BICYCLES CURRENT
Babboe recall falls short: lawsuit looms in multiple countries
Dutch cargo bike brand Babboe, known for its family-friendly transport, is embroiled in a legal battle that seems to be getting bigger. Law firm Birkway has filed a lawsuit against the company on behalf of 14.000 victims from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
Minister warns: tuned electric bicycles are life-threatening
The Minister launches a campaign against tuning fat bikes: 'From pedaling hard to getting a criminal record'. Racing down the road at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour on a tuned electric bike, it sounds like an adrenaline rush, but it…
Bicycle sharing: G-sport Flanders aims for 75.000 cyclists with disabilities by 2026
Flanders has a new platform: Gfietst.be. This initiative by G-sport Flanders offers people with disabilities the opportunity to more easily find and rent adapted shared bicycles. The platform bundles all locations in Flanders where these special bicycles are available…
Ghent: the province of Utrecht takes a step towards a bicycle-friendly future during Velo-city
The province of Utrecht is the first province to join the City Deal Cycling for Everyone. This year, the city of Ghent was the proud host of the prestigious cycling conference Velo-city, the flagship of the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF). This four-day event, which…
Disappointed: Cargoroo cargo bike not safe for grandchildren
The rental price of six euros per hour without subscription seems reasonable, but only if the service functions properly. Renting bicycles and scooters has become a popular choice in urban areas. The ease and speed with which…
Shuttel: cycling to work is gaining ground on public transport
Large organizations are putting a lot of effort into making their mobility more sustainable, without this necessarily having to lead to higher costs. Cycling to work is becoming increasingly popular and appears to play a key role in making mobility within Dutch…
Velo-city: Ghent kicks off, cycle in the big Bike Parade
International cycling conference Velo-city will come to Ghent in June 2024. Ghent will get into the cycling mood in June 2024 with the exciting Velo festival. This event, organized as a prelude to the prestigious international cycling conference Velo-city, promises a wide range of activities for cycling enthusiasts.…
From Limburg to Texel: 25 years of cycling junctions in the Netherlands
Everyone knows them: the white route signs with green numbers. Not surprising, because in 2024 there will be around 9.500 cycling junctions in the Netherlands. The cycling junction network in the Netherlands has become an indispensable part of the landscape. What once started in Belgian Limburg…
NS: OV-fiets has a special Brabant version
North Brabant has its own public transport bicycle. The anniversary bicycle has just been unveiled at the bicycle shed at 's-Hertogenbosch station. The OV-fiets is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary this year. To celebrate this, a special public transport bicycle has been made for each province by artist Daniël Roozendaal.…
EU: green light for bicycle revolution sets pedals in motion
The European Union has taken an important step to reduce transport emissions by adopting the European Declaration on Cycling. This initiative, which is part of efforts to promote sustainable, accessible and affordable modes of transport,…
Goodbye racing bike: government tackles souped-up e-bikes
Minister Harbers is committed to safety with an end to performance sets and significant fines. The era of the popularity of souped-up electric bicycles may have peaked. The new concern, the performance of these two-wheelers, is being restricted.…
Cargo bike complaints about quality are not limited to one brand or manufacturer
The NVWA has instructed Babboe to immediately cease trading in all cargo bikes because they do not comply with the law. The problem is many times bigger, so it is urgently time for the sector itself to take action. The…
Safety concerns are shaking Babboe's market position in Flanders
The sharing platform Baqme, known for its electric cargo bike rental service in urban areas, recently suspended its activities in Ghent and the Netherlands. While the Dutch cargo bike manufacturer Babboe has been under fire in its own country for weeks, customers in Belgium are also…
Cargoroo halves prices and comes to the rescue of cargo bike families
Cargo bike sharing provider Cargoroo immediately reduces subscription rates by 50%. In light of the recent crisis surrounding Babboe cargo bikes, shared cargo bike provider Cargoroo has taken a remarkable step to assist affected families. Through a significant reduction of 50% on subscription rates…
Pedestrians are given free rein in the city center of Ghent
Important streets within the route, including Veldstraat, are planned for integral renovation. The image of a moving tram in the Veldstraat has been a thing of the past for some time now because Ghent is currently undergoing one of the most drastic urban renewal projects...
