And, this year, because of our many initiatives, BIKE WALK MISSISSIPPI took home the biggest award of the night: ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR!  

The Alliance for Biking and Walking stated when presenting the award that, “as local and national organizations continue to emphasize the connection between transportation and economic growth, perhaps they should take a cue from the fantastic advocates from Bike Walk Mississippi”. Advocates lovingly refer to these awards as the “Oscars” of biking and walking advocacy, so as the comparison goes, the Alliance reminded us that we won best picture for 2013! It’s because of all of you and your support! Thank you Mississippi, let’s keep moving!!  

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ABOUT OUR AWARD HERE! 

As you can see, Bike Walk Mississippi does a lot on very little. We are working hard to represent you on the National stage as well as serve as your statewide advocate promoting the need for a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly Mississippi. We are beyond grateful to be recognized for our efforts on the national stage and, will continue to be your voice for a better state! But, herein lies the rub…we are still a very, very small organization struggling in this economy to stay afloat and we want to continue to show the nation what Mississippi is capable of! We are off to a good start, but without your support, we will literally be unable to keep our wheels turning. With the help of our financial supporter Advocacy Advance, all 2013 donations will be matched 100%! If you are reading this, you probably believe in our mission or find yourself at least curious about the work we are doing and now you know that we are doing everything in our power to stand out from the crowd, to bring partners together to grow the movement and to make a better Mississippi.

But, there is one thing missing. We need YOU! Will you please consider financially supporting the efforts being made by Bike Walk Mississippi?

For less than the cost of a pair of new shoes, you can join our efforts to keep Mississippi moving! To join or donate to Bike Walk Mississippi, click HERE now.

Learn about our visit to the National Bike Summit 2013! 

In March of 2013, delegates representing the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians from Mississippi arrived in D.C. to add their voices to the nationwide conversation and to make our case before Congress. And, this year was one of the best!    If I had to describe Bike Walk Mississippi’s recent trip to the National Bike Summit and report back on the efforts being made in the bicycling movement nationwide in one word, it would be: DIVERSITY.  The take-away for all of us working to make a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly state is to invite others to join the movement – whether this means engaging under-served populations or by engaging those who do not directly identify themselves as “cyclists”. If we can expand our conversation to include ideas such as increasing livable communities, quality of life and using the bicycle as a tool for a better, healthier, safer and more economically sound Mississippi – we will tap into those who care about the same end result but who may not even know that they are advocates.

In the shadow of the sequester and the literal fear of Congressional shut down because of heavy snow in the D.C. area, advocates from Mississippi and around the U.S. fought against the storm to met with Congressional offices to speak out for the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians; specifically asking Congress to continue their support of bike/ped related programs and infrastructure projects. At the national bike summit, we met leaders from around the nation who are using unique programs and projects to push forward the efforts of a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly America. From Congressmen and Mayors speaking to the importance of the investments in bicycle infrastructure and what it can mean for local communities to the leadership of corporations (hint: AAA!) In addition to visiting with Congress and learning about “top-down” efforts, we also heard from local advocates on the ground, particularly those working to include minorities and under-served populations. One of the most impressive and inspiring presentations came from Veronica Davis, co-founder of Black Women Bike DC and her story to engage the African American community in DC with acceptable and accessible ways to join or make know their presence in the biking movement. From community bike shops popping up all over the nation (including the Bike Walk MS Sponsored Jxn Community Bike Shop set to open this month), to advocates working with mothers, with low income communities, with Hispanic, Asian, African American and other groups that are not typically the “face” of bicycling but are key to its growth and success.

National Women’s Bicycling Forum: “Women Mean Business”

Our trip began with the League of American Bicyclist’s newest program “Women Bike”, and it’s “Women Mean Business” program at the National Women’s Bicycling Forum. In 2009, women took just 24% of bicycle trips in the United States. If we ever hope to ‘mainstream bicycling in America, we have to bridge the gender gap and get more women riding’ – which means, as stated by Women Bike, “as the energy and momentum around women cycling grows nationwide, we need to share our collective knowledge, build a network of female leaders and start working on targeted programs that put more women in the saddle and at the forefront of the movement.” While attending the Women’s Bicycling Forum, the staff of Bike Walk Mississippi heard from the female editors of Bicycle Times and Momentum Mag, female bicycle builders working to expand the efforts of bicycles made for the needs of women. We heard from women leaders in the bicycle industry such as Elysa Walk, General Manager of Giant Bicycles as well as on the ground advocates such as the founders of Red, Bike and Green, a collective of cyclists improving the health, economy & local environment of African Americans by creating relevant & sustainable black bike culture.

