OXFORD — Bike Walk Mississippi announces a new executive director, Karen Mogridge.

Mogridge joins BWM with a passion to help make Mississippi a more bike/pedestrian-friendly state and unite cyclists in a statewide network to push for bike/pedestrian-friendly legislation at the state, regional and local levels.

BWM is dedicated to the development, enhancement and promotion of alternative forms of transportation and recreation throughout the state.

Mogridge will work to expand the membership of BWM, while uniting the current network of organized, informed and supported advocates throughout Mississippi.

This network will provide grass-roots support for the BWM’s state legislative agenda.

Mogridge noted that Mississippi was recently ranked in the bottom five of the Bicycle Friendly States of America by the League of American Bicyclists. An immediate goal of the BWM advocacy program, Mogridge explained, will be to move Mississippi up in the list at least by 5 more states.

“By bringing cyclists across the state together and increasing education and encouragement in an organized advocacy effort, I am certain we can achieve that goal,” Mogridge said.