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Resident urges restrictions on motorized vehicles along Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail
Summary
Resident Shelley Varner told the Victoria City Council that small motorized vehicles on the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail are creating dangerous close calls for pedestrians and children, urging a policy that would keep them off the trail and on roads instead.
Resident Shelley Varner told the Victoria City Council during the meeting’s open forum that small motorized vehicles on the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail have become a safety concern for pedestrians and children.
Varner, who identified herself and gave her address for the record, said the most recent incident occurred while she and her grandchildren were walking near an evening event. She described riders suddenly braking or swerving past them and said the noise and sudden approach "scared the Jesus out of us." Varner said some riders were very young—"maybe 10 to 12"—and that she had been shouted at when she asked one to slow down.
Varner urged the council to adopt a policy restricting those devices from the trail, suggesting they be required to use roads so they remain in local neighborhoods rather than on shared-use paths. "I just think there’s got to be a policy to put forth that they cannot be there," she said.
The mayor and staff acknowledged they have received numerous complaints and told Varner the city is "actively working on it." The council did not take formal action on the complaint during the meeting; no referral, motion, or staff directive was recorded in the transcript.
Why it matters: The Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail is a shared-use path used by pedestrians, families and cyclists; safety measures or regulatory changes could affect enforcement, public education, and how electric or motorized personal devices may be routed through neighborhoods.
What’s next: Council members indicated the issue is under active review but the transcript records no motion, referral, or timetable for staff follow-up. The matter remains unresolved pending future council or staff action.
