The fat bike is gaining popularity. They ride fast, are wider than normal bikes and don't require drivers to use a helmet. Where you would expect the fat bike on the beach, wild mountain bike trails or on unpaved paths, we see them popping up more and more in the cityscape. Fatbikes and other souped-up electric bikes hijack the bike path. Now that a national helmet requirement is approaching for moped riders, a powerful e-bike is a shortcut to keep tearing without a helmet.

fat shaming 

According to mobility journalist Bram van Dijk, the bike with fat tires to become the black sheep for everything that irritates people in traffic and the ministry happily participates in fat shaming. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, part of the Ministry of Infrastructure, already opened the hunt in November 2022 on fat bikes that are too fast, but the demand for fat bikes will probably increase in the near future, due to a new compulsory helmet for light mopeds. 

In the Netherlands, the government is terrified of innovative transport. Nowhere in Europe is so little allowed as in the Netherlands. For example, there are still no regulations for electric steps and fat bikes are, according to the legislator, for use on private property. Also, most electric steps, also called e-step, are not approved. You are not allowed to drive it on the road. Electric scooters have been legal for a long time in many countries within and outside Europe. Just look at our southern neighbors where you can legally drive an electric scooter on public roads. 

worrisome

The Fietsersbond now also warns of the danger of tuned-up e-bikes on the cycle path and argues for stricter regulations because of the speed. The question is whether there should be a separate helmet requirement for the fat bike. No driver's license is required to drive the fat bike and there is no helmet requirement. With the fat bike you can reach speeds of up to 25 kilometers per hour. This is laid down in European legislation. With an optional throttle lever, it is possible to boost your bike a bit. After boosting, speeds of 30 to 45 kilometers per hour can be achieved.