Mississippi Delegation!

We heard about efforts such as Kidical Mass DC, an effort to support and engage mothers and children to bicycling, efforts being made by women to make bike retail shops, rides and races more welcoming to women and efforts around the U.S. to build bicycle friendly cities that provide environments that are attractive to and more conducive to getting women on bikes.

National Bike Summit: “Bicycling Means Business” 

Met with a standing ovation, outgoing Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood addressed the crowd of over 750 attendees from all 50 states to speak out the importance of bicycles as a part of the overall transportation system in America. Secretary LaHood stated that, “DOT is going to address bicycle safety head on — and we’re going to pull from all of our resources to solve our safety challenges,” Further LaHood stated, “DOT will also work to create a standard guide for how we build modern streets, bridges and highways that keep everyone safe — including cyclists.” Following the DOT Secretary, we had the privilege to hear from a panel concerning the economic benefits of better cycling cities from Janette Sadik-Khan, NYC Transportation Commissioner, John Burke, President of Trek Bicycles and Bruce Katz, Vice President of the Brookings Institute. As our second day began, we were honored to hear from Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon (who made the bike pin famous!), Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Congressman Tom Petri and Senator Ben Cardin. When Mayor Ballard first took office, there was 1 mile of bike lanes – now, there are 75! We believe the message and example from Mayor Ballard strikes home for many public officials, planners and advocates in Mississippi, particularly when we realize that his efforts are not simply because he, himself is a cyclists but because he understands that his efforts are about economic development, health and talent retention. His message speaks to elected officials power to use the return on investment that comes from bicycling to make a better city – and, in our case, a better state. We were lucky to hear from one of the most surprising supporters of the bicycling and pedestrian movement in America: AAA! That’s right, the American AUTOMOBILE Association supports bicycling as part of their overall mission (did you know they even offer bicycle road-side assistance?) Yolanda Cade, Director of P.R. for AAA spoke as the Summit’s keynote speaker and clearly showed that AAA, an unlikely partner is in full support of bicycling on America’s roads. If you don’t believe us, see their new PSA here: Share the Road from AAA

Share the Road from AAA Public Affairs on Vimeo.

Following many inspirational success stories from the biking industry and the world of mountain biking to the Transportation Bill, Complete Streets, legislation, national parks and everything in between, the Mississippi delegation gathered together to talk strategy for our day on Capitol Hill to represent YOU!

Snow- Quester! 

Mississippi delegates thank Senator Cochran for his support of biking and walking through the Cardin-Cochran amendment in the National Transportation Bill.

As advocates prepared to march on Capitol Hill to speak with Congressmen from Mississippi, we awoke to an intense snow-storm virtually shutting down the city. Schools and federal offices were closed and, for a moment we feared our message would not be heard. After a flurry of calls, texts and a mad rush of re-scheduling, Congressmen and their staff met with Bike Walk Mississippi delegates (who headed to Capitol Hill no matter what to make our case!) This year, we asked Congressmen to expand their view of our “ask” – to look beyond simply responding to “cyclists”, but instead to see the bicycle as a tool that can be used to lead to a healthier, more connected and more economically sound state; a tool that brings with it greater talent retention and a greater quality of life for all Mississippians.

Andy Clarke, Director of the League of American Bicyclists and Melody Moody, Director of Bike Walk Mississippi

We plan to continue efforts to expand this conversation through the “Mississippi Livable Communities Summit”, co-sponsored by Bike Walk Mississippi, to be held in Jackson, MS on October 2nd – featuring keynote speaker, Andy Clarke, Director of the League of American Bicyclists (Save the date!)

