Amsterdam to Implement Ban on 'Fatbikes' Amid Rising Number of Serious Accidents
In a move aimed at reducing serious accidents, Amsterdam's head of transport, Melanie van der Horst, has announced plans to ban "fatbikes" - thick-tyred electric bikes - from city parks. The decision comes after an increase in accidents involving these vehicles, particularly with children.
While some cyclists are concerned that the ban will restrict their freedom on the roads, many others believe it's a necessary measure. According to safety experts and politicians, fatbike riders often modify their e-bikes to exceed 15mph limits, putting themselves and others at risk.
The Netherlands has witnessed a surge in electric bike sales, with 48% of all bicycles sold in 2024 being electric bikes, including fatbikes. However, the ease with which these vehicles can be sped up to rival mopeds is contributing to accidents.
Florrie de Pater, chair of the Fietsersbond Amsterdam cycling association, pointed out that a lack of enforcement and the rise of "illegal" e-bikes have scared off older people and children from cycling. The brain injury specialist Marcel Aries also supports the ban, stating that it's a necessary measure to address widening speed gaps between cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions among fatbike riders. Henk Hendrik Wolthers, who owns a wide-tyred e-bike, said he understands the concerns but believes that fatbikes are a safe mode of transport in the city.
However, Muriel Winkel, a cyclist with her dog, expressed relief at the ban, stating that fatbike riders often ride recklessly and put others at risk. The spokesperson for safety organisation VeiligheidNL also pointed out that 5,000 fatbike riders are treated in A&E departments each year due to accidents.
As Amsterdam's approach sets an example for other countries, it remains to be seen whether the ban on 'fatbikes' will have a lasting impact on reducing accidents and promoting active mobility.
In a move aimed at reducing serious accidents, Amsterdam's head of transport, Melanie van der Horst, has announced plans to ban "fatbikes" - thick-tyred electric bikes - from city parks. The decision comes after an increase in accidents involving these vehicles, particularly with children.
While some cyclists are concerned that the ban will restrict their freedom on the roads, many others believe it's a necessary measure. According to safety experts and politicians, fatbike riders often modify their e-bikes to exceed 15mph limits, putting themselves and others at risk.
The Netherlands has witnessed a surge in electric bike sales, with 48% of all bicycles sold in 2024 being electric bikes, including fatbikes. However, the ease with which these vehicles can be sped up to rival mopeds is contributing to accidents.
Florrie de Pater, chair of the Fietsersbond Amsterdam cycling association, pointed out that a lack of enforcement and the rise of "illegal" e-bikes have scared off older people and children from cycling. The brain injury specialist Marcel Aries also supports the ban, stating that it's a necessary measure to address widening speed gaps between cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions among fatbike riders. Henk Hendrik Wolthers, who owns a wide-tyred e-bike, said he understands the concerns but believes that fatbikes are a safe mode of transport in the city.
However, Muriel Winkel, a cyclist with her dog, expressed relief at the ban, stating that fatbike riders often ride recklessly and put others at risk. The spokesperson for safety organisation VeiligheidNL also pointed out that 5,000 fatbike riders are treated in A&E departments each year due to accidents.
As Amsterdam's approach sets an example for other countries, it remains to be seen whether the ban on 'fatbikes' will have a lasting impact on reducing accidents and promoting active mobility.
... like, I get that safety is a concern, but restricting people's freedom of choice just to reduce accidents seems kinda extreme, you know? 
I've seen some vids of those wide-tyred e-bikes on the roads and they seem pretty safe 
. But at the same time, 5,000 hospital visits per year is a big number 
... maybe this ban will actually make people think twice before hitting the roads 
. It's def gonna be interesting to see how this plays out, especially if other cities start copying Amsterdam's lead 
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. If we made streets more bike-friendly and had better infrastructure, maybe people wouldn't need to speed up so much 
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It feels like a bit too extreme, if you ask me 
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. But i guess if ppl are modifying em to go too fast that's a problem. just need more bike lanes and better infrastructure for all kinds of cyclists, you know? 
but at the same time i'm all about safety so yeah if its gonna reduce accidents then im all for it 
. i've seen vids of these fatbike riders zooming down city streets on their e-bikes and it's just crazy 
. maybe they should focus on making those bike lanes safer instead tho 
I gotta say, I think this is a really good idea! As someone who loves cycling, I've had my share of close calls with electric bikes speeding past me on parks paths... it's just not safe! 
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thinkin about them fatbike riders speedin down the park path 
it's crazy ! 
15mph limit or not, they're still puttin lives at risk 
gotta prioritize safety first 
got to respect the concerns of the cycling association 
and the brain injury specialist too 
also, it's a great example for other countries to follow 
hope this ban leads to fewer accidents and more people enjoyin the outdoors 
I'm all for this ban tbh 
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. But come on, can't a guy just ride his fatbike in peace? 
. Either way, I hope the ban brings down those accident numbers and gets more people cycling safely 
. I totally get why the ban is necessary, though - it's all about keeping everyone safe, including vulnerable ones like children 
. It's not about taking away freedom, but about making sure people can ride without fear 
. The Netherlands has always been so progressive and forward-thinking with its bike culture, but safety should always be the top priority 
... but seriously, I think its about time Amsterdam takes action on these fatbikes! I mean, 5k people getting injured every year is crazy. Its not like they're just casual riders or anything, theres a lot of reckless riding going on here. And you can't even enforce speed limits because everyone's always modifying their bikes to be faster 
. Safety should always be the top priority, and if that means taking away the 'cool factor' of fatbikes for now, so be it