In a move to address a surge in high-speed crashes and injuries, the city of Amsterdam is set to ban oversized electric “fatbikes” from its popular Vondelpark. The decision follows a growing number of complaints from pedestrians, including elderly residents and women who claim to have been struck by reckless riders.
These powerful electric bicycles, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph) on Amsterdam’s often-narrow streets and paths, have become a point of contention in the cycling-centric city. While the proposed ban has been welcomed by safety advocates, it has simultaneously drawn criticism from some cyclists who argue it clashes with Amsterdam’s traditionally laissez-faire image.
Alderwoman Melanie van der Horst, who spearheaded the initiative, revealed she had been “deluged with complaints” from Vondelpark users. Concerns include elderly people expressing fear of being hit, and reports from women who claimed they had been slapped by passing riders.
“We see a lot of fatbikes going more than 50 or 60 kilometres an hour. Well, they are only supposed to go 25, so it’s very dangerous,” Van der Horst said.
The fatbikes, which stand out from regular electric bicycles with their thick tyres, large batteries and heavy frames, are particularly popular among young riders and delivery drivers. However, their speed and power have become a source of growing unease.
Fatbike owner Sjoerd Jonker argued that the outright prohibition was an overreaction and that authorities should concentrate on banning illegal, imported models and bikes that had been modified to go too fast. “I love driving it, my girlfriend’s on the back, my son on the front, the three of us on one bicycle. So I ditched my car,” he told Reuters.
Alex Manuputty, riding a flashy orange fatbike in the park, acknowledged the need for rules, stating, “There need to be rules and then all cultures – all people – can actually get along.”
With more than half of Amsterdam’s 800,000-strong population using some form of bicycle every day, the city is grappling with the rise of battery-powered modes of transport. In 2024, 48% of all bicycles sold in the Netherlands were electric, and another 13% were fatbikes, according to the vehicle association RAI.
Concerns over the safety implications have also been backed by medical data. In October, Dutch hospitals found that people injured on fatbikes were 70% more likely to need extra medical treatment than those hurt on conventional bicycles. About half of fatbike accidents involved children aged 12-15, according to the findings.
Dr. Barbara Swarthout-ten Kate, a family doctor in Amsterdam, said her practice has seen a spike in concussions and arm fractures. She called for mandatory helmet use and a ban on under-16s riding fatbikes, noting that “the helmet will make it safer, but also less cool.”
The city council has not yet set a date for the ban to go into effect, but the decision reflects a growing effort to balance the city’s cycling culture with the need for increased safety measures.
