Researchers are set to spend the next few months investigating how the law can distinguish between fatbikes and standard electric bicycles. Minister Vincent Karremans promised the House of Representatives on Friday that the results will be ready after the summer. For now, the Minister is largely sticking to existing plans, including a potential minimum age for fatbike riders.
The government also wants to give local councils the power to create “fatbike-free zones,” following a similar move in Enschede. Karremans is moving forward with a plan to make helmets mandatory for all e-bike riders under the age of 18. This rule would also apply to other light electric vehicles, such as e-scooters.
Previous studies have suggested that creating a legal distinction for fatbikes is a “futile path” because they are technically so similar to other e-bikes. Karremans admits that finding a clear definition is difficult, as some regular bikes might accidentally be banned while some fatbikes could bypass the rules. Despite this, he is opting for a “pragmatic approach,” arguing that waiting for a perfect definition would only cause delays.
The Minister is currently keeping his options open regarding a minimum age, as further research is needed to see if it is fair or even possible to enforce. This research will look at accident rates, the total number of fatbikes on the road, and how new rules might affect people’s ability to get around.
Major cities like Amsterdam and Enschede have welcomed the news, stating they are “very curious” to see how the specific rules will work. They believe that having the power to ban fatbikes from certain areas would be a significant help in improving local road safety.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
