Tuning up an e-bike sounds less illegal than tuning up a scooter, because it often mainly concerns a software adjustment. However, that certainly doesn’t make it any less punishable. The police have indicated that they will invest in new roller banks to check whether an e-bike has been stepped up.
Roller bench for e-bikes
Until now it has been difficult for the police to enforce e-bikes because, unlike light mopeds, it is not possible to check the maximum speed and then the construction speed on the roller bank. At least: it couldn’t. A new roller bank has now been developed in which the police are investing in order to be able to check whether your electric bicycle does not comply with the rules. In the Netherlands, an e-bike can go up to 25 kilometers per hour. There are e-bikes that can go faster, such as the Super 73, but you are not officially allowed to convert that slide from 25 kilometers per hour to 45 kilometers per hour in the app.
It is possible, but it is not allowed. Your e-bike may simply not go faster than 25 kilometers per hour, unless you have a special one with a registration number. If your bicycle does not have this, your two-wheeler can be confiscated or you can expect a fine. That fine is quite high, but lower than, for example, taking to the road with an electric scooter. You have to pay 290 euros if you cycle on public roads with a souped-up e-bike. With an electric scooter you will soon be at 410 euros. Anyway: a fine is never fun, especially if it is as high as a large part of your bike cost, so increasing it might not be the best idea after all, besides that it can also cause confusion and collisions for safety in traffic worry, because people can’t properly estimate your speed.
No helmet obligation
There is in it debate Another decision was also taken regarding these e-bike measures, namely that the helmet obligation will not be introduced for a while. That means you can still fully style your hair and get on your bike, without having to worry about ruining your haircut with a helmet on. If you feel safer with a helmet, it is of course always an option to put it on when you go out with your e-bike. The reason why there is not much haste being put behind compulsory helmets is remarkable: the government is afraid that compulsory helmets will lead to less bicycle use. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that scooters have just received a new helmet requirement, which means that people may be less inspired to make the transition to slightly healthier e-biking.
The roller tire will soon no longer be the domain of the scooter alone, because e-bikes will have their own variant. Also good to know: bicycles with a ‘thumb throttle’ are also not allowed and must be on the roller belt: they must provide pedal support. This can also be checked on the roller bench. The roller benches will be taken into use this fall, so you still have one summer to think about what you’re going to do with your e-bike.
