Netherlands to close e-bike speed modification loophole

by Alex Bowden Apr 8 2024

Riders have been able to sidestep fines by switching installed boosters off

Legislators in the Netherlands are to close a loophole that allows people
to ride modified e-bikes capable of providing power assistance above
25km/h.

While it is already prohibited to ride e-bikes that can provide motor assistance above the 25km/h limit (or to trigger the motor via the throttle alone above a 6km/h limit), authorities can currently only intervene when performance enhancements are actually in use.

This means that any feature by which the user can switch a booster kit on
and off – either via a physical switch or an app – enables them to avoid a €310 fine.

We recently reported how Dutch police have begun using roller test benches
to test whether e-bikes comply with legislation, but Mark Harbers, the
minister in charge of infrastructure and water management policy, said many were sidestepping fines.

His proposal would give officers the ability to impose a fine whenever a
bike has a booster kit installed, or where the speed restricter can be disabled. He argues that people should not be able to avoid a fine simply because they are alert to police presence.

The fines are technically for using a vehicle that has not been approved as
a moped or scooter and repeated fines can lead to the vehicle being confiscated.

The proposed change will need to be approved by both of the Netherlands’ houses of Parliament, but NL Times reports that this is “likely”.

<https://ebiketips.road.cc/content/news/netherlands-to-close-e-bike-speed-modification-loophole-5261>

Chris RideFar 51 min 38 sec ago
The real issue is: Why is the limit so low at 25 km/h? That's too slow,
which makes people find a way around it. I've never found a road with a 25
km/h speed limit, so who came up with this arbitrary speed and why? North Americans use the same bikes/motors limited to 20 mph / 32 km/h; it would
be easy to do the same in Europe, and then I expect that a lot fewer people would feel the need to delimit their bikes. No other private vehicles have
such limitations. Motorbikes may be power limited, but still never speed limited. Decent e-bikes cost a lot of money - people want to be able to use
the motor that they've paid all that money for during more than 20% of
their ride (which is the case for any somewhat capable cyclist).

Paul J 2 hours 1 min ago
Made this comment before, but dutch police have *long* used roller dynos to test things like mopeds for compliance. I've stood there and watched my
moped on a roller dyno as a police officer abused it by overrev'ing back in
the early 90s.

The dutch are fastidious about regulation of light vehicles. I seriously
doubt testing ebikes is new, and only "begun" recently.

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Spike

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