No to scooters on park paths

Rick Wimer

All that fun was short lived. As I was riding on West Fifth Street one day, I heard a siren behind me and I moved to the side of the road to let it pass. However, a police car stopped right behind me.”

Back in the days of yore, after we moved to Storm Lake from Ute in the early 1950s and I don’t quite remember how old I was, I found myself perusing our Sears-Roebuck catalog, turning a page and finding a much desired two-wheeled vehicle. For as long as I can remember, I had ridden my bike, delivering papers, running errands, going to school at St. Mary’s and just plain riding in fun on the streets, sidewalks and alleys of The City Beautiful. I had often thought about getting a Cushman motor scooter to replace my bike but they were way too expensive for what I earned as a paperboy or mowing yards.

What I found on that page was a two-wheeled Briggs and Stratton motor scooter. It had an open frame, handle bars, a cushioned seat and was powered by a BG motor, that in essence was nothing more than a lawn mower motor with a pull cord to start it. I concluded in a heartbeat, it was mine. Amazingly, it was ordered, arrived and assembled; I assume by my dad. I know I paid for it. My dad would never have paid for it.  And I am sure I got seriously scolded, at a minimum, but he let me keep it.

Life changed. I was all over town on it. I road on streets, up and down alleys and every passable sidewalk, even, downtown. I gave my buddies a ride, even a girl or two, or three. It was great fun. I was a hit! All that fun was short lived. As I was riding on West Fifth Street one day, I heard a siren behind me and I moved to the side of the road to let it pass. However, a police car stopped right behind me. 

Chief Perry Cederholm, one of my paper customers and a former coach on my championship Cubs Little League team the year before, got out and approached me while I was sitting on my scooter. I don’t remember the exact conversation, but I’m sure he informed me that I was too young to be on the streets on it, much less on sidewalks, especially those downtown; that I was a danger to myself and to the vehicle drivers on our streets and to those walking on our sidewalks. That was the last time I rode my BG. I don’t remember how I got home or whatever happened to it. It was gone.

Ride on the right, pass on the left

Flash forward to today, June 11, 2026, one day before I am to undergo my second knee replacement this year. I had my first one done on my birthday, Jan. 27; the same as Mozart and Joe Montana, in case you’re interested. Anyway, I have been reading the Times articles about youthful children being allowed to ride their electric scooters and bicycles on the streets and on our park’s walking/bike riding paths.

I know there is a community forum on all the pros and cons on June 29 at the Chautauqua Park Shelter House. I want to attend to express my opinion on the subject matter, but I feel I may not be rehabbed enough from my knee surgery to attend. Just in case I can’t attend, I opine the following.

First of all, I have ridden either an upright or recumbent bike all over the U.S. from California to Florida to Vermont. I’ve ridden in a handful of RAGBRAIs, multiple Indiana Hilly Hundreds and Century (100 miles) Rides and charity rides. My first full year after moving to Storm Lake I rode 5,000 miles, most of which was on our beautiful park trails. Wherever and whenever I ride, my guidelines for having a safe and enjoyable ride for myself and those that I may encounter along the way are; I always ride on the right and pass on the left.  Each time I pass someone whether they are walking or riding a bike, I always give an ample “on your left” warning before I pass.

Many times, walkers and some bikers wear ear buds and don’t hear my call.  In those cases, I slowly and cautiously approach and pass them. I most always wear a helmet for my own safety.  On one ride as I was passing the parking lots at Frank Starr, a fairly big dog jumped out of a car before the owner could get a leash on it. It was not vicious. However, as I was passing by, I think out of curiosity, it barreled into the side of my bike running full speed with enough force to virtually turn my recumbent trike on its side. 

My head hit the ground with enough force that, had I not been wearing a helmet, I could have been injured. Most bikers do wear helmets, but some don’t. I know that RAGBRAI requires helmets.

Too many accidents and near-misses

As to the issue at hand, I am not in favor of allowing motorized scooters and small motorized bikes on the Storm Lake park paths at all. Especially those ridden by kids under the age of 16. I’ve seen too many instances of accidents and near misses so I sometimes avoid them if they are on the trail approaching me. They have no sense of bike courtesy and safety.  They zoom past you with no type of warning at all and at excessive speeds. I saw two little girls on one ride that were all over the trail causing walkers and riders to move out of the way. The girls were very young, almost grade school age and were not wearing helmets.  They were an accident looking for a place to happen.

I also observed another two kids on scooters actually riding on East Lakeshore Drive against traffic passing by the cars parked at Sunset Park. While recently looking for a garage sale on Walnut Street on the east side of town, a very small little girl suddenly pulled out in front of me on a small motorized scooter. I barely missed her. I saw no adults supervising her. On another instance, riding west on Sunrise Park just a short distance from King’s Pointe, I heard male voices behind me screaming. A glance into my mirror saw two young teenage boys approaching and passing me recklessly at a high rate of speed carrying fishing poles. I saw them a few minutes later fishing by the lighthouse.

If all of these activity types were authorized in some fashion, I fear three things. First, someone, more than likely a kid, is going to get badly hurt and possibly killed. Second, that people who come to Storm Lake to enjoy the park trails, whether walking, running or biking will cease to come because of the congestion and it would stop an important revenue stream for the city and its businesses. Third, the cost of police enforcement for any type of rules structure would create a significant burden on the city budget that has already had to cut back in their payroll.

I would rather the police deal with the speeders, reckless drivers and cars that drive with roaring pipes and music that disturbs the peace throughout the residential neighborhoods of Storm Lake. The walking and biking paths as they are, have been solely a long-term expectation of those who use it.  I opt that on our park trails and streets; along with citizens and visitors vote this process down. I know that Chief Cederholm would agree with me.

Rick Wimer writes from Storm Lake.