The Netherlands may be famous for its great facilities for cyclists, but now Amsterdam has launched an experiment allowing cyclists with fast e-bikes to use the road rather than a designated bike path.

The trials have started on the Bilderdijkstraat and Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat in West and mean motorists can now expect to meet cyclists as well as moped drivers on “their” part of the road. 

City transport chief Melanie van der Horst says the idea is to determine if speed rather than type of vehicle is a better way to separate traffic on the city’s busy roads, especially at rush hour. In particular the arrival of the e-bike and the souped-up fat bike has led to an increase in accidents between cyclists. 

“I can imagine that this would be safer for cyclists,” Willemijn Pomper from road safety organisation Veilig Verkeer Nederland said. “The difference in speed between a car and an e-bike is lower than that of between ordinary bikes and e-bikes.” 

The speed limit on most of the capital’s roads is 30 kph. 

Dozens of traffic signs alert the cyclists to the option of going on the road – if they travel faster than 20 kph. Blue paths have also been painted on bike lanes and the tarmac as an additional guide and yellow signs warn drivers they may meet more two-wheelers.

However, Mona Raggers (55) told the Parool she is staying on the cycle path. “I cycle fast but I would like to stay alive,” she said. 

The Amsterdam branch of the cycling union Fietsersbond is also following the trial with interest. “We say ‘try it and we’ll see what happens’,” Florrie de Pater told the paper. “It could be an option for fast cyclists, but for brave ones as well.” 

The experiment will last for three months.

Rise of e-bike threatens Amsterdam’s status as a cycling paradise

In 2019 Amsterdam banned snorfietsen, or low-powered mopeds that have a speed limit of 25 km/h, from most of its cycle paths inside the A10 ring road and introduced compulsory helmets for users.