Gov't working on fatbike-specific rules: Age limit, mandatory helmet for all kids, teens
The Dutch government is working on a minimum age for fatbikes, as well as mandatory helmets for everyone under the age of 18, Minister Vincent Karremans of Infrastructure and Water Management announced. He is also working on a way to create rules specifically for fatbikes, and not all e-bikes, RTL Nieuws reports.
The Minister presented his “Fatbike Approach” on Friday, though much remains unclear. For example, he did not say what the age limit would be, or when he wants to expand mandatory helmets to also include teenagers.
The Fatbike Approach lists what Karremans wants to happen in the coming years, but not when and how it will be implemented.
The Minister also said he is commissioning a research firm to develop options for creating separate rules for fatbikes, something the previous Cabinet deemed practically impossible.
Amsterdam and Enschede have implemented fatbike bans in parts of the city, defining the fatbike by the thickness of its tires. And suddenly skinnybikes - fatbikes with thinner tires - are in high demand.
Karremans hopes that a definition will make it easier for cities to ban these bicycles from areas where they cause problems. But he added that he does not want to wait for “a perfect definition,” because that “leads to stagnation.”
“Doing nothing is not an option, because that has no effect whatsoever on road safety,” the Minister said.