We are working hard to expand and grow the effort for more Bicycle Friendly Communities across our state, beginning with our work through our Bicycle Friendly Mississippi campaign, an effort to work with local communities to assess and create action plans toward increased bicycle friendly communities – efforts that, (whether you bike or not) make for a better community and thus, a better Mississippi.
We serve as your voice on bicycle and pedestrian issues statewide and as representative nationally.

Learn more about our initiatives and JOIN OUR EFFORTS TODAY!

You say to yourself, I am a cyclist, a runner, a parent or an activist for a better, safer and more active Mississippi, but other than simply riding my bike, running and telling others, what can I do to really make a difference with these efforts? I want to DO SOMETHING – I’m just not sure what, outside my local cycling club to do? Can you help?   Here are a few of our ideas:

1. Consider becoming a member of or make a donation to Bike Walk Mississippi.

You may not know this, but Bike Walk Mississippi is THE STATEWIDE bicycle and pedestrian advocate for our state.  Bike Walk Mississippi encourages everyone to become a member of and increase their involvement with local clubs but also encourages everyone to support the statewide effort to improve the bicycle friendliness of Mississippi as a whole.  Bike Walk Mississippi works at all levels to promote and encourage in every way possible the improvement of our state and to utilize the bicycle as an affordable and accessible TOOL to increase the health, access, connectivity, economic development and quality of life for communities across the state.   Becoming a member of or making a donation to their efforts helps move us all forward as a state and helps us to our part to help support the effort to equip other communities in every part of the state – leading to stronger, healthier, safer and more bicycle friendly state!

Join the Bicycle Friendly Mississippi effort by making your voice heard in your community today!  

•  Help us to form a Bicycle Advisory Committee in your community!   

By forming local bicycle advisory committees, you will help to bring together city officials, planners, businesses, advocates and other decision makers to not only make your voice be heard and to offer insight on the needs and concerns of bicyclists in your community but you will develop greater relationships with decision makers in your community – raising demand for change to make your community more bicycle friendly.  And, don’t worry because, Bike Walk Mississippi will help you to start forming the committee today!

In fact, we are working to start these committees in communities all over the state so that we can build together and form a STATEWIDE bicycle advisory team!   We will come together as a group to advise legislation, give input on the statewide bicycle and pedestrian plan and help to prioritize lanes, paths, trails, program and policies.  The statewide Bicycle Advisory Committee will meet together in person the Mississippi Livable Communities Summit in Jackson on October 1^st, 2013.

•  Help your city become a Bicycle Friendly Community! 

In addition to forming a bicycle advisory committee in your community, Bike Walk Mississippi has launched its Bicycle Friendly Mississippi campaign as a way to work with advocates on a local level to fill out the Bicycle Friendly Community application from the National group the “League of American Bicyclists”.  Bike Walk Mississippi serves as a liaison to local communities to help work with advocates and city officials to fill out the application – to form action teams- and to assist in creating both short-term and long-term action plans for increased bicycle friendliness.  Bike Walk Mississippi will also work with you to connect you to resources, best practices and even share other success stories happening around the state!

•  Volunteer!

There are many, many ways to be a bicycle advocate by volunteering and each one can easily lend itself to your individual gifts and talents.

If you’re in the Jackson Metro area, consider volunteering for Bike Walk Mississippi’s local efforts including:  (Hint: If you aren’t in Central Mississippi – we are bringing these same efforts to your community very soon – sign up today and let’s work together to make Mississippi a better place!)

•  
• Bike Walk Mississippi’s initiative to empower low-income communities in Jackson’s Midtown neighborhood.  As part of this initiative, Bike Walk Mississippi is working to provide bicycle safety classes to 5^th graders during the after-school program at Midtown Partners, Inc.   BWM will also be working with community members to determine ways that their neighborhood can become more bike-able and walk-able – particularly for children.   To supplement these efforts, Bike Walk Mississippi has partnered with the Jackson Bike Advocates and others to launch the “Jxn Community Bike Shop”, which serves to provide a safe space in Midtown where youth and community members can learn basic bicycle repair and maintenance along with safety education, proper helmet fit, locking techniques and overall bike care. The shop will also offer a component where those eligible can work to “Earn-a-bike” from the shop.  These efforts are part of a pilot program supported by Safe Routes to Schools to create a replicable model that can be shared with low-income communities throughout Mississippi.  Donate or volunteer today!

