[Paddlewise] Assistance Request

Some of the paddling groups in Chicago are uniting to deal with issues
that affect us all.  The one I am asking you  to help me (us) with is
access.

Specifically, do any of you paddle in urban areas with lots of motoized
boats?  The Chicago River is a truly nice place to paddle in the Loop
but it is rather narrow and there are, in good weather, lots of big
boats zipping around.  Even if they observe the speed limits, the tour
boats and barges make sizeable wakes that bounce of the sheer walls of
the river.  The Coast Guard is really reluctant to weigh in on the side
of increased access for us non-powered boaters.  right now we have no
launch points within a few miles of the Loop.

Milwaukee and New York City have been mentioned as examples where power
and non-power craft co-exist well.  If you are in a city where that is
true, we would like to hear your story - if negotiations were undertaken
with the power structure of your area, what compromises and
accomodations were made, what you know that might be useful to us.

Thanks, in advance, for your help.


Jim Tibensky
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