Safety concerns rise as new micromobility trends grow
Fatbikes are gaining ground in Belgium, with more than 4,500 units sold last year, according to figures from the mobility federation Traxio. At the same time, authorities are raising concerns about safety, including illegally modified bikes and non-compliant e-scooters being sold on the market.
Recent inspections by the FPS Economy found that many electric scooters sold in Belgium do not comply with legal requirements. Consumer Protection minister Rob Beenders of Vooruit has ordered non-compliant models to be withdrawn from sale.
“I want to tackle the unsafety of e-scooters at the source, namely at the points of sale," he said. "The fewer unsafe e-scooters in traffic, the safer it is for road users."
The move follows a sharp rise in e-scooter-related accidents. In 2025, the number of accidents causing injury increased by 33.7 per cent to 2,453, while fatal accidents rose from four to 13.
Inspections of 40 commonly sold models indicated that only five were fully compliant with regulations. Authorities have identified a range of issues, including missing safety information, incorrect or absent CE markings and incomplete documentation.
Products found to be defective have been removed from both online platforms and physical shops. “When you buy an e-scooter, you must be able to trust that it is safe. That is currently too often not the case,” Beenders said.
Belgian regulations
Additional scrutiny is planned for newer models, including the Mia Four scooter, which can have multiple powered wheels and may reach speeds well above Belgian limits.
“There are still many questions about these types of e-scooters,” Beenders said. “And if something is unclear, it can also be unsafe.”
The Economic Inspectorate will now assess whether such models comply with Belgian regulations. “We want to know: is this allowed to be sold, and is it safe enough for people? If not, we will remove these types of e-scooters from the market as well. Just because an e-scooter has four wheels, for example, does not mean it can be sold as ‘safe’.”
Illegal modifications
Fatbikes - a robust electric bike with strikingly wide tyres - are a newcomer to the Belgian market. The trend has spread from the Netherlands, where the bikes are already popular among young people and students.
Traxio warns that the bikes could pose a danger if they are altered to exceed legal limits. Under Belgian rules, electric bicycles may provide pedal assistance up to a maximum speed of 25km/h.
In neighbouring countries, authorities have observed users modifying bikes to exceed speed limits or operate without pedalling, which can reclassify them as unapproved mopeds, potentially leading to confiscation, fines or driving bans.
© PHOTO ERIC BRINKHORST / ANP
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