•  
• Jackson Streets Alive: With the support of the Bikes Belong Foundation, Bike Walk Mississippi will be hosting the state’s very first Cyclovia – and the best part is, we are bringing these cyclovia’s to your communities too!  The first of many, Jackson Streets Alive will take place on Saturday, April 27th along the Congress street corridor in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.  Festivals or “cyclovia’s” are part of a nationwide movement to temporarily close streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing. There are more than 70 open streets/cyclovia initiatives in the U.S. & Canada and Mississippi is proud to be the next on the list! If you would like to help us with Jackson Streets Alive, we are now actively looking for sponsors, vendors, and volunteers!  If you don’t live in the Jackson Metro area, but would like to throw a cyclovia in your community, contact us at bikewalk@bikewalkmississippi.org and let’s make your city’s streets come alive!

 What makes Bike Walk Mississippi unique as a statewide organization?

 As a statewide advocacy organization, we have the unique opportunity to effect change by working from both a “bottom-up” approach (by empowering local communities to create advisory committees, action plans and building community power and support) while, at the same time working on a “top-down” approach by subsequently using this demand and support to leverage power to influence change with statewide agencies such as MDOT, Dept of Health, Education as well as the MS Legislature and Congress.  As a statewide advocate, we are able to share the successes and best practices from other communities in Mississippi – as well as represent advocates from Mississippi on the national level.  We seek to give opportunities to the local clubs and groups around the state where they can learn from one another, promote their good work and dialog and network with others to create a statewide voice that can provide influence at every level.  We are working to make a more happier, healthier, safer and more bicycle friendly state and we hope that you will come alongside our efforts to become an advocate today!

Please consider supporting our work by:

• 1. Becoming a member of Bike Walk Mississippi for as low as $20 a year!

 2. 

• Become a sponsor of Jackson Streets Alive and your business will gain massive publicity in the Jackson Metro area – AND your company’s brand will be synonymous with efforts to increase the health & quality of life in MS!  You can become a sponsor for a little as $50.

3. 

• PURCHASE A SHARE THE ROAD LICENSE PLATE!   There is literally no better place to remind motorists of the Share the Road message than when you proclaim it right from your car!  In fact, the proceeds go straight to support the mission of Bike Walk Mississippi.  AND, get a tag TODAY, you can enter to win a $750 gift certificate from Moore’s Bike Shop to go toward your next bicycle!  Email your tag number to bikewalk@bikewalkmississippi.org and enter to win today!  

Your financial gift will support the statewide efforts of education & promotion of the 3 feet law and will allow BWM to continue to work to promote a safe environment to grow mutual respect among bicyclists and motorists in Mississippi.  BWM provides educational and promotional materials to bike shops, clubs, races, businesses and individuals free of charge.  Your gift will help get these materials in the hands of people around the state.  We must be vigilant to remind everyone that they can Save a life by Sharing the Road and we must become part of the change we want to see.  Become a member of Bike Walk Mississippi and join our efforts today to make a better Mississippi!  **If you wish, you can make a donation in honor of a fallen or injured cyclist and an honor card will be sent to the family.**

You can join online HERE or send a check made payable to:  Bike Walk Mississippi to PO Box 515, Jackson, MS 39205.

Thanks!

Keep up with the latest updates at: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonStreetsAlive

“Make Jackson your playground” 

Jackson Streets Alive is part of a nationwide “open streets” movement to temporarily close streets to automobile traffic and instead “opening” them up for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing all while promoting healthy lifestyles.  Jackson Streets Alive is a free (music, bike, skateboard, fitness, dance, food, art) “cyclovia” festival promoting what is great about Jackson and celebrating active living by turning downtown Jackson into everyone’s playground!

 Where will Jackson Streets Alive take place this year?

On Saturday, April 27^th, the streets will come alive along the Congress street corridor in downtown Jackson from the intersection of Capitol Street and Congress leading all the way to the new capitol building.  Perpendicular streets along this route between N. President and West Streets (East Amite, Yazoo and Mississippi Streets) will also be open for street activities.

