Dutch road users see fatbikes as riskier than regular e-bikes

A survey suggests that concerns about unsafe riding and illegal modifications may shape whether people accept fatbikes in cities.

Editorial illustration — not from the study.

Fatbikes—electric bicycles with wide tires—are increasingly visible in the Netherlands, but road users do not view them in the same way as regular e-bikes. Survey respondents often associated fatbike riders with young people, reckless riding, traffic violations and unsafe behaviour.

Acceptance of fatbikes was considerably lower than acceptance of regular e-bikes, which were viewed more neutrally. Public transport and scooter users were more likely to see fatbikes as an alternative way to travel. The researchers say possible responses include enforcement and education on safe riding and illegal modifications, along with public information about lawful fatbike use.

How fatbikes are perceived

The study used an online survey of 508 respondents in the Netherlands. Respondents viewed fatbike riders negatively and often associated them with youth and reckless riding. Compared with regular e-bike riders, fatbike riders were seen as engaging more often in traffic violations and unsafe behaviour. Public acceptance was considerably lower for fatbikes than for e-bikes. Public transport and scooter users were more likely to view fatbikes as an alternative mode of transport.

Why public acceptance matters

Fatbikes are legally part of the broader e-bike category, but the survey suggests that road users perceive them as a separate and riskier type of transport. That distinction may affect their acceptance in urban mobility systems. The findings point toward policy measures focused on the behaviours and concerns shaping acceptance, including enforcement, safety education, prevention of illegal modifications and clear public information about lawful use.

Evidence and caveats

The findings come from a cross-sectional online survey of 508 people, so they describe respondents’ perceptions and the relationships between those perceptions and acceptance. They do not directly measure how fatbike riders behave in traffic, and the survey cannot establish that particular behaviours cause lower acceptance. The abstract does not provide details about how representative the respondents were of all Dutch road users.

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