“In the 60s and 70s, many Puch drivers stepped up their mopeds,” said Stomphorst. “This was prohibited, but people took the risk. You can now see the same in the evolution from regular bicycles to electric bicycles with all kinds of variants.”
Ministry: two sides
“This story has two sides,” says the Ministry of Infrastructure. “On the one hand, we think that people should be allowed to ride a tuned electric bicycle on their own property. On the other hand, easy boost options lead to illegal use on public roads, which deteriorates road safety. It is therefore good that the police enforce this.”
The police see that there are more and more types of vehicles on the road that are not allowed to do so. “For the time being, we are approaching drivers and explaining ‘the rules of the game’ to them,” says a spokesperson. Fines are also possible and the amount of fines varies per type of vehicle or technical defect.
Alternative to scooter?
Super73 bicycles seem to be particularly popular in Amsterdam as an alternative to mopeds. Since April 2019 you have to wear a helmet on a moped there and you are no longer allowed to ride on bicycle paths. With a souped-up bicycle, people still ride without a helmet that ruins your haircut on bicycle paths through the city. From July 2022 everywhere in the Netherlands a helmet is mandatory on a moped.
Phatfour, a Dutch producer of moped-powered e-bikeslook, is not in favor of ramping up. “We are on the eve of a fast-growing segment of a sustainable means of transport,” says founder Mels van Hoolwerff. “We have to avoid starting a competition to see who can make the fastest e-bike. Accidents can occur and that is at the expense of our own success.”
Elevation option removed
Until the end of last year, you could increase e-bikes from the Dutch VanMoof via the accompanying app from 25 to 32 kilometers per hour, the permitted speed for pedal assistance in the US. But after customers in Germany were fined for speeding, the company removed that option in the EU.
There are also electric bicycles that can legally go faster than 25, so-called speed pedelecs. You have to wear a helmet on it and cycle between the cars in built-up areas instead of on the bicycle path. You must also have a license plate.
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