{picture courtesy of yoga in bryant park: NYC}

What happens at Jackson Streets Alive?

Bike Walk Mississippi and its partners invite anyone to attend and participate in this free festival celebrating active living in Jackson!  Congress Street in downtown Jackson will be alive with activities of ALL kinds and for ALL ages!  We envision this event as a way for people of all ages to make Jackson their very own playground; with interactive games, sports and activities, this event will promote exercise, good health, and physical activity of all types such as:

• Bike Rides and Bicycle Parade
• Huge outdoor Yoga classes in Smith Park
• Bike Maintenance Booth and Helmet Fittings
• Bike safety bike rodeo obstacle course
• Dance Performances and classes
• All day music from local Jackson bands
• Food from local restaurants
• Face Painting and interactive arts & crafts
• Roller skating, Bike Polo and Skateboarding
• Zumba, Salsa, Belly-dancing, Step teams
• Contra/Square Dance/Irish Dancing
• Interactive games and contests for all ages like:  Hula Hoops, Jump Rope, 4-square and more!

Photo Courtesy: Atlanta Streets Alive

{photo courtesy of Open Streets Chicago via Open Streets Project}

“Join us on April 27th to make Jackson your playground!” 

Jackson Streets Alive is made possible by: Bike Walk Mississippi, our sponsors, Bikes Belong, the city of Jackson and YOU!

—————————————————————————————

Want to get involved?  Here’s how:

Become a Sponsor!  

BREAKING NEWS:  

ADVOCACY ADVANCE WILL NOW MATCH ALL GIFTS 100%! 

———————————————————————————————–

Jackson Streets Alive LEAD Sponsor: Minimum of $5,000

PROMOTER Sponsorship will include:  

• Stage Mention: Your company’s name and support will be announced through the main stage!
• Medium Logo on Festival Banners at entrance: Be the first thing people see when they enter the festival!
• Name, Logo, website, social media listing in Festival program: Guide to the fest including band info, map and activities!
• Company logo, link and two sentence company highlight on: www.bikewalkmississippi.org 
• Company Name listed on Press Releases (Jackson Metro and Statewide announcements including E-blasts)
• Medium sized logo on Promotional flyers and handbills (thousands of handbills/flyers are distributed in the Metro)
• Spots made available for  promotional materials at the festival 
• Social Media: Featured as sponsor through on social media and website PLUS  2-3 online mentions of sponsorship
• And, your company’s brand will be synonymous with efforts to increase the health & quality of life in MS!

*All gifts to Bike Walk Mississippi are tax-deductible as a charitable gift.  Tax ID #: 64-0819065

PARTNER Sponsorship will include:  

• Medium Logo on Festival Banners at entrance:  Be the first thing people see when they enter the festival! 
• Name, Logo AND website  listing in Festival program: Guide to the fest including band info, map and activities!
• Company logo AND link on: www.bikewalkmississippi.org
• Company Mention listed on Press Releases (Jackson Metro and Statewide announcements including E-blasts)
• Medium sized logo on Promotional flyers/handbills (thousands of handbills/flyers are distributed in the Metro)
• Social Media: Mentioned as sponsor through on social media AND website PLUS  at least 1-2 online mentions 
• And, your company’s brand will be synonymous with efforts to increase the health & quality of life in MS!

*All gifts to Bike Walk Mississippi are tax-deductible as a charitable gift.  Tax ID #: 64-0819065 

SUPPORTER Sponsorship will include:  

• Logo on Festival Banners at entrance:  Be the first thing people see when they enter the festival!
• Logo listing in Festival program: Guide to the fest including band info, map and activities!
• Company name AND link on: www.bikewalkmississippi.org
• Logo on Promotional flyers/handbills (thousands of handbills/flyers are distributed in the Metro) 
• Social Media: Mentioned as sponsor through on social media and link to your social media pages.
• And, your company’s brand will be synonymous with efforts to increase the health & quality of life in MS!

