Volunteers of the Month: Ruth Rosenthal and Alan Mukamal

Ruth Rosenthal

Occupation: Former elementary school computer teacher. Has enviro science degree, currently looking for part time work in the field.
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
TA. Member Since: 1974
Why joined TA: I love to ride! I've been riding in Manhattan for 30 years. But there's a lot of work to be done, especially to reduce traffic and educate the non-riding public, particularly drivers.
Favorite non-NYC riding: Holland - by far the best.
Number of bikes in the apartment at any one time: five.
Environmental outlook: We should live with the guiding principle of causing minimum impact on the earth. Bicycles are a key part of that concept.
Volunteer Activity: I've worked on all of T.A.'s big events, including Bike Week, the Benefit Auction, and just recently, the NYC Century. In between those I've helped
keep up the membership database and done a variety of office projects.  My husband, a.k.a. "Commuter of the Century," has also been on the scene at several events.
Hours per week: Ranges from 8 to 20, or more if it's needed.  I also work as a research editor at the NY Botanical Garden and the NY-NJ Trail Conference.
Most fun at T.A. so far: Organizing the Bike Week breakfasts.  Meeting cyclists "on the street" was interesting and rewarding.
Wish list: Air conditiong at the T.A. office.  A bicycle-friendly attitude in all ways in NYC!

Alan Mukamal

Occupation: software engineer
Neighborhood: Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
T.A. Member since: 1997
Why joined TA.: After I moved to Santa Cruz in 1993, and had a 7-mile bike commute each way, I became active in transportation politics. When I relocated to NY, my first reaction to the streets was that there is a Neanderthal mentality pervasive in car drivers. Complete disregard for the law and for other people's rights begins the moment people are behind "the wheel." Being part of TA helps mobilize pressure to force the City come down hard on those who commit traffic violations - only then will the streets truly be "safe."
Why started riding: I was in a crash that totaled a car I used to get to work in Berkeley. I used the insurance money to buy my first mountain bike.
Volunteer Activity: T.A.'s Brooklyn Committee. I've been out tabling with fellow members to let the community know that a car-free Prospect Park can happen. Lately I've been doing data entry (and recruiting other volunteers); we have a lot of names and addresses of people who support this issue, but we need to be able to contact them.
Vision: When Prospect Park is finally closed to cars, it is my hope that there will be more congestion on the streets and that as a result, people will seek alternatives to single occupancy (four-wheeled, motorized) vehicles
Favorite Anti-car Movie: Orson Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons
Other Projects: As a volunteer with People Power in Santa Cruz County, Cal, I've been advocating for a direct and level bike/ped path connecting the eastern part of the county with the downtown area.
To learn more about the Brooklyn Committee please visit http://www.transalt.org/campaigns/brooklyn or call the TA office: 212-629-8080.