Zoetermeer strengthens measures against e-bikes and fat bikes

Source: Nieuwsfiets

Amid growing complaints, the Dutch municipality will deploy a dedicated bicycle safety team to improve enforcement and enhance road safety in key areas to tackle increasing nuisance caused by fast electric bicycles and fat bikes.

Despite frequent checks by police and municipal enforcement officers, reports of tuned or illegally modified bicycles continue to rise. The municipality has therefore decided to allocate additional resources to address the issue, focusing particularly on schools, shopping centres, and parks – areas where the problem is most acute.

In recent months, complaints from residents about speeding cyclists have grown significantly. According to the municipal council, high-powered fat bikes and e-bikes are increasingly responsible for dangerous situations in public spaces, including shopping streets and schoolyards. The council has described the situation as a systemic problem requiring stronger, more consistent enforcement.

A large majority of the city council has backed the proposal to prioritise direct enforcement over warnings. Under the new approach, all cyclists – regardless of age or type of bicycle – will face immediate fines for rule violations.

However, the municipal executive cautioned that expanding enforcement efforts could affect other priorities, such as addressing illegal parking or youth disturbances. Unless staffing levels increase, the new measures will require making choices within the existing enforcement system.

The Zoetermeer Bicycle Safety Team, consisting of four officers, is expected to begin operations within two months. The initiative will initially run for two years, after which the municipality will evaluate its effectiveness to determine whether the program should continue.

Later this year, Zoetermeer will present an updated road safety action plan that will outline additional measures to regulate fat bikes and tuned electric bicycles.