The lightning-fast fat bikes are becoming increasingly popular and that is a major concern for GroenLinks. The driving behavior of revved-up fat bikers and the consequences for road safety are particularly alarming, says GroenLinks council member IJmker. In written questions to the college of mayors and aldermen, she asks today, among other things, whether there are possibilities to introduce a helmet and license plate obligation.
According to IJmker, many fat bikers behave like mopeds and sometimes reach speeds of 45 kilometers per hour. This significantly increases the risk of accidents, as was also shown in a violent collision in Nieuw-West at the beginning of July.
For mopeds, a driver’s license, license plate, helmet and liability insurance are mandatory. If it is up to GroenLinks, this obligation will be imposed on all unsafe fat bikers. Now this obligation only applies to fat bikers with a throttle.
In addition, the party asks the Board whether stricter enforcement is possible at a local level within the national regulations on light electric vehicles (LEV), which officially also include the fat bike.
Maximum speed
There have been concerns about safety on the cycle path for some time now. Opinion polls showed last summer that a large majority of the AT5 panel is in favor of a maximum speed on the bicycle path. This year, the city council investigated whether this maximum speed was an option, but this turned out to be legally difficult.
Yesterday it was announced that the ANWB will no longer offer insurance for electric bicycles with fat tires as of September because the risk of theft is too great. The ANWB is also not in favor of frequently boosting the bicycle. Council member IJmker understands the ANWB’s choice. According to her, the high number of thefts only shows how big the black market for fat bikes is now.
2023-08-22 18:11:40
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