Separate bike lanes for faster cyclists and enforcement of illegal e-bikes would be more effective than plan for speed limits on Dutch cycle lanes, cycling union and road safety groups argue

The Dutch government has put forward the trial as part of a multi-year cycling strategy which policy makers hope will boost safety and cut road deaths and injuries. Local councils will be able to impose speed limits on cycle lanes and bike paths, and trial moving electric cargo bikes, primarily used for deliveries, onto roads.

No formal legislation is to be finalised or decided upon until the response from the trials has been collated although, clearly, if it is a success then national traffic legislation could be updated.

However, while the government believes its strategy can cut deaths and injuries — as last year a third of the 675 people to die on Dutch roads were cyclists — road safety campaigners and cycling groups have questioned if there are not other areas which could be addressed first.

Dutch bike path (credit: CC BY-NC 2.0/davsot on Flickr)

Wim Bot of the Cyclists' Union told NPO Radio 1's Spraakmakers show that enforcement of illegally modified or overly powerful 'e-bikes' would be a more effective first step.

"[Electric bikes] on cycle paths are already not allowed to go faster than 25 kilometres per hour, because then the pedal assistance has to stop," he explained, the Dutch rules mirroring the UK's laws in that e-bikes can have an electric motor with a maximum power of 250 watts, but this must cut out at 25km/h (15mph), meaning any 'bike' which does not abide by these standards is technically classed as an electric moped and requires insurance, registration and a helmet.

However, like in the UK, the surge in popularity and lack of enforcement means such riders of such vehicles can be seen regularly, particularly in urban areas and using city bike paths.

Amsterdam bike path (credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/wikimedia commons)

"The problem is that there's absolutely no enforcement," Bot continued, suggesting that would be a better starting point, rather than trialling cycle path speed limits.

With 30km/h (18.6mph) speed limits in urban areas, the Dutch Cyclists' Union representative suggested it would be safer for faster riders to use roads instead, leaving cycling infrastructure for slower-moving cycle traffic. Ideally, there would be separate cycle lanes for fast cyclists too, like there are in parts of Denmark. However, he accepts, "we often don't have enough space for that".

"It sounds good, but I think it's often not feasible in existing urban areas," Bot said.

The Dutch town of Katwijk has tried this, a painted cycle lane on the road designed for riders travelling faster than 20km/h, while the protected cycle path remains for riders going slower. The speed limit for motor traffic has also been capped at 30km/h on this stretch.

Commenting on the cycle lane speed limit proposal, the Dutch Road Safety Association's spokesperson Willemijn Pomper said a "combination of factors" was needed and that improving existing infrastructure, notably by widening routes, should be prioritised too.

"That's incredibly important, because bike paths aren't designed for all these different vehicles," she said.

However, while cycling and road safety groups have urged a more balanced approach, Amsterdam's deputy mayor has backed the speed limit trial.

Amsterdam stock photo (credit: road.cc)

Melanie van der Horst told NOS: "I do think this shouldn't be implemented nationwide right away, but specifically where it's unsafe and congested, such as in the cities. I would also like to see a speed limit for cyclists in parks, where they mix with traffic."

The government's trial also comes as it hopes to increase helmet use from current levels of four per cent to 25 per cent over 10 years, it says, "without leading to a reduction in people cycling".

> "People find helmets unpleasant": Dutch government launches 'Put It On' campaign urging cyclists to wear helmets as serious cycling injuries continue to rise – but activists say scheme "distracts from real issues"

It was back in April when we first reported the Dutch government's 'Zet 'm Op' (or 'Put It On') campaign for increasing helmet use – the target a 600 per cent jump compared to the country's current helmet-donning population.

Amsterdam_Alec_James_IMG_0493 (credit: road.cc)

However, behavioural scientists have warned that, while the government's attempt to encourage helmet use can succeed, it will be a "long-term process" and will face resistance in a nation where cycling is the norm but helmets are not.

The Dutch Cyclists' Union and other activists have also criticised the scheme and its "one-sided" focus on helmets, arguing that it will lead people to associate cycling with danger, and that the key to ensuring the safety of cyclists is creating more safe infrastructure and clamping down on dangerous driving.