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Man Pedals Across Hudson River -- From Hoboken To Chelsea -- On Water Bike

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- No bridge? No ferry? No problem!

Judah Schiller, founder of the BayCycle Project, became the first person Thursday to pedal his way across the Hudson River on a bike.

It took the 41-year-old California marketing executive about 15 minutes to makes his way from Pier 13 in Hoboken to Pier 66 in Chelsea, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.

The BayCycle is a conventional bicycle rigged to a pair of pontoons and a propeller.

Judah Schiller Bikes Across Hudson River
Judah Schiller Bikes Across Hudson River (credit: Alex Silverman/WCBS 880)

"As you pedal, you're turning a propeller; when you turn your handlebars, you're turning the craft," Schiller explained.

As CBS 2's Amy Dardashtian reported, it took Schiller about 20 minutes to construct his bike.

Man Pedals Across Hudson River On Bike

He calls BayCycle the wave of the future and hopes water-biking will make a big splash in the area.

Man Pedals Across Hudson River On Bike

"This is the opening of an aquatic frontier in biking," Schiller said. "Two-thirds of our planet is covered in water, we love our bikes here in New York City and around the country, so why not put the two together and get people out on the water biking."

If it catches on, he's hoping it could turn into a commuting option in some cities.

"This is a great alternative to being on the road," Schiller said. "There are no buses, there are no cars, there are no crazy taxi drivers."

Some said they're not willing to take a spin.

"Not in a million years, no," one woman said.

"It just makes no sense," another woman said.

Others loved the concept.

"What a great idea, it's almost easier than getting in a boat," another woman said.

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