Kayaking Commuter Dodges Ships to Save Money, Gas

What are you doing to save the planet? Or at least a gallon of gas?

For Sean Patch, a New York City school teacher, the answer's an easy one. Instead of burning more dinosaurs battling the daily commute into Manhattan each day, he now paddles his kayak across the Hudson River.

Not only does that save on fossil fuels, it also saves him bucks: $15 a day to take the ferry round trip from Weehawken, N.J., into the city, and back. And on a teacher's salary, that adds up.

As any good teacher would, he's learned to teach a life lesson to his students from the experience, and now poses this question to his algebra classes: "Mr. Patch kayaks to work. He bought the kayak for $850. He no longer has to pay for the ferry $7.75 each way. How much has he saved?"

While that brain teaser is sure to give his kids' heads a work out, Patch says he can't afford to let his own mind slip during the watery trek, either. In a busy place like New York, his daily paddle is anything but calm and worry-free.

"There are definitely a lot of risks involved," Patch told WCBS 880 radio. "It's not just a simple, kind of straight paddle across and it's fine and dandy."

He told the radio station that he uses a radio to talk to ferry boat drivers, and has to be vigilant of the barges, tankers and other ships that shuttle in and out of the Hudson each day.

But he also gets to watch weather systems form over the dramatic backdrop of New York City, and feel the peacefulness that comes from a daily morning jaunt across the water.

As a reformed Manhattanite, I can attest that that's something you're not going to get in the Lincoln Tunnel, or riding the Path train.

I do wonder where Patch leaves his kayak once he gets to work, though. I used to have to shove mine into the service elevator at the back of my building to get it in and out of my apartment.

It reminds me of a story in Australia a while back, where kayakers were part of a $280,000 government study in ways to lessen congestion on Tasmanian roads. The kayakers' wish? Waterfront parking for their boats in the Hobart Harbor once they got to work.

Sounds like a great idea to me. With all the focus on people doing their part to fight global warming, I wonder how long it will be until New York City follows suit.