Helmet requirement for e-bikes?
Minister Madlener would like to make helmets compulsory for fat bikes and e-bikes, as in Sweden
The The number of road casualties involving e-bikes and fat bikes is under scrutiny. The number of casualties among people aged 12 to 17 has already quadrupled in five years. In the first four months of 2024, 50% of the 2023 figure will have been reached.
Besides the accidents and casualties, there is also public irritation with the driving style and speed of the average fat bike rider. This, exacerbated by calls from doctors and (trauma) surgeons, is prompting politicians to intervene.
The obvious solution is to tackle the "fat bike." But in reality, it's an e-bike with thicker tires. There's no real way to distinguish it from a "regular" e-bike. The PVV's call to ban fat bikes is difficult to achieve. The most recent announcement from Minister Barry Madlener (Infrastructure) is that, under pressure from the House of Representatives, he will take measures against fat bikes. He thinks mandatory helmets for children are negotiable, but he warns that this requirement must apply to all electric bicycles.
If mandatory helmets are introduced, there's a good chance that an NTA 8776 helmet will be required. Just like mopeds, which also have a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour. These are the speed pedelec helmets that, in addition to the standard CE certification, also have an NTA certificate.
It's said that the 'nuisance' arose because moped users switched to fat bikes. Due to the lack of regulations, this has spread to younger age groups.
The bicycle helmet suitable for mopeds is already widely used and available. Anything with a motor will very likely come into contact with some form of helmet.
