I Support
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Name:
Al Gerhardstein
Where I live:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Age:
63
What I do:
I’m a civil rights attorney. I enjoy cycling to work, bird watching
and spending time with my wife, kids and grandchildren.
Greatest accomplishments:
I am excited that a civil rights case I filed was
decided by the U.S. Supreme Court this year and resulted in marriage
equality for same-sex couples in all 50 states. I am also pleased that the
police reforms we developed in Cincinnati 12 years ago serve as a model for
cities across the country, and that we are part of the national conversation
now underway regarding police reforms.
As for cycling, I am grateful that I have had the health to do several long
cycle tours, including the 1,350-mile unsupported tandem ride I completed
this year with my daughter, Jessica Gingold, from Cincinnati to Ferguson,
Missouri, to New Orleans (
pedalingjustice.com
).
I am also happy to have been married 43 years to my wife, Mimi Gingold,
and to have three fabulous kids: Adam Gerhardstein, who works with me in
our civil rights law practice; Jessica, who is a third-year law school student
and a juvenile justice advocate; and Ben Gerhardstein, a public health
officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in San Francisco.
All three kids commute by bike and love to bike!
A personal goal:
I’d like to take a long bike tour with my grandkids. They
are toddlers now, so I need to stay healthy!
Ameaningful life story:
My dad was a loyal worker for a large corporation.
For decades, he accepted whatever position he was asked to fill; he was a
conscientious truck driver, dock manager and then chicken farm manager.
One day the corporation decided to close the chicken farm and buy eggs
from a different provider. My dad was fired. No pension. No good job
prospects, given his age. No thank you for years of loyal service. He never
recovered from the disappointment. I was in college. I knew then I needed
to help hold those in power to the principles we all share, like fairness and
honesty, and I needed to ensure that all people were treated with dignity.
A person I admire:
My sister Kathy lives with severe physical limitations
imposed by multiple sclerosis, but she inspires me every day with her
energy, creativity and curiosity.
My vision for biking and walking in America:
As we proceed with urban
redevelopment, I hope we will continue to make cycling easily available,
with well-marked bike lanes and sharrows and with bike share options.
Greater density promotes walking and cycling, and that makes us healthier.
Longer bike trails will encourage more folks to try touring, and that would
be great.
Why I support Rails-to-Trails Conservancy:
It’s common sense. We need to
take advantage of all the rights of way that are available and repurpose them
to encourage more safe options for walking, running and cycling. Rails-to-
Trails Conservancy works toward those goals. Thank you!
Leonardo Carrizo
Add your unique voice to the rail-trail movement by becoming a member of
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Learn more at railstotrails.org, or call 202.331.9696.
