The House of Representatives is sticking to its guns and wants strict rules that only apply to fat bikes. This despite the fact that a distinction between a fat bike and an electric bike is legally difficult and would solve little in practice. “This will be ineffective within a month,” says Minister Barry Madlener.
After days of debate, members of parliament from the VVD, NSC and PVV said in a debate tonight that they still ‘do not understand it’. They want a minimum age of 14 and a helmet requirement for fat bikes. But Minister Barry Madlener of Infrastructure has tried to make it clear in recent days that such a distinction between a fat bike and an electric bike will only lead to a new ‘cat and mouse game’: manufacturers can circumvent this fat bike law with minor adjustments to the e-bikes. “I do not think that is desirable”, according to the minister.
Minimum age for all e-bikes?
Madlener therefore came up with a ‘handshake’ to the Lower House that is legally possible: a minimum age of 14 for all electric bicycles and a helmet requirement for all e-bike riders aged 14 to 18. Such a rule would prevent the police from measuring tire thicknesses on the street and having to inspect saddles to determine whether it is a fat bike or a normal e-bike. But VVD, NSC and PVV rejected this proposal and stick to their plan.
The issue is actually quite simple: a fatbike is simply an electric bike according to EU regulations. That is why the minister does not want to make a distinction between types of bikes. VVD, NSC and PVV do want to make a distinction between fatbikes and other e-bikes, based on the tires, the weight and the type of saddle, among other things.
Immediately outdated
Madlener reiterated that such a rule will be outdated almost immediately. Manufacturers have already said they will adjust the bikes so that they are no longer fat bikes according to the law. “Then you suddenly have an e-bike with thin tires and an adjustable saddle,” Madlener explained.
The penny did not drop for the members of parliament. “Now the House asks something and then the minister says: I will not do that, I do not want that. I do not understand it at all anymore,” said PVV member of parliament Hidde Heutink. “Where there is a will, there is a way,” responded Olger van Dijk (NSC).
Voting in two weeks
The Lower House will vote on the plans in two weeks. There is a good chance that the motion will be adopted. Madlener can see the storm coming: “I have serious objections to making a law that will no longer be effective after a month.”
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Source: www.bright.nl
