Friday, July 13, 2007
By Larry Walsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In his 29 years as a criminal defense attorney, Mark Rubenstein said he has “witnessed the repetitive cycle of criminal behavior, negative values and lack of positive goals in our inner-city neighborhoods.”

Last year, he decided to use bicycles — and lengthy road trips — to combat that cycle.

He formed Pittsburgh Youth Leadership Inc., a nonprofit organization to offer inner-city youths an opportunity to participate “in a rigorous, adventurous, goal-oriented program that will develop positive youth leadership in our communities.”

Among other things, he hopes it will give the youths a sense of accomplishment, enhance their self-esteem, “experience a world beyond their previous limited experience,” teach them to respect other neighborhoods and “become the type of future leaders our communities need.”

Rubenstein, 54, an avid bicyclist, has pedaled across the country. In 2005, he, his wife, Claudia Davidson, and son, Jake, biked across Canada — from Vancouver to Quebec, a distance of 3,217 miles.

“It was 48 days of family bonding,” Rubenstein said with a laugh. “We ‘camped’ in Super 8s.”

A friend drove the sag wagon so they didn’t need to burden themselves with gear.

So, what to do for an encore?

How about extending the opportunity to those who otherwise might never experience it?

After consulting with community leaders, school counselors and local YMCAs, Rubenstein selected five boys aged 13 to 16 for an all-expenses-paid ride funded by donations. Each boy was from a different inner-city school and neighborhood. They had no previous bicycle, travel or camping experience and most never had traveled out of the Pittsburgh area.

Rubenstein said the Pittsburgh Youth Leadership “provided the necessary equipment, training and leadership that allowed these young men to succeed, develop and return as positive leaders in their respective communities.”

So where did Rubenstein, his daughter Casey and Pitt student Charles Monroe lead the students on their new Raleigh bikes last July?

All the way from Pittsburgh to Acadia National Park on the northern coast of Maine, a distance of 1,050 miles traveled in 16 days. They averaged about 65 miles per day, but pedaled 100 miles on one day.

“They surprised me,” he said. “They were determined to do a century ride and they did it. I was very proud of them.”

The students — Justin Dean, Larelle David, Jerome Grayson, Joshua Wieblinger and Nuwh Wallace — dipped their toes in the chilly Atlantic Ocean to celebrate their accomplishment.

With the exception of Grayson, who is working this summer, the other students, joined by Kevin Cross, Nate Kigler, Wolf Moreno and Dion Wallace , will leave Pittsburgh Tuesday for a two-day drive to Devil’s Lake, North Dakota.

They’ll be on their bikes Thursday but they won’t have to pedal all the way to Pittsburgh. Since they’ve already biked from Pittsburgh to Findlay Lake State Park in central Ohio as part of their rigorous training program, that’s where they will finish their 17-day, 1,200 mile journey.

And next year?

“We ride from Devil’s Lake to Oregon,” Rubenstein said.

“That will be another great trip.”

And a great accomplishment for all concerned.

For more information, go to www.pghyouthleadership2007.blogspot.com or call 412-391-4305.

Championship competition

The National Road Racing Championships continue today through Tuesday at Seven Springs and nearby sites in Somerset County.

The championships, sanctioned by USA Cycling, have drawn more than 2,400 bicyclists from around the country. Some are competing for the opportunity to race in the world championships in Europe.

For a complete racing schedule, go to www.7springs.com/bike/race./htm. For more information on USA Cycling, go to www.usacycling.org.

(Larry Walsh can be reached at lwalsh@post-gazette.com and 412-263-1488. )