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I've mentioned in other posts that I've recently moved to the states for a year. Presque Isle, Maine to be exact. Tiny town of less then 10,000 people. Mostly a university town, truth be told (similar in some ways to my near-hometown of Fredericton, New Brunswick).

Anyway, I'm honestly a little distraught by this town so far.

For starters, they don't have a recycling program at all. Is this more common in the states? Seems like nearly everywhere in Canada now has a full recycling program. I'm so used to sorting my garbage, compost, and recycling.

Secondly, this place isn't very bicycle friendly. There's a small lane behind a white line that is just enough room for me to work, but compared to the bicycle lanes in Toronto? They're claustrophobic.

Finally - and this really kills me - there's almost no hide nor hair of places to lock my bike. Not even those quick-to-put-down bike railing lock-ups. I didn't expect the amazing bike lock areas that Toronto provides (they're like a giant, metal lolipop on the edge of the sidewalks). But none at all? I'm using free Wi-Fi at the local Tim Horton's and there's no place to lock up here or - much more surprisingly - Wal-Mart.

So, to my question:

Who should I speak to get some changes done? Even if they're not implemented by the time I leave in 10 months time, I could at least get the ball rolling. Presque Isle is a part of Aroostook County. Do I speak to PI's mayor? The county rep? Maine's senator?

It sounds like you're disenfranchised, and you should start some riots.

I would assume it's a municipal affair. However if it's a small town it may not have the monetary resources/population to justify programs to revamp roads for bike lanes, add recycling programs, etc. Plus your clout will be low since you're not even a resident. This may be a "choose your battles" affair and it's probably best just to let it go, and lock your bike to street signs or parking meters.

If you legitimately want to see it happen after your gone, then the people to speak to would be the people because it will be necessary to have local advocates who will push for it to change.
Added at: 13:19
Scratch that, I second riots

It'd be someone in the town council, but as previously stated, your clout is going to be minimal, being a non-resident student.

There might/should be some kind of county recycling center where you can bring your recyclables to, but the onus would be on you to suss out where.

And no, the U.S. is sorely deficient in getting that sort of liberal, tree-hugging hippy..... I mean, eco-friendly program in a widespread manner *trollface*

stienman said:

It sounds like you're disenfranchised, and you should start some riots.

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He can't, he's white. So therefore he's privileged.

It might be worth it to talk to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.

Also, this looks like it might be a place to start for recycling in Maine.

don't try to change U.S.!

Take the bus or get a car! Can't afford a car? Neither can half the Americans driving on the road, oh and welcome.

Recycling and riding a bike? Cut that shit out right now, it's like you're advertising you're foreign!

Ravenpoe said:

Recycling and riding a bike? Cut that shit out right now, it's like you're advertising you're foreign!

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(I think he is a canadian hippy)

Buy a car you Canadian hippie.

Seriously though, you're not going to get anything changed. If you're looking for public transit, you aren't going to find it in Small Town, America. The entire infrastructure of this country is designed for primarily using cars to get from city to city. Only major cities usually accommodate things like bike locks.

On the plus side, you might get away with not locking your bike up if the town is small and rural enough.

The fact that it has a bike lane at all is amazing.

We actually have a bike trail that goes all through town. Outdoor stuff like that is very popular here in my town. Of course alot of it is now underwater.

makare said:

We actually have a bike trail that goes all through town. Outdoor stuff like that is very popular here in my town. Of course alot of it is now underwater.

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Bike trails are usually 100% recreation routes. They're not practically used for transportation.

There are a few areas in the US that are trying to add bike lanes as an option for transportation.

Ann Arbor (and Washtenaw county as a whole) has mandated that any road repaving/repairs over a certain dollar amount (I don't know the details, but there's some trigger) require them to add bike lanes to the road, going both ways, and these are not small lanes either. Sure, it's not a ride side-by-side situation, but there's room enough to cycle.

So many of the major roads now have bike lanes.

We also recycle around here.

So, obviously, the answer is to move to University of Michigan.

I hear that several towns out west have a good cycling population that gets that sort of thing done too. I know Davis, CA is known for cycling.

More on topic though, you'd probably want to look into some kind of city counsel meeting. It would probably be best to look into this with the help of some like minded locals. Try the college, perhaps.

phil said:

More on topic though, you'd probably want to look into some kind of city counsel meeting. It would probably be best to look into this with the help of some like minded locals. Try the college, perhaps.

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Haha, Nicks going have himself a hillbilly chase scene.

Well first of all if you can post on the forums you have internet access, try google.

If you can't find google, get off your but and take your recycling to the

PRESQUE ISLE RECYCLING CENTER
No permit or fee is required to use the Recycling Center. The Recycling Center accepts the following materials: cardboard, newspaper, office paper, magazines, all books, PETE #1 plastic, HDPE #2 plastic, cans, and glass.
Location:
655 Missile Street
Presque Isle, ME 04769

Hours of operation:
Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM;
Saturday, 7:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

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Or you can follow the city's guidelines on blue bag recycling and leave the waste out with your PAYT trash and it will get collected.

As to biking, take a side street and lock your bike to a tree. Or walk, the city is only 4 km wide if you don't include the airport region.

phil said:

The fact that it has a bike lane at all is amazing.

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That was my thought. Cyclists here in MD are usually in the street or on the sidewalk. In both places they're in the way, but honestly, I have no idea which is correct.

I don't blame Nick for not getting a car. Between gas, insurance, and payments for it, not to mention tune-ups and repairs, between us we probably spend near 600 a month on my wife's car she takes to work. I spend 60 a month on my bus fair to and from work. She'd do it too if she didn't work so far away; I'd love us to have another 540 each month.

Motorcycle.

According to google, bike lanes aren't insanely common in Canada as a whole, either. In fact, they seem to be the source of a great deal of community controversy up there, too. According to my googling anyway.

Yeah Edmonton doesn't have them at all. I always view it as a curiosity (although a neat one) when I'm in a town or city that has them.

Oh, they certainly have their share of controversy. Thanks to the bike-hating new mayor of Toronto, they already passed a decision to take out a bike lane that was only installed LAST YEAR.

I'd say it's less of an official bike lane here and more of...hrm, what would I call it? There's a white line and a very small section of road before the sidewalk. Just barely enough for, say, me to bike on (while keeping very steady).

Yeah, I figured I wouldn't have much clout, but figured it'd be worth a try. I doubt the area has remotely the money or road room to add a bike lane. I'd be happy enough with some more places to lock my bike, at least. Just now, at Walmart, I locked it to one of the sign poles out front. Good enough for now. Guess I'll just have to get creative with where I lock up my baby.

Thanks for all the resposes, folks! I'll try not to fume from the hippy comments. I'll just sit and stew with some a soy milk protein shake.

Living in Colorado has spoiled me horribly, to the point that if I go out of state and try to cross an intersection that has no pedestrian signals, I have a panic attack. We have bike lanes too, but they really aren't all that big either. There's this big thing building more bike trails that aren't on the roads though for that very reason.

Albuquerque is very bike friendly. They actually have separate bike roads.

That's called a shoulder.

I hate bikes, therefore am in full support of bike lanes. Anything to get those jackasses off the road so they stop causing traffic.

We have both dedicated bike routes and bike lanes in NYC, but the routes are few and far between, and the lanes are more, "parts of the street you could ride your bike down as long as no one is parked in it".