{"id":67716,"date":"2026-01-28T08:53:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T07:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/rethinking-intermediate-mobility-a-plea-for-a-new-regulatory-framework\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T08:59:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T07:59:55","slug":"rethinking-intermediate-mobility-a-plea-for-a-new-regulatory-framework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/rethinking-intermediate-mobility-a-plea-for-a-new-regulatory-framework\/","title":{"rendered":"Rethinking intermediate mobility: a plea for a new regulatory framework"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>This article concludes a series of three surveys devoted to speedbikes.<br\/>If you&#8217;re new to the subject here, I&#8217;d recommend starting with the first article, which analyzes <strong>why the French market is stalled<\/strong>, and then with the second, which details <strong>the concrete obstacles encountered by entrepreneurs<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p>\u25ba Links to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/x-ray-of-a-ghost-market-why-speedbikes-arent-taking-off\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/pourquoi-le-speedbike-ne-decolle-pas\/\">Article 1<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/building-a-speedbike-in-2026-an-entrepreneurs-obstacle-course\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/construire-un-speedbike-en-2026\/\">Article 2<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introduction: the paradox of progress<\/h2>\n\n<p>After six months of research, dozens of exchanges with specialist consultancies and two published articles, one question remains:<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Is the speedbike a bike?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Legally, no. It&#8217;s a light moped (L1e-B). Technically, yes. It&#8217;s an electrically-assisted bicycle. Philosophically? That&#8217;s where it gets complicated.     <\/p>\n\n<p>In the first article, I showed you <strong>the shadow market<\/strong>: France at 500 speedbikes\/year, Belgium at 15,672. In the second, I revealed <strong>the obstacle course<\/strong>: \u20ac45,000 in testing, \u20ac65,000 in total barriers for an entrepreneur who wants to launch 20-50 bikes. <\/p>\n\n<p>The diagnosis has been made. Now <strong>let&#8217;s talk solutions<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p>Because we can&#8217;t leave it at that. The speedbike is not a gadget for wealthy geeks. It&#8217;s a <strong>massive decarbonization tool<\/strong> for 20-50 km journeys. It&#8217;s a <strong>credible alternative to the car<\/strong> for millions of Europeans.   <\/p>\n\n<p>And today, it is <strong>stifled by inadequate regulation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>Regulations hinder innovation more than they protect it. It prevents responsible players from existing, while thousands of unbridled bikes circulate with impunity. <\/p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s time to rethink the framework.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mobility between two worlds<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The boundary object<\/h3>\n\n<p>The speedbike is what sociology calls a <strong>&#8220;frontier object&#8221;<\/strong>: it exists at the intersection of two worlds, without really belonging to either.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>No bike, no scooter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Too fast to be a bike (45 km\/h vs. 25 km\/h). Too clean and quiet to be a scooter (zero emissions vs. combustion engine). Too light to be considered a real motor vehicle (25-30 kg vs. 100 kg+).  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>The result?<\/strong>  Regulatory schizophrenia.<\/p>\n\n<p>It has the obligations of a moped:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Registration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compulsory liability insurance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approved motorcycle helmet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prohibition of bicycle lanes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approved lights (ECE R113, R50, R28&#8230;)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regulatory horn<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>But it is denied the advantages of a moped:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No priority motorcycle parking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No access to reserved 2-wheeler lanes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No purchase aid as for electric scooters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>And he is also denied the benefits of cycling:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No bike paths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No dual right-of-way for cyclists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No free bike parking in town<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No VAE ecological bonus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>It&#8217;s the worst of both worlds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why users remove the plate<\/h3>\n\n<p>I have an anecdote to tell you. It was told to me by several French speedbike users. <\/p>\n\n<p>These people have legally purchased an approved speedbike. License plate, insurance, motorcycle helmet &#8211; everything is in order. For a few weeks, they rode on the road, squeezed between the cars that passed them and the buses that overtook them at 10 cm.  <\/p>\n\n<p>And then one day, they crack.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>They remove the plate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Why? Because with a plate, they&#8217;re not allowed to use the safe cycle path that runs alongside their daily commute. Without a plate, they become &#8220;invisible&#8221; again. They ride on the bike path, at 35-40 km\/h instead of 45, and nobody says a word.  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Illegal? Yes. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s the <strong>civil disobedience of mobility<\/strong>. Law-abiding people discover that the law puts them in danger. So they choose safety over conformity.  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>What does it reveal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>That the tension between the desire for freedom and the weight of obligations has become unbearable. That current regulations do not correspond to actual usage. That users <strong>are voting with their feet<\/strong> &#8211; or rather, with their license plates removed.  <\/p>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s not a problem of education. It&#8217;s a problem of regulatory design. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What solutions have you come up with?<\/h2>\n\n<p>Enough about the problem.  <strong>Let&#8217;s talk solutions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Here are four concrete ways to unblock the speedbike market in Europe, inspired by what&#8217;s already working elsewhere or what innovative players are starting to experiment with.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proposal 1: Create an adapted &#8220;Urban Speedbike&#8221; sub-category<\/h3>\n\n<p>Today, all speedbikes are lumped together in the same L1e-B basket as 50cc electric scooters. This is absurd. <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>My proposal<\/strong>: create a <strong>sub-category L1e-B.1 &#8220;Speedbike&#8221;<\/strong> with proportionate requirements.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Lightweight specifications :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Obligatory pedal assistance (no trigger like a scooter)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Power limitation: 500W continuous max, 1000W peak<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weight limit: 35 kg max<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Effective but adapted braking (not the same requirements as an 80 kg scooter)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>EMC and electrical safety (maintained)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lighting and signalling (simplified: 1 front light, 1 rear light with stop, horn)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Simplified certification :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>10 tests<\/strong> instead of 16<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Budget: <strong>\u20ac20,000<\/strong> instead of \u20ac45,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shared certificate of conformity (see proposal 2)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Infrastructure authorization :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cycle lanes authorized on roads &gt; 50 km\/h (as in Belgium)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wide bike lanes (&gt; 2m) authorized<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two-way traffic prohibited (safety)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Urban roads &lt; 50 km\/h (normal)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>This sub-category would finally recognize the <strong>specificity of the speedbike<\/strong>: a halfway vehicle that deserves a halfway frame.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proposal 2: Pool audits for SMEs<\/h3>\n\n<p>The problem with the \u20ac45,000 certification is that it&#8217;s <strong>untenable for SMEs aiming for 20-50 bikes a year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>The solution already exists<\/strong>: that&#8217;s what <strong>L&#8217;Usine \u00e0 V\u00e9lo<\/strong> is doing in France.<\/p>\n\n<p>L&#8217;Usine \u00e0 V\u00e9lo is <strong>France&#8217;s leading provider of shared audits<\/strong> for small businesses. Around it gravitate several companies, notably <strong>VELI<\/strong> and other electrification players, who pool their resources to obtain certifications. <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>The model :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A central organization (L&#8217;Usine \u00e0 V\u00e9lo) obtains ISO 9001 certification and the Certificate of Production Conformity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Partner SMEs (Syklo, VELI, etc.) entrust final assembly to this organization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fixed costs (audits, monitoring, administration) are <strong>spread over several players<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each SME retains ownership of its brand, design and technology.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cost per SME: <strong>\u20ac2,000-5,000\/year<\/strong> instead of \u20ac8,000-12,000\/year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sufficient collective volume