e-bike apocolypse in the Nederlands

[Thoglette]

Older men on e-bikes behind rising death toll among Dutch cyclists

The deaths of men over 65 using electric bikes on Dutch roads have caused the number of cycling fatalities in the country to surpass the people killed in cars.

Official figures from the Netherlands’ central bureau of statistics show a near doubling of deaths on electric bikes in the last 12 months, three-quarters of which involved men of 65 years or over.
...
Peter van der Knaap, director of the Dutch Road Safety Research Foundation, said older men were too confident in their ability not only to cycle at the speeds e-bikes make possible but also to mount or dismount the bike in the first place.

etc etc

[ValleyForge]

Should be wearing helmets then.

[Nobody]

"e-bike apocolypse in the Nederlands"

Love it. Drama+. You'd make a good headline writer for the Daily Terror..., or do you do that already?

[BJL]

I guess the solution is to make them drive cars then.

[Jmuzz]

I think the 250W 25kph Pedelec standard is pretty sensible.
Is that the class they are crashing on? Or throttle style? Or illegally modified derestricted?

[Scintilla]

E-bikes in the Netherlands are 250W with automatic throttle and 25 kmh power cut-out. These are the only ones referred to in the study, though the Dutch do have two classes of motorbikes. Their mopeds are a separate type of moto that requires a helmet, has a higher power than an e-bike, is basically a lower-power scooter, with (I think) no licence required.

[Thoglette]

or do you do that already?

I just wish I could get paid for the click=throughs

[AUbicycles]

A few stats for perspective.

2016
Netherlands 17 million population and 206 bike rider deaths and 201 motor vehicle deaths
27% of all trips by bicycle


2016
Australia 24 million population 29 bike rider deaths and 831 motor vehicle deaths (pedestrians 182 + motorcyclists 249)
< 1% of all trips by bicycle*


It is normal that senior citizens can overestimate their abilities - where motor transport is the only travel option, the seniors stop travelling or the risk of accidents and casualties increase. Car safety however has also increased which reduces fatalities.

For a European nation where cycling is a normal part of the culture and the percentage of cycling trips for short distances (e.g. under 7.5 km) is high, over 35%, the participation rate of elderly riders is also high. In 2014 in holland, from the 185 fatalities of bike riders, 107 were aged over 65.

E-bikes and the higher speed increases the risk factor, they are heavier and faster. The mental through to physical differences (ageing) increases the risk.


Very easy however to twist the news and use scare factors - but the society is still healthier and safer with more bike riding that motor vehicle traffic.

[ashleygray]

Safety First! We should always wear helmet then.

[AUbicycles]

Hmmm. Not sure if that is serious but helmets do not remove external risks.