Amsterdam keeps Vondelpark fatbike ban after fall in nuisance
After an evaluation found far fewer fatbikes and less nuisance in the park, Amsterdam will not extend the ban to other areas until national rules are clear.
Amsterdam is keeping its fatbike ban in the Vondelpark after a municipal evaluation found the number of fatbikes in the park had fallen sharply and nuisance had decreased. The ban took effect on 11 May.
Fatbike riders may not ride through the park. They can go around it or walk their fatbikes through it. The municipality is not adding more banned areas for now. It wants to wait for national measures, such as whether the fatbike becomes a separate vehicle category and whether a helmet requirement is introduced for all e-bikes.
Before the ban, counters logged between 85 and 101 fatbikes in 2.5 hours, depending on the time of day. A count after five weeks found 4 to 6. A second count found 6 to 14.
Enforcers issued 63 official warnings in the first two weeks. Fines began on 25 May. Up to 1 September, the end of the evaluation period, 167 fines and 138 warnings were issued. Eight objections from fined riders are still being handled, and 20 were rejected as unfounded.
Traffic alderman Elise Moeskops said the ban has achieved its goal. “It does not solve all nuisance and unsafety in the area, because crowds, speed and the behaviour of other fast cyclists continue to need attention,” she said. She added: “I am eagerly awaiting national legislation.”
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