

next step. But there were also a number of questions about whether

roller-skiing is safe. It is very important that my colleagues hear

directly from parents, athletes and coaches about the safety measures

that skiers take. You have all been helpful in the past, and we need to

continue to grow the network. One of the great things about the Maine

Legislature is how much input citizens have in the process. A bill with

citizens calling on behalf of it is much more likely to succeed than one

that has only other legislators talking about it. Here are the steps

you can take:

1. Is your Senator or Representative on the Transportation

Committee, or do you know them (The list is below and attached)? Can

you call them? Calling is much more effective than emailing, and both

calling and emailing is the best of all.

2. Call your own Representative and Senator. Here is a web page

<http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm> that will list your Rep

with a link to their contact information:

http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm

3. Can you email any Maine skiers you can think of who might

contact their representative.

It is critical that my colleagues hear from you and as many people as

possible. Please send this email along to friends, and copy Luke

Siebert on your email (copied to this email). Luke is a Colby skier who

is helping with the organizing around this bill as a project for school.

One of the things that Luke is doing is helping to be sure that we

contact every committee member.

Thanks!

Mike