Babboe must stop selling its cargo bikes
According to the NVWA, Babboe failed to adequately investigate the causes of these defects and the company failed to take the necessary measures to prevent further incidents. RTL Nieuws recently published a study about the structural…
Alkmaar e-bike pioneer ES Master collapses after five years
Warranty costs and inflation put pressure on manufacturers. The Dutch e-bike industry is once again shocked by bankruptcy. ES Master, an Alkmaar company specialized in fat bikes, has filed for bankruptcy, just five years after its founding. This development follows previous bankruptcies in…
Give your old bicycle a new life because “That's easy to cycle”.
The Netherlands is committed to more bicycles for children from families with financial challenges. The campaign “That's how you cycled”, which calls on Dutch people to donate disused children's bicycles, is a partnership between various important organizations and government institutions, each with their…
The rise of the e-bike: a new trend in Dutch mobility
The growth in popularity of the e-bike also brings new challenges. The Dutch remain avid cyclists, with more than 28% of all trips in the country made by bicycle. This constant commitment to cycling reflects the…
Young people are often tipsy before they get on their bike
The government and local municipalities are urged to take measures. A worrying trend is emerging in today's nightlife culture: young people 'drinking up' at home before a night out. This practice not only poses health risks, but also…
Cities ask minister for action against the increase in souped-up fat bikes
Police enforcement appears to be an essential link in reducing risks. The recent rise of fat bikes, a type of electric bicycle with noticeably fat tires, raises concerns about road safety. These bikes, which are capable of reaching speeds…
A new era with registration and license plate requirements for special mopeds
While the proposal makes its way through parliament and to the Council of State, the government is working on a balance between innovation and regulation. The Dutch government is taking steps to increase road safety and provide overview...
Start of bicycle lighting campaign emphasizes the importance of visibility in the winter months
While the 'Bicycle lights ON in the dark' campaign is in full swing, recent surveys show that young people in particular are still a risk group when it comes to cycling with insufficient lighting. This week, Minister Mark Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management…
Ghent refuses to open Kompass Klub due to safety risks
Visitors who were looking forward to an evening in the new Kompass Klub are left with unused tickets. The city of Ghent refused to open the doors of the Kompass Klub, despite a fire brigade permit having already been obtained. Serious road safety risks for…
Ghent will hunt bicycle thieves with decoy bicycles from 2024
The bill was submitted at the request of the city of Ghent, but its implications are national. The city of Ghent is taking a new step in the fight against bicycle theft. From the beginning of 2024, the Ghent police will be given the green light to use a decoy bicycle…
The Flemish government is committed to the safety of intersections and school environments
The numbers don't lie. The government is investing in safer intersections and school routes, and the results are starting to become visible. Flanders can pride itself on road safety on regional roads. With 1.728 intersections under its…
Paris and Antwerp show the way in European bicycle sharing research
Financing remains a tricky issue. Although European funds such as the Social Climate Fund can play a role, DG MOVE's Isabelle Vandoorne emphasized that public-private partnerships will be essential for the future development of bicycle sharing initiatives. Paris and Antwerp are in the lead…
Ghent is taking the lead in balancing urban parking needs with flexible parking
The solution is simple, bicycles during the day and vehicles at night. The flexible use of parking spaces allows institutions and their visitors to be better served, while local residents can also benefit from the parking facilities outside these peak times. To tackle parking problems,…
Ghent is pioneering emission-free urban logistics with a view to 2030
Logistics traffic has a major impact on the quality of life and safety in our city. The Belgian city of Ghent has committed to being a forerunner in the field of emission-free urban logistics by 2030, an ambition that…
Bankrupt VanMoof sold to subsidiary of McLaren Applied
Bicycle manufacturer VanMoof is taken over by Lavoie, a British manufacturer of electric scooters. After almost a month and a half of searching for a suitable buyer, the Amsterdam, bankrupt bicycle brand VanMoof has finally been taken over by the British e-step brand Lavoie. This news has been confirmed by…