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SKOWHEGAN — As of Oct. 5, a new law has prohibited smoking in bus shelters in Maine. In Somerset County, the law covers the Somerset Explorer bus shelter in Skowhegan.
Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 269, an Act to Prohibit Smoking in Bus Shelters, on May 5. Sen. Heather Sanborn, District 30, was motivated to introduce the bill. One of her constituents, a man in his 80s who is entirely reliant on the bus for transportation, shared the many times he had to wait in the rain or cold because people were smoking in the bus shelter.
Many Mainers use public transportation to get to and from work, shops, health appointments and places of worship. Others travel for recreation, entertainment or spending time with family and friends. Mainers have the right to public transportation and public spaces free from secondhand smoke exposure. Smoke-free public places also help normalize tobacco-free living, which helps support the community’s overall health.
“The Somerset Public Health Tobacco Prevention Team works with our community partners to promote a tobacco-free Somerset County,” Community Health Educator Deb Casey said. “We provide education and training on tobacco use and treatment resources. We also offer technical assistance for strengthening tobacco-free policies in various settings, including public places such as bus stops.”
If you’re interested in quitting, reach out to the Maine QuitLink online at MaineQuitLink.com or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669), which is available to provide free, confidential support to all. People are 2 to 3 times more likely to quit with the Maine QuitLink than when trying to stop on their own.
Somerset Public Health is a coalition of staff members, community members, organizations, and businesses working together to improve health in Somerset County. It’s goal is to make Somerset County a healthier place to live and work for the families it serves by:
• Improving nutrition
• Increasing physical activity
• Stopping tobacco use
• Preventing substance misuse
• Promoting the responsible use of alcohol
“To do all of this, we need your help. We work with community members, schools, workplaces, child-care centers, service groups, and other community groups to make the places we visit every day healthier,” SPH officials said.
To learn more about Somerset Public Health’s prevention education and policy efforts, contact Casey at dcasey@rfgh.net. For more information about Somerset Public Health, visit somersetpublichealth.org or find it on Facebook at facebook.com/SomersetPublicHealth or Instagram at @SomersetPublicHealth.
