The city of Amsterdam is planning to reduce the speed of electric bicycles to 20 kilometers per hour to improve road safety. Introducing a maximum speed should tackle the increasing number of accidents with e-bikes.

According to a 2021 AT5 survey among 1 900 inhabitants (AT5 is a local television station in Amsterdam), 75% of Amsterdam citizens worry about traffic safety on bike tracks. The study also indicated that the speed of e-bikes and e-scooters emerged as the main reason for feeling unsafe in traffic.

More accidents

Figures from the Central Office for Statistics (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, CBS) also confirm that the number of accidents involving an e-bike increased in 2021. In 2020, 74 e-bike riders died in traffic; one year later, 80 e-cyclists lost their lives.

The police also reported that more e-cyclists were involved in road accidents last January s than in 2019. One of the reasons is that many bike tracks are not designed for the increasing diversity of two-wheelers, including e-bikes.

Encourage fast cyclists to use the road

Amsterdam Alderwoman for Traffic, Melanie van der Horst, therefore, wants cyclists to slow down automatically in certain areas through so-called Intelligent Speed Adaptation. For instance, an app must turn red when the cyclist enters this area, or the steering wheel must give a warning by vibrating.

In addition, local authorities could encourage fast-riding cyclists to ride on the road. The city is also planning to better analyze traffic accidents, especially those in which e-bikes are involved.

The plans remind us of the measures taken for scooters and light mopeds in 2019. Until then, they still rode on bike tracks and were a major irritation for many Amsterdam citizens. Since then, there is a compulsory helmet, which made it possible to force them to ride on the roadway.