*All gifts to Bike Walk Mississippi are tax-deductible as a charitable gift.  Tax ID #: 64-0819065 

• Name and/or Logo listing in Festival program: Guide to the fest including band info, map and activities!
• Company or Individual name on: www.bikewalkmississippi.org
• Name or Logo on Promotional flyers/handbills (thousands of handbills/flyers are distributed in the Metro)
• Social Media: Publicly thanked as a sponsor/supporter of the festival through social media
• And, your company’s brand will be synonymous with efforts to increase the health & quality of life in MS!

*All gifts to Bike Walk Mississippi are tax-deductible as a charitable gift.  Tax ID #: 64-0819065

(Or, if you’d like to give a larger gift or chose your own value,  please use the “Donate Now” Button on the right sidebar)

 Bike Walk Mississippi was honored to receive a capacity building grant from Advocacy Advance allowing us to further our mission to make Mississippi a more bicycle friendly state by hiring a part-time staff person to help us achieve that goal.  We are pleased to welcome Alex Kenner to the Bike Walk Mississippi family!

Alex Kenner, a native of New Orleans and long time bicycling enthusiast, joined the leadership of Bike Walk Mississippi as its Advocacy Campaign Manager in September, 2012.  A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Alex spent more than a year studying in Spain before receiving her BA in International Relations and Spanish from USM.  Following graduation Alex worked at USM as an exchange programs specialist until moving to The Netherlands – a country of bicyclists and walkers – on a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial scholarship.  Alex received her master’s degree at Leiden University, The Netherlands, in Public Administration.   After more than four years in The Netherlands she returned to USM as Coordinator of International Programs.  Most recently, Alex worked at the University of Texas, Austin, as the Advising Team Leader in the UT study abroad program.  Wherever Alex has lived she has enjoyed her community traveling on foot and on bicycle.

Alex is particularly excited about Bike Walk’s brand new Bicycle Friendly Mississippi campaign (supported by grants from the League of American Bicyclists, the Alliance for Biking and Walking and the Foundation for the Mid South)!  Alex will be leading the statewide effort to consult and collaborate with cities across the state to use LAB’s Bicycle Friendly Community application as a tool to create both short-term and long-term action plans for increased bike and pedestrian friendliness in cities across Mississippi!  Alex would love to talk to you about your city’s involvement in the campaign and how you can be a part of Bike Walk’s state wide bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee!  Be on the lookout for a “how-to” guide with tools and resources to implement in your communities today!  

You can reach Alex by email at: kalexkenner@gmail.com or by phone at: 601.498.7605

We survive on support we receive from our members and donors and we hope you will consider helping us by supporting our mission to make Mississippi a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly state.  And, if you’d like to donate today, Advocacy Advance will match every gift dollar for dollar up to $10,000!!!!!   If you’d like to donate or join through this website, you can do so by clicking HERE or you’d like to donate or join by mail, you may send a check to:  Bike Walk Mississippi, P.O. Box 515, Jackson, MS 39205 

Thank you for your support! 

Check out our 2012 Campaign Initiatives and how you can help us keep moving! 

Bicycle Friendly Mississippi:

 In August of 2012, Bike Walk Mississippi launched the state’s first “Bicycle Friendly Mississippi” campaign*!  This campaign is an effort to improve the overall Bicycle Friendly ranking of Mississippi (currently #38) and to offer assistance and TOOLS to communities around the state to help them assess and evaluate their current status and find creative ways to increase their own bicycle friendliness.  It is our goal to do our part to provide dialog along with best practices and tangible examples to better equip both city officials and citizens to use the bicycle as an affordable and accessible TOOL to increase the health, access, connectivity, economic development and quality of life for their communities.  Since the launch of this effort, Bike Walk Mississippi has been honored to partner with the cities of Jackson, Greenwood, Pascagoula and Starkville to walk with them as they begin the journey to become a certified bicycle friendly city!

