Police Seize Fatbike That Can Reach 100 km/h -- 75 km/h Over the Limit

Police in the Dutch towns of Boxtel, Vught and Sint-Michielsgestel have seized a fatbike capable of reaching 100 kilometers per hour -- a full 75 km/h over the legal limit. The police shared the news on Instagram, noting that the vehicle appears to be what is known as a "skinny bike," a newer model that manufacturers have developed to circumvent recent restrictions on traditional fatbikes. The key difference lies in tire thickness. Fatbikes typically have tires around 10 centimeters wide, while skinny bikes max out at 7 centimeters. Electric bicycles with tires wider than 7 centimeters have recently been banned in certain areas, prompting manufacturers to roll out the slimmer alternative. Just a day earlier, police impounded a similar model that was found to reach 57 km/h during a roadside check. "Both riders received fines and the bikes have been confiscated," police wrote on Instagram. A public prosecutor will decide whether the owners will get their vehicles back. Meanwhile, the municipality of Enschede has banned fatbikes from the city center during shopping hours following complaints about dangerous situations. The rule, however, only applies to tires thicker than 7 centimeters -- meaning the new skinny bikes slip right through the regulatory gap.