“To Paddle or To Motor – That is the Question”

I, like most of you, enjoy reading “Getting It Right” by my friend and Times Managing Director Sid Riley. And more often than not I am in agreement with Sid. But in last week’s rudiments he commented on his disapproval of the “Greenway” project plans along the Chipola River to use taxpayer money to build public boat ramps that would be designed for canoes and kayaks only.

I suspect that Sid is not alone in his opinion that this is unfair, or even illegal, to use taxpayer money on boat ramps that restricts access to folks with motorized boats. It may come as no surprise to some that I would support the efforts to make these launches for non-motorized vessels.

Greenway projects are a popular way in which city and county governments can tap into state and federal grant money (our tax dollars) to preserve areas just such as that along the Chipola River. The greenway projects are designed to allow for low impact public use of the area.

Canoe and kayaks are in keeping with this low impact concept. Gas powered motor boats are not. Canoes and kayaks don’t pollute. Gas powered motor boats do. Want proof. Just spend a few minutes trailing a gas powered motor boat on the river. It’s kind of like when we used to run behind the city truck that sprayed for mosquitoes. And long after the boat is gone the exhaust hovers over the water like fog. Just check out when the gas powered motor boat puts in and takes out. It usually produces an oil slick that would make the Exxon Valdez proud.

I am not proposing that gas powered motor boats be banned from the river. I know that is not realistic. And I’m sure just how much real damage is caused by gas powered motor boats could be debated. But even a little bit of pollution is not good.

Another argument is that gas powered motor boats would not actually be denied access to these areas. For example, they can put in at Yancey Bridge and motor down or put in at Magnolia Bridge and motor up. They can be in the greenway areas in a matter of a few minutes.

As to the legality of the issue, there is already some precedent. Walking, hiking, jogging and bicycle trails are routinely established with tax payer money in parks and nature preserves. These trails favor one segment of the population to the detriment of another, as in they do not allow access by motorized devices such as four wheelers and motorcycles.

So at the risk of having all the motorized boat folks and bream fishermen (armed with their propellers and fishing hooks) out to get me, I applaud the city and county planners for their initiatives. To borrow a line from Sid, Simply Put, I think they are Getting It Right. Let’s go paddling.

From the Front Porch: Uncle Bob said that by the time you have money to burn, the fire has about gone out.