Fatbikes may be very popular, especially among young people, but most cities are happy to see them gone. Some Dutch cities – Enschede, Hengelo, and Amsterdam, for instance – have even considered banning these cumbersome electric bikes, and now the Belgian town of Hasselt in Limburg is also considering a ban. But what exactly is the problem?

Fatbikes are a rapidly growing phenomenon in the Netherlands, but unfortunately, the vehicles are frequently involved in accidents. According to the Dutch knowledge center for injury prevention, veiligheid.nl, in October 2024, 96 fat bike victims ended up in the emergency room in one week, accounting for 7 percent of all 1,291 cycling victims that week. Eighty-nine percent were drivers, 11 percent passengers.

Insurance liabilities

Also, the bikes are often stolen, and a growing number of insurance companies are imposing very stringent conditions for coverage or simply refusing to insure them. An additional problem is that these fatbikes are easy to tune and have a far higher top speed than the legally permitted 25 kph, which also gives insurance liabilities.

Many fat bikes are illegally tuned using apps, throttles, or more powerful motors, allowing them to reach speeds of 40-50 km/hour—or even more. This makes them behave like light mopeds, but they are not subject to moped regulations—with all the associated insurance and liability risks.

Illegal and subject to punishment

The Dutch government treats fatbikes within the existing frameworks for e-bikes and mopeds. If a fatbike meets all the requirements (≤25 km/h, ≤250 W, pedal assist, and no throttle), it is legal—without a license plate, insurance, or helmet. These are the main advantages, but tuning fat bikes (enabling faster speeds without pedaling, overly powerful motors, and throttles) makes them illegal and subject to punishment.

The House of Representatives in the Netherlands is seeking additional measures, such as a minimum age requirement and mandatory helmet use, but legal feasibility remains a challenge. Meanwhile, action is being taken through oversight, education, and agreements with the industry and dealers.

The Cyclists’ Union is advocating for fatbikes to be reclassified as motor vehicles, which would automatically impose stricter regulations (such as license plate, age, and helmet requirements). They want to investigate the feasibility of this.

Belgium

In Belgium, however, another problem arises. In the LRH police zone, fatbikes are increasingly being involved in nuisance reports, such as suspicious situations, vandalism, drug use, and similar incidents, where people are using fatbikes. Besides the nuisance, they are also used in numerous traffic violations.

Strictly speaking, fat bikes are still in a gray area. The word ‘fatbike’ won’t be included in the traffic code until September 1, 2026. “The fatbike is considered an electric bicycle under certain conditions,” explains Roy Boonen (33), chief inspector at the intervention service, in newspaper Het Belang van Limburg..

“For example, the fatbike must be propelled using pedals, the device may not be equipped with a motor, nor with an electric auxiliary motor with a power of more than 250 W, and the pedal assistance may not reach a speed of more than 25 km/hour. In this form, young people under the age of sixteen are also allowed to ride it, because the regulations are then the same as those for electric bicycles. But if the fat bike is modified (tuned) so that it no longer falls under the category of an electric bicycle, stricter rules apply. For example, a helmet is then mandatory, and insurance is required. And you must be sixteen years or older to be allowed to ride one.”

Young drivers, no helmets

In the Netherlands, helmets are not mandatory, and fewer than 3 percent of people wear one. Perhaps that’s why almost one in five suffered a brain injury, and more than 40 percent broke a body part. Also noteworthy: five of these drivers or passengers were under 11 years old, 20 were between 12 and 13 years old, and 23 were between 14 and 15 years old.

“We want to avoid these kinds of situations,” says LRH police chief Philip Pirard in the newspaper Het Belang van Limburg. The police will, therefore, purchase a special test bench capable of testing all types of bicycles and mopeds. It is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

“As a city council, we fully support this approach. Anyone who violates the highway code and endangers others must be dealt with harshly,” concludes Hasselt Mayor Steven Vandeput (N-VA).