Source: Dutch News, NL Times

The five largest cities in the Netherlands have called for the government to allow them to ban the use of e-bikes, e-scooters and other electric vehicles from cycle lanes, arguing that the varying sizes and speeds of electrically powered vehicles on bike paths present a danger to more vulnerable road users.

In the message written to the parliament’s infrastructure committee by the aldermen of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and Eindhoven, it is stated, “Bike paths must remain safe for all cyclists, not just the biggest, strongest, and fastest.”

The cities’ aldermen go on to state that current cycle networks are not equipped to deal with e-scooters – the first of which have now been licensed for use in the Netherlands, not without controversy. The city officials express concerns about e-scooters’ safety compared to standard bikes. “Councils must be able to move some vehicles, such as large cargo bikes, to the roads and ban other electric vehicles, such as the e-scooter, on a local basis,” the statement said.

The five cities have also called for parliament to halt the approval of new LEVs, and to impose a standard 30 kph speed limit in built-up areas. This, they say, will improve safety and create space to shift faster vehicles from the cycle lanes to the road.