Over half of fatbikes checked in Amsterdam were tuned up

Over half of the fatbikes checked by the Amsterdam police since February were tuned up to go faster than allowed. A police spokesperson confirmed figures published by Mobiliteit.nl to ANP.

The Amsterdam police have been testing fatbikes’ maximum speed with a treadmill since February. They tested 215 bikes by June 13 and found that 117 of them had some kind of enhancement installed. In most cases, the throttle was enhanced, but there were also a few cases in which the bicycle computer was changed to let the bike go faster than allowed, the spokesperson said.

Fatbikes and electric bikes with pedal assistance are allowed to ride up to 25 kilometers per hour. The fine for riding a souped-up fat bike is 290 euros. At a second violation, the rider is fined again, and the police confiscate the bicycle.

Municipalities have been calling for more action against souped-up fatbikes for some time, especially because they’re popular among teenagers and accidents often involve serious injuries. But, according to the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, it is impossible to stop the sale of illegal fatbikes in the Netherlands if they are sold online.