Amsterdam is often held up as the gold standard for bicycle-friendly cities, but even in one of the most bike-centric places on Earth, not all e-bikes are being treated equally. The Dutch capital has announced plans to ban electric fat tire bikes from its most famous park, and city officials are openly discussing whether wider restrictions could follow.
The initial ban targets fat tire e-bikes in Vondelpark, one of the busiest and most crowded cycling and walking areas in the city. Officials say the move comes after a rise in crashes, near-misses, and complaints from pedestrians who feel unsafe sharing narrow paths with large, fast-moving e-bikes, according to Reuters.
At the center of the debate is the growing popularity of fat tire e-bikes that look and ride very differently from traditional European electric bicycles. While most Dutch e-bikes follow the long-established formula – pedal assist capped at 25 km/h (15.5 mph) with a nominal 250W motor and relatively narrow tires city – many fat tire models are visually and functionally closer to mopeds, with oversized frames, powerful motors, and wide tires. Authorities say many are traveling at speeds far beyond what’s legally allowed.
And while it’s not the fat tires that are the problem per se, but rather that they tend to go hand in hand with illegal levels of performance, at least in Dutch markets where most of these e-bikes come from imported brands that don’t play by the same rules.
According to city officials, fat tire e-bikes have been observed riding at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph), despite being legally limited to 25 km/h (15.5 mph). The bikes are especially popular with younger riders and delivery workers, and hospitals have reported that injuries involving fat tire e-bikes are significantly more severe than those involving conventional bicycles. In some cases, children aged 12 to 15 have made up a large share of those injured.
Supporters of the ban argue that it’s a necessary step to protect pedestrians and preserve shared public spaces. Critics counter that an outright prohibition targets the wrong thing, arguing that enforcement should focus on illegal or modified bikes rather than banning an entire category.
For now, the restriction is limited in scope, but the conversation signals something bigger. Even in Amsterdam, where nearly half of new bikes sold are electric, there appears to be a much clearer line being drawn between traditional e-bikes and higher-performance machines. And other cities across Europe – and beyond – may be watching closely.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
