DutchNews, November 17, 2015
Transport minister Melanie Schultz is to
press ahead with measures which will allow local councils to ban slower types
of motorbike from cycle lanes.
Moped users will also have to wear helmets
because they will share the road with vehicles travelling at much greater
speeds, the minister said in a briefing to MPs.
Amsterdam and several other
cities have been pressuring the minister to give them more leeway to keep
mopeds away from bikes in an effort to improve cyclists’ safety.
‘This is good
news for Amsterdam,’ a council spokesman said. ‘We will be briefing the full
council on the implications and next steps as soon as we can.’
In Amsterdam,
almost half of the people killed in traffic accidents in 2013 were driving a
moped. In 2012, moped drivers were involved in 689 accidents, most of which
took place on cycle lanes, the Parool said last year.
Mopeds are not supposed
to travel faster than 25 kph but according to some estimates, up to 70% break
this limit. It will take about six months before the measure becomes law, news
agency ANP says.
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