"But after a marked rise in accidents particularly involving children these vehicles the Dutch call fatbikes are to be banned in some parts of the Netherlands. It's nonsense! said Henk Hendrik Wolthers, 69, from the saddle of his wide-tyred, electric Mate bike. I drive a car, I ride a motorbike, I've had a moped and now I ride a fatbike. This is the quickest means of transport in the city and you should be able to use it."
"Although motor assistance on e-bikes is limited to just over 15mph, many fatbike riders modify the factory settings to reach speeds of 25mph in this busy park. The safety organisation VeiligheidNL estimates that 5,000 fatbike riders are treated in A&E departments each year, on the basis of a recent sample of hospitals. And we also see that especially these young people aged from 12 to 15 have the most accidents, said the spokesperson Tom de Beus."
Thick-tyred electric bikes known as fatbikes frequently zoom through Vondelpark in Amsterdam at lunchtime. A marked rise in accidents, particularly involving children, has prompted plans to ban fatbikes in some parts of the Netherlands. Many fatbike riders modify motor assistance to reach about 25mph despite factory limits of just over 15mph. VeiligheidNL estimates about 5,000 fatbike riders are treated in A&E departments each year based on a recent hospital sample. Young people aged 12 to 15 have the highest number of accidents. Amsterdam's head of transport announced a parks ban starting in the Vondelpark. Public reaction to the ban is mixed.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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