Hundreds Fined for Phone Use, Speeding Fatbikes and Unsafe Mopeds
Nearly 600 cyclists were fined for using their phones, while major checks on fatbikes and mopeds uncovered speeding, technical defects, and stolen vehicles.
Nearly 600 fines for phone use while cycling
In the first four months of 2025, police in the municipality of Groningen issued 596 fines for using a mobile phone while cycling, according to new figures from the Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB). That puts Groningen among the top municipalities in the country for such violations, behind only Amsterdam (1,922 fines) and The Hague (632).
Local cyclist advocacy groups weren’t surprised. “Honestly, I expected even more,” said Wim Borghols of the Cyclists' Union Groningen. “When I ride through the city, I constantly see people texting or calling on their bikes—young and old.” He warned that despite the fines, awareness about the dangers of distracted cycling remains low.
Rik Heiner, a councillor for the VVD, welcomed the enforcement: “A €170 fine is a strong deterrent. Those who get one won’t be quick to make the same mistake.”
75 fines and two fatbikes confiscated in one day
In a major inspection this month, police conducted traffic checks at two hotspots in the city—on the Korreweg near Bernoulliplein and the Friesestraatweg near the Paddepoel-Vinkhuizen underpass. The operation led to 75 fines and the confiscation of two fatbikes.
One of the seized fatbikes had been reported stolen. The other was confiscated from a rider caught for the second time operating a tuned vehicle. Officers also issued a fine to a moped driver with an invalidated license, and five mopeds were designated for mandatory inspection (WOK status) due to technical defects or speeding capabilities.
Wide range of traffic violations
The inspection revealed numerous offences involving both fatbikes and mopeds. These included:
17 cases of phone use while driving
Multiple defective brake systems and speedometers
Riders without helmets or using them improperly
Illegal modifications to increase speed
Missing or broken reflectors, mirrors, and lighting
Exceeding legal noise levels and riding on the wrong path
Police emphasised that the aim of these checks isn’t just punitive: “Many of these violations pose real dangers—to the driver and to others,” they stated. “Tuned and poorly maintained vehicles are a growing safety concern.”
Regular checks to continue
Authorities in Groningen have indicated that these inspections are part of a larger campaign to improve road safety in the city, especially as the popularity of fatbikes and mopeds rises. With continued enforcement and public awareness, officials hope to curb risky behaviour and keep Groningen’s streets safer for all.