Maine adopts rollerski safety bill

Thu, Mar  11, 2010 - By Mike Muha

Gov. John Baldacci last week signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Michael Carey that will require rollerskiers to follow the same rules as bicyclists to protect their saftery.

The Representative's sister, Eileen Carey, is vice president at the Maine Winter Sports Center in Caribou, where a rollerskier was killed last year during training.

The new law, which goes into effect three months after the legislative session ends, establishs safety rules concerning the warm weather ski-training activity. For example, it says roller skiers must travel with the flow of traffic and bars roller skis from divided highways. In addition, roller skiers under 16 years old must wear helmets.