Low-income Empowerment Initiative: Midtown

Bike Walk Mississippi in partnership with Midtown Partners and with support from Safe Routes for Schools launched its “Community Empowerment Initiative” as an effort to start a pilot program in the Midtown community in Jackson with the goal of creating a replicable model that could be used to make low income communities across Mississippi more bike-able and walk-able for its residents.   This initiative includes the formation a Bike Club for students in Midtown Partner’s after-school program along with workshops with parents and community members and year-long biking, walking and safety oriented events in the Midtown community of Jackson.   Students in this community will receive bicycle safety training and will be invited to ride and walk to school days, maintenance workshops, bicycle rodeos and creative problem solving sessions to make their community more bike-able and walk-able.  As a part of this Initiative, Bike Walk Mississippi is partnering with the Jackson Bike Advocates and others to launch Jackson’s first Community Bike Shop!  Opening in December 2013, the primary focus of the Jackson Community Bike Shop will be the shop’s “Earn-a-bike” repair program, which will serve as the initiative’s “hands-on” element for children and community members to learn basic bicycle repair and maintenance along with safety education, proper helmet fit, locking techniques and overall bike care.  Bike Walk Mississippi believes that the Jackson community bike shop and Midtown’s low-income empowerment initiative is just one part of a grass-roots, hands-on approach to equip and empower Mississippians to embrace the bicycle as a viable option for transportation, recreation and health.

Mississippi’s first Cyclovia: Jackson Streets Alive: 4/27/13! 

Because of yet another generous grant from Bikes Belong, Bike Walk Mississippi has been afforded the opportunity to hold its very first Open Streets event!  Jackson Streets Alive will take place on Saturday, April 27^th along the Congress street corridor in downtown Jackson, Mississippi and is part of a nationwide movement to temporarily close streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing. There are more than 70 open streets/cyclovia initiatives in the United States and Canada and Mississippi is proud to be the next on the list! Be watching for updates about Jackson Streets alive as we work to provide a space to celebrate and to make active living an easy, accessible and enjoyable part of life in Mississippi! Let’s make Jackson Streets come alive! 

 Mississippians proclaim “I Share the Road”!

Our “I Share the Road” campaign is an effort to encourage a mutual respect on Mississippi roads.  Unfortunately, it is easy for both motorists and bicyclists to become angry at one another when co-existing on Mississippi’s roads.  And, sometimes, this anger turns into a negative message and increased hostility on our roads.  Because of this, Bike Walk Mississippi believes that the “Share the Road” concept should be addressed from an inclusive and participatory perspective, doing everything we can to encourage a mutual respect from all users of the road.  Bike Walk Mississippi works hard to encourage the promotion of inclusivity, where those in vehicles can begin to identify pedestrians, runners and bicyclists as someone’s brother, mother, father, sister, son or daughter.  We encourage Mississippians to embrace our southern hospitality on the road and treat all users of the road with the same respect we’d show to our loved ones.  In an effort to promote these goals Bike Walk began a petition for increased legislation for harsher penalties and protection for pedestrians, runners AND bicyclists.  It is our hope to go beyond the 3 feet law, but to also work to expand and strengthen the law to protect and recognize ALL users of the road, no matter the reason or mode of transportation!

*Annual “Wear YELLOW day”!   People take notice when people wear Yellow or High Vis clothing in everyday life; since these are colors that the majority of bicyclists wear when riding on the roads, we want people (whether they bike or not) to identify themselves as advocates for the safety of bikers, walkers, runners on Mississippi roads. We believe wearing Yellow in solidarity is a peaceful opportunity for citizens of all ages to have open dialog with those who do not regularly ride (or run) about the importance of safety and inclusiveness of all users of the roads. Over 1,600 Mississippians, (cyclists and non-cyclists) united together in an outstanding show of solidarity after the tragedies of Jan Morgan, Kevser Ermin, Cathleen Keel and Dr. Gary Holdiness to speak up for increased safety and the movement to foster a mutual respect on the roads.  Save the date for Wear Yellow Day 2013 on Wednesday, MAY 15^TH, 2013 and let’s stand up together for the rights of pedestrians, runners and bicyclists across Mississippi!

Bike Walk Mississippi is your voice in Mississippi and Nationwide! 

Thank you Senator Cochran!   Bike Walk Mississippi was also honored in 2012, to be one of the states offering an amendment that essentially saves biking and walking infrastructure by allowing states local control.  Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran co-sponsored the “Cardin-Cochran” amendment in the new federal transportation bill in Washington.  Delegates from Mississippi including Bike Walk Mississippi staff and board members presented Senator Cochran with the National Bicycle Leadership Award for his amendment to give local communities to chance to compete for local transportation programs.  Bike Walk Mississippi will continue to be your voice on Capitol hill and will stand up for the needs and concerns of pedestrians and bicyclists across Mississippi!

