Sale of illegal fatbikes hard to prevent, Inspectorate says

It is impossible to stop the sale of illegal imported fatbikes in the Netherlands if they are sold online, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) said in response to a call from dozens of municipalities and several organizations, including the Fietsersbond. However, the Inspectorate remains “focussed” on the sale of these souped-up bicycles, which often come from countries like China.

In a petition, the municipalities and organizations advocated for a ban on the sale of souped-up e-bikes, a minimum age, and an information campaign for parents and children. Fatbike manufacturers Brekr, Phatfour, and Knaap also support the petition and want better enforcement.

The ILT carries out physical inspections and actively searches for providers of fatbikes that do not comply with the laws and regulations in the Netherlands. The ILT cannot say how many illegal fatbikes from abroad are sold via the internet, and it is also not known whether this number is increasing.

The ILT prefers to call it a scooter when a fatbike goes faster than 25 kilometers per hour, has more than 250 watts of power, and moves forward without pedaling. “And other existing rules apply to scooters,” said the spokesperson. People must have a driver’s license and wear a helmet, among other things. The police must enforce that.