Paddle to Work Day?
Seattlest has a fondness for biking as an activity. We hope this hasn't become too overwhelmingly obvious. But just as bikers find themselves fighting for their rights, and access to trails or safe roads, Seattlest feels it must now stand up for the overlooked paddlers of our fine city.
Last year, our cousins over at Gothamist reported that kayaking to work was a practice picking up some steam in the greater NYC region. Paddling to work is an alternative commute option that Seattlites have probably already deftly mastered; the Gothamist crew conceded this should be the case. In fact, we thought to ourself, Seattle probably even has a "Paddle to Work Day," much like the popular "Bike to Work Day" now popping up all over the country.
A quick jaunt through Google, and...nothing. Nothing for Seattle, that is. In fact, it would appear that Madison, Wisconsin has the whole paddling-to-work thing in a stranglehold compared to the rest of the country. We called the Northwest Outdoor Center in hopes that for once Google was wrong. While NWOC's helpful John Meyer attested he knew people who'd done it, he didn't have any names at the ready. But we believe John--we know you are out there, you paddler commuters.
According to Mr. Meyer, an average paddler could clock about 3 knots, but somewhere in the morning fog, the 4-5 knot crew glide along stealthily. While still requiring over 1.5 hours to get from the east side of Lake Washington to South Lake Union, you could probably get there faster than driving (aka sitting) on 520. We also harbor the suspicion that you are most likely employees of the University of Washington, since you have a club with a boathouse, which seems to be the key ingredient to a successful paddling commute plan. We also predict you'll be justifiably smug when the Governor finally has to rip down 520 and replace it with something much better.
So come on Seattle, give us a show of oars. Where are the paddler commuters, and would you rally for a Paddle to Work Day? Are more public-access boathouses the key, and if so is anyone trying to build them? Seattlest needs to know.
