Useful article. As a fat-bike rider, I’ve been expecting this. It was just a matter of time.

At the center of the debate is the growing popularity of fat tire e-bikes that look and ride very differently from traditional European electric bicycles. While most Dutch e-bikes follow the long-established formula – pedal assist capped at 25 km/h (15.5 mph) with a nominal 250W motor and relatively narrow tires city – many fat tire models are visually and functionally closer to mopeds, with oversized frames, powerful motors, and wide tires. Authorities say many are traveling at speeds far beyond what’s legally allowed.

So the central issue is that it’s hard for police to know that a bike is respecting the norms. My Engwe is the EU-certified model but it has a secret jailbreak mode that unlocks the throttle and boosts the motor! The manufacturer even tells you how to do it! Come on.

I’m thinking that it might just be easier to regulate the max weight of the bike, since that’s a major factor in accidents. Plus a clampdown on speeding.