I'm writing a piece for a magazine (2024)

AnaCastan

Opstapper

Berichten: 2
Topics: 1
Lid sinds: May 2024

Bedankt: 6
5 x bedankt in 2 berichten

22-May-2024, 12:23 PM

Hi allemaal,

Sorry because I cannot properly write Dutch, so I leave my message in English.

I'm Ana Castan, a writer for Ciclosfera,a Spanish magazine about urban cycling,available both online and in print.

I'm contacting you because, in our next issue, I’ll write aboutthe different vehicles(besides regular bikes) that use the cycling network in The Netherlands. I noticed various velomobiles in Amsterdam and Ithink it might bereally interesting to write about them.

Can any owner of a velomobile help me?

Those are my questions:
- Those bicycles are used in competitions, right? Besides that, do you use it in a regular way to go to work or to commute?
- Do you know how many velomobiles there are in The Netherlands?
- and if there is any norm, rule, or law under which they have to be used?

If you prefer, you cananswer my questions in Dutch, I can read it

Thank you so much for your help,

Ana

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: Willeke_IGKT , PieterTrapt

Willeke_IGKT

Moderator

Berichten: 1.440
Topics: 46
Lid sinds: Dec 2020

Bedankt: 20989
2179 x bedankt in 963 berichten

22-May-2024, 12:35 PM

Velomobiles are seen as 'fiets' so follow the same rules as bicycles, with one important exception, those cycles that have 3 or more wheels and are over 75 cm wide are allowed to use the car lane in many places but not all.

Most of the people here use their velomobile for everyday cycling, going to work, holiday trips and some of us also for racing.
Noticeable difference with many kinds of cycling races, people often ride their velomobile to the race rather than transporting it, take out their gear, add the number and transponder and race, to ride home after the event.

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: AnaCastan

Hardloper

Velonaut in opleiding

Berichten: 1.823
Topics: 70
Lid sinds: Apr 2023

Bedankt: 1705
2079 x bedankt in 1452 berichten

22-May-2024, 01:09 PM

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: AnaCastan

PieterTrapt

Fietser

Berichten: 192
Topics: 17
Lid sinds: Sep 2023

Bedankt: 678
350 x bedankt in 176 berichten

22-May-2024, 03:41 PM

- Those bicycles are used in competitions, right? Besides that, do you use it in a regular way to go to work or to commute?
Yes, there are velomobile competitions, but their main use is for commute. Velomobiles are great for distances of -roughly- 15....35 km (so 30....70km ida y vuelta), especially when most of that distance is in the countryside. They are not very handy in cities, though.

- Do you know how many velomobiles there are in The Netherlands?
Probably a few thousand.

- and if there is any norm, rule, or law under which they have to be used?
They are regarded as normal bicycles, with one exception: they are also allowed on the road, meaning that velomobiles can chose to take the bicycle path OR the road.

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: Willeke_IGKT , AnaCastan

365cycle

Vlaflip

Berichten: 4.599
Topics: 86
Lid sinds: Sep 2020

Bedankt: 8463
6579 x bedankt in 3272 berichten

23-May-2024, 01:19 AM (Dit bericht is het laatst bewerkt op 23-May-2024, 01:24 AM door 365cycle.)

Hi Ana,
yes, some of us race. But this might help:

TEDx Reinventing the Wheel

And here is a video of atrue city to city commute (Houten through Nieuwegein to Gouda): what's in a name - my bike was delivered through the aforementioned companyIntercity Bike.

Looking forward to your article!

In words of others,
Wisdom blooms, forums unite,
Quoted love takes flight.

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: Willeke_IGKT , AnaCastan

Bacchus

Kilometervreter

Berichten: 880
Topics: 14
Lid sinds: Apr 2021

Bedankt: 1061
1502 x bedankt in 739 berichten

23-May-2024, 10:08 AM

(22-May-2024, 12:23 PM)AnaCastan schreef: Can any owner of a velomobile help me?

Not an owner here (I ride an open recumbent) but I have experience in them.

Citaat:- Those bicycles are used in competitions, right? Besides that, do you use it in a regular way to go to work or to commute?

Velomobiles are primarily built as practical human powered vehicles. These are multiple track, often tricycles. That makes them more stable and a bit more roomy and practical, which are beneficial properties in a public road environment. Of course, like basically all vhicles they are raced too but they definately are not purpose-built race machines.
Next to velomobiles, there are faired recumbent bicycles. These are only built for competition and record attempts and are not safe to ride on public roads. They are the fastest human powered vehicles on land though with a 200 m sprint record of 144 km/h (Reichert) and 92 km hour record (Russo). The BHPC sees a few in their track competition.

Citaat:- and if there is any norm, rule, or law under which they have to be used?

There are no specific laws. Generally they are considered to be bicycles except some can be considered multi-track cargo bicyles by their width of over 75 cm and thus are allowed on a main road (but not motor way) where a parallel bicycle path is available.

M5 M-Racer / Challenge Hurricane / Giant Expedition / Giant Defy 1 / MBK Course

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: Willeke_IGKT , 365cycle , AnaCastan

Raymond

Weer- en windfietser

Berichten: 117
Topics: 3
Lid sinds: Jul 2022

Bedankt: 31
254 x bedankt in 110 berichten

23-May-2024, 11:49 AM

(22-May-2024, 12:23 PM)AnaCastan schreef: - Those bicycles are used in competitions, right? Besides that, do you use it in a regular way to go to work or to commute?

I'm riding an open two-wheeler,not a velomobile. I participated in a recumbent race once last year. There were some velomobiles, but most participants were racing with open two-wheelers and some with partially faired two-wheelers.

I know of one example of pure velomobile racing, but that is far away from the Netherlands. It's the HPV Super Series in Australia.The velomobiles used there are probably not suitable for the open road, and purpose built for racing on raceways.

2020 Challenge Chamsin 26" met Rohloff
2014 AZOR Texel
2012Brompton

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: Willeke_IGKT , 365cycle , AnaCastan

AnaCastan

Opstapper

Berichten: 2
Topics: 1
Lid sinds: May 2024

Bedankt: 6
5 x bedankt in 2 berichten

23-May-2024, 09:26 PM

Thank you so much for your input, Willeke, Raymond, Bacchus, 365Cycle, Pieter, and Hardloper!

Now I understand what those bicycles are actually used for.

I'm writing the piece next week, so if I need any clarification in the meantime, can I reach out here again?

By the way, thank you all for responding to my request so quickly.

Ana

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: Willeke_IGKT , Frutsel , Hardloper

365cycle

Vlaflip

Berichten: 4.599
Topics: 86
Lid sinds: Sep 2020

Bedankt: 8463
6579 x bedankt in 3272 berichten

24-May-2024, 01:26 AM (Dit bericht is het laatst bewerkt op 24-May-2024, 01:27 AM door 365cycle.)

(23-May-2024, 09:26 PM)AnaCastan schreef: I'm writing the piece next week, so if I need any clarification in the meantime, can I reach out here again?

Always welcome. I also sent you a request on LinkedIn so you can reach me directly.

In words of others,
Wisdom blooms, forums unite,
Quoted love takes flight.

Zoek

Antwoord

}

Bedankt door: Willeke_IGKT