Is it safe?

The question of whether golf carts should be permitted on the Mahaska Community Recreation Trail has resurfaced.

City councilman Aaron Ver Steeg said he hopes the golf carts will be able to stay on the trail, saying they are no more dangerous than other modes of transportation.

“Anybody can get hurt on the trail,” said Ver Steeg in a Herald interview Thursday morning. “A bicycle goes faster than a golf cart.”

Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock Jr. agreed.

“There are a lot of uses that trail gets,” said Schrock “There are always possible dangers with the use of rec trails.”

When asked if anyone had ever actually been hurt on the trail because of a golf cart, both Ver Steeg and Oskaloosa Police Chief Jake McGee could only recall one alleged incident. Occurring in 2005 shortly after the trail opened, the incident was brought before the city council, Ver Steeg said. Ver Steeg noted that this claim was the subject of controversy.

Ver Steeg went on to say some people use golf carts on the trail because they are elderly and unable to walk the distance involved with the trail.

“It’s 10 feet wide,” Ver Steeg said. “It’s also for recreation for people that can’t walk or ride a bike.”

Ver Steeg said he’d like to see golf carts on the trail, but with a few rules involved including having each cart required to have an orange “slow moving vehicle” sign and flag. He said the carts ought to be registered with the city and owners pay an annual fee, as well as the carts being subject to inspection by the city.

McGee also noted state law requires anyone operating a golf cart to be at least 16 years old and that they must have a valid driver’s license.

Schrock said the city is researching the issue of golf carts or recreation trails with the Iowa Department of Transportation. At the next Oskaloosa City council meeting, it will be up to the council to decide what to do. Ver Steeg said the issue could come up at the June 29 Oskaloosa City Council meeting.

An ordinance approving golf carts on the recreation trail would require three readings by the council to be approved.

“Whatever the council decides, we’ll implement,” said Schrock.

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