NYCkayaker NY Times: The Lure of Seeing a Hushed City at Water Level

[Erik Baard]

thanks so much, ralph and rob! that was very kind. and in my earlier
proposals for harp, i absolutely gave credit to the pioneering work of
the hpbg, and simply advocate for an organization that would remain a
steady presence in the harbor community.


Erik Baard

http://www.licboathouse.org
http://www.naturecalendar.com


> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: NYCkayaker NY Times: The Lure of Seeing a Hushed City at
> Water Level
> From: ralph diaz <ralphdiaz at optonline.net>
> Date: Wed, May 30, 2007 6:10 pm
> To: David Gottlieb <peekamoose at optonline.net>,  Erik Baard
> <erik at baard.com>,  nyckayaker at rockandwater.net
> 
> Re: NYCkayaker NY Times: The Lure of Seeing a Hushed City at Water
> LevelThe problem remains that power boaters are greater in influence
> than kayakers based on the strength of their numbers and powerful
> industries that thrive on them from boat manufacturers through
> marinas, fuel suppliers and after market products and services such as
> repair.  So they can lobby against regulation better than can rowers
> and paddlers.
> 
> The Harbor Association of Rowers and Paddlers (HARP) as proposed by
> Eric among others is a good idea that should be launched soon.  Eric
> is familiar with an earlier successful group, HPBG (Human Powered
> Boating Group) that was initiated by Jim Wetteroth of the Downtown
> Boathouse and which I headed with a lot of help from DTBH, the two
> kayaking companies and people like Bonnie, Michael Glass, etc..  HPBG
> had some 25 paddling and rowing groups as well as outfitters
> supporting it.  We headed off possible night time restriction on human
> powered boats, created a modus operandi with the cross river ferries
> and focused enforcement authorities to crack down on harassment of
> rowers and paddlers by renegade jet skiers, which was becoming more
> numerous and dangerous.  Obviously more things are at stake now
> especially preserving and improving access.  A HARP group would be
> just as beneficial as was its predecessor the HPBG.  All it takes is a
> bit of organization and other harbor users will pay attention as will
> public officials.
> 
> ralph diaz 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: David Gottlieb 
> 
>   That being said, I believe potential regulation of kayakers appears
> to be completely arbitrary, considering the amount of irresponsible
> power boaters out there, many under the influence of all sorts of
> substances, who are not regulated any more than we kayakers are.