WEAR YELLOW DAY IS THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 18th.

[melody moody]

REMINDER: WEAR YELLOW DAY IS THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 18th.  

Join thousands of advocates across Mississippi for “Wear Yellow Day” 2016, a statewide day of awareness, scheduled for Wednesday, May 18th.

The annual day of awareness was started in 2011 by Bike Walk Mississippi to bring increased attention to safety for those who ride bicycles in Mississippi, whether by choice or by need. 

Please Wear Yellow to show your support for bicycle safety this Wednesday, May 18th. 

Post photos to social media using the hashtags #wearyellowday and #changelanestopass 

Other things you can do to help raise awareness on Wear Yellow Day: 

• Post a photo of yourself wearing Yellow to Bike Walk Mississippi's Facebook or Twitter pages to win prizes all day long on Wear Yellow Day 
• Change your profile picture on social media to "Wear Yellow Day" - Download free social media icons
  
• Share the Change Lanes to Pass Video! 
• Make a donation or get involved with the Change Lanes to Pass Campaign to support safety materials & trainings Statewide
• Use Wear Yellow Day to start a dialog with your friends, family and colleagues about the importance of watching for bicyclists on Mississippi roads.  

Talking points (if needed)

• Why Yellow? Because Yellow is a common color worn by cyclists when riding, we want to unite advocates of safer streets around the state to wear yellow on Wednesday, May 18th and draw attention to the need for increased dialog around safety for those who use bicycles as transportation or recreation alternatives. Nearly everyone remembers learning how to ride a bicycle for the first time or teaching their children to ride a bike, so most people are more connected to this issue than they realize. By remembering that everyone riding a bicycle is important to someone, we hope those behind the wheel of a car will remember to give anyone they see on a bicycle plenty of room when passing. 

• What is the goal of Wear Yellow Day? Wear Yellow Day is way to raise awareness each year about the legal rights and responsibilities for those on bicycles and the law surrounding motorist’s behavior when passing a bicyclist.  Mississippi is one of only seven states where it is actually legal to completely change lanes in a non-passing zone to pass a bicyclist, once the person behind the wheel determines that they can do so safely.  Motorists must leave a minimum of 3 feet when passing but ideally, they should give as much room to pass as possible.  

• Where can people find more information about bicycle safety in Mississippi?  Visit the statewide “Change Lanes to Pass” campaign which includes a series of PSA videos that educate Mississippians about the legal right to change lanes in a non-passing zone to safely pass a bicyclist in Mississippi.  Citizens around the state can view the videos, or download free bicycle safety information and “pocket-sized” guides of laws pertaining to bicycles in Mississippi at the campaign website: www.changelanestopass.com. 

• How can people support this effort? Those who would like to contribute to Bicycle Safety in Mississippi are encouraged to make a donation to the Change Lanes to Pass campaign where they can also make a donation to Bike Walk Mississippi in honor of a loved one at www.changelanestopass.com or www.bikewalkmississippi.org