With your support, we were able to make so many amazing strides for biking and walking in Mississippi in 2012 and are excited to build upon this momentum and keep those wheels moving in 2013!  Thank you for your support to make Mississippi and more bicycle and pedestrian friendly state!

Look for our new projects coming soon: 

•  January 2013: “Women Bike: Mississippi”, a statewide initiative to increase the amount of female bicyclists in Mississippi and therefore increasing ridership among all people.
• October 2013:  Mississippi’s first “Statewide Bike Summit”, a statewide conference featuring speakers and best practice sessions from Mississippi and around the nation focusing on empowering cities and city officials around Mississippi with tools and resources to for increased health and economic development in Mississippi.

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You may give through our website by clicking HERE. 

The first city to apply for the Bicycle Friendly Community application since the launch of Bike Walk Mississippi’s Bicycle Friendly Mississippi campaign , Pascagoula, Mississippi applied for and received honorable mention as a certified Bicycle Friendly Community!    This designation is due, among other things, to efforts including the Historic Pascagoula Bike Trail, Bike Month 2012 celebrations, it’s Complete Streets policy and the city’s Biking Webpage (http://cityofpascagoula.com/biking).

As the state advocate for biking and walking, Bike Walk Mississippi was awarded a grant from the Foundation for the MidSouth, the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking, to launch a “Bicycle Friendly Mississippi” initiative in order to increase the Bicycle Friendliness of four communities around the state. The cities included in the grant are: Starkville, Pascagoula, Greenwood and Jackson.

As part of the Bicycle Friendly Community campaign, the city of Pascagoula will continue its efforts throughout the year to increase its bicycle friendliness!  They will form a bicycle and pedestrian advisory coalition made up of city officials, business owners, law enforcement, planners and engineers, parents and other citizens who will work together to devise a list of short term and long term goals.  This advisory committee will be able to serve as a driving force to create and accomplish the city’s action plans toward increased bicycle friendliness.  The City plans to hold a public meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at 6:00PM in Council Chambers at City Hall (603 Watts Avenue) to gather community input and define an action plan with the hopes of improving the City’s ranking in the future.  The conversation facilitated by Bike Walk Mississippi will include examples of other bicycle friendly communities around the U.S. and will include opportunities for collaborative brainstorming toward making Pascagoula a more bicycle friendly city.  For more information, please contact the Community and Economic Development Director, Jen Dearman, at (228) 938-6651.

Oxford and Ridgeland are the only other League certified Bicycle Friendly Communities in Mississippi.  Want your city to apply?  Email us at bikewalk@bikewalkmississippi.org to start the process in your hometown! We are here to help!

Safety Classes and the shop’s “Earn-a-bike” program will be the focus of the Community Bike Shop providing an opportunity to include a “hands-on” element for children and community members to learn basic bicycle repair and maintenance.  This program will also include instruction in proper helmet fit, locking techniques and overall bike care. Bike Walk MS and the Jackson Bike Advocates will work with Midtown Partners and other volunteers to open the Jxn Community Bike Shop for students in Midtown Partner’s after school tutoring program and open to the general public two Saturdays per month starting in the fall of 2012.

The Jxn Community Bike Shop will be located at 121 Millsaps Avenue in the Midtown community of Jackson (between Mill Street & West Street) and is set to open its doors to the public in September.  In preparation for its opening in September, Bike Walk Mississippi and the Jackson Bike Advocates are spending the month of August setting up the shop and are asking for your help!  They will be setting up regular drop-off hours every month or, if needed, we can arrange pick-up for your donations!     Please email bikewalk@bikewalkmississippi.org if you have bike repair equipment you would like to donate old (or new) bicycles, parts, tools, helmets, locks, bells, lights and/or supplies or if you’d like to volunteer to set up and organize the shop!

For more information on Bike Walk Mississippi’s low-income Initiative or the Jxn Community Bike Shop, please contact: bikewalk@bikewalkmississippi.org or jacksonbikeadvocates@gmail.com