Fatbikes in Focus: A Town Hall Debate on Safety and Regulation
18 Jun 2026 10:45 - 11:45 Arco Two-way Track Debate
Multimodality. Building Integrated Transport Systems
Fatbikes, electric bicycles with wide tires, large saddles, and pedal-assist up to 25 km/h, have rapidly gained popularity in the Netherlands. Their rise has also sparked heated debate: concerns about safety, rule compliance, and crowded cycling infrastructure are increasingly discussed in municipalities and even in the Dutch Parliament. Should cities regulate them more strictly – or ban them altogether? Join this interactive session to explore the issue from multiple perspectives. Participants will become members of the fictional town hall of Rimitopia, where a decision on fatbikes must be made. After statements from different stakeholders (cycling advocates, researchers, citizens, and city authorities) about safety, user groups, needs and priorities, the floor opens for debate. Your voice matters: together, the assembly will decide whether Rimitopia should regulate, restrict, or ban fatbikes.
