Transport inspectorate seizes 3,500 fat bikes that were manufactured in China

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has seized about 3,500 Chinese-made fat bikes. According to the inspection, the bikes do not meet the legal requirements, which could risk the safety of drivers and other traffic participants. The ILT has also stopped all sales of these fat bikes.

This specifically pertains to fat bikes that a Chinese manufacturer has brought onto the market in the Netherlands at very low prices. They called these electric bicycles, but the inspectorate said that the fat bikes have the same technological qualities as mopeds. Therefore, this is considered illegal sales.

There are stricter rules for mopeds, which these fat bikes have to adhere to. For example, a type approval, license plate, and third-party liability insurance are required. There is also a helmet and driving license requirement. Karin Visser, director of supervision and investigation at the ILT, said there is a simple rule for judging this. “Does the fat bike go faster than 25 kilometers an hour? Then this is an uninspected and uninsured moped.”

This may be about fat bikes made by Chinese manufacturer QMWheel. RTL Nieuws reported earlier this month, after conducting its own investigation, that another 3,500 fat bikes made by the company were on their way to the Netherlands in sea containers. The ILT would not give any details about the brands or types of fat bikes this pertains to. QMWheel is not available for comment.

There have been a lot of discussions in the Netherlands about the hugely popular fat bikes that are souped up to then be used to speed through the streets. “I understand that eyes are on us and other regulators to step in,” said Visser.

According to her, the inspectorate is trying to combat the sale of these types of fat bikes “with the limited amount of people and resources that we have available.”

But she also said regulators, manufacturers, importers, distributors, and users and sellers should share responsibility. “A fat bike that is sold for less than 1,000 euros. That sounds too good to be true. The chance of you buying a good quality and safe fat bike for that sum is small.”