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Judy Berlfein
Encinitas, California
In memory of Jean Reiss Berlfein
(1924–2013) and Harold Mattes
Berlfein (1918–2014)
What I do
I split my time five ways:
advocating for better walking
and cycling infrastructure
in Encinitas; volunteering
with Citizens’ Climate Lobby;
enjoying my family; provid-
ing medical education for a
biotechnology company; and
bicycling! Not enough hours
in the day.
How long I’ve been a bicyclist
In 1968, my mother planned
a five-day family biking trip in
Pennsylvania’s Amish coun-
try. My three older sisters,
my parents and I cycled from
Pottstown to Hershey, sleep-
ing in youth hostels and eat-
ing shoofly (molasses) pie.
My parents bought me my
first bike—a red 10-speed
Motobécane—when I was
12. Growing up in Los
Angeles, I loved the sense of
independence it gave me, rid-
ing the 7 miles to the beach
or taking a short spin to
Westwood Village for an ice
cream cone.
Why I support RTC
In high school, I wrote my
first letter to the editor and
spoke at my first city council
meeting about improving
bike infrastructure. RTC
embodies all I care about:
using an existing resource
to create much-needed trails
and paths for young and old
to cycle on safely.
A meaningful life story
Bikes had been a fixture in
my parents’ lives since one
of their first dates in 1946
cycling in Benedict Canyon.
After a 1964 bicycle trip
to Dijon, France, inspired
by the European norms of
cycling for all, my father went
against the auto-centric grain
of most Angelenos and be-
gan his lifelong habit of riding
3 miles to work, fully dressed
in suit and tie. Over the next
decades, my folks—who were
early members of RTC—rode
throughout the U.S. and
Europe. Even with developing
signs of Parkinson’s disease,
my mother tackled one of the
longest rail-trails in existence,
the Katy Trail. Her disease
did not deter them from their
final cycling jaunt in 1999;
she was 75 and he was 81.
My husband and I joined
them; together we rode the
lush greenways of the Czech
Republic, visiting castles
and historic towns along the
route.
Though the trip was full of
struggles, it was amazing to
tour my husband’s country
together—bicycling, speaking
foreign languages, talking
to locals, eating cabbage in
all forms and experiencing
a whole different world up
close from the bike seat.
Inspirational quote
You won’t know if you
don’t go.
My favorite rail-trail
experience of all time
In 2012, my sisters and our
families cycled the Route of
the Hiawatha in Idaho and
Montana. Riding through the
Rockies far from civilization
gave me an exhilarating
sense of how the pioneers
may have witnessed the vast
expanse of this beautiful
country.•
LEIGH CASTELLI PHOTOGRAPHY
Add your unique voice to the rail-trail movement by becoming a member of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
Learn more about us at , or call 202.331.9696 for info.
FROM THE STAFF
Memorable Trail Experience?
Donald Minor
Customer Service Coordinator
My favorite trail memory is from
a trip my wife and I took on a
small trail in Maryland when we first started
dating. We were walking her dog along the
trail as falling leaves lined our path and the
sun was setting. By the end of our walk, I had
a new appreciation for trails and even like to
think we started falling in love that day.•
Leeann Sinpatanasakul
Advocacy Coordinator
One of my most memorable ex-
periences on a trail was mapping
the Amelia Island Trail and Timucuan Trail
by bike for RTC’s 2016 Florida Guidebook.
Though I couldn’t directly see the beach
from the trails, there were many side paths
leading there. Once when we stopped for a
break, we were able to sneak a peek of the
beach. It was so peaceful to hear the ocean
waves roll in and out. What can beat that?•
FEATURED LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A Furry Trail Ambassador
I love walking the rail-trails in central and
western Virginia with my dogs. I have
thought about how frightening it must be
for bikers to ride by a barking dog, even if
he is off to the side of the trail. I taught my
Australian Cattle Dog, Jacob, to sit as bikers
pass. Now all I have to say is, “bike,” and Ja-
cob moves off the trail and sits. We get lots
of thank yous and compliments, which are
much appreciated. Common courtesy and
putting yourself in other users’ shoes goes a
long way to adding to the fun on the trails.•
Karla Ann Deithorn, Monroe, Va.
We agree! RTC encourages everyone to
“Share the Trail!” Learn more and watch our
new “How-To” videos on Six Golden Rules of
safe trail use at
I S U P P O R T R A I L S - T O - T R A I L S C O N S E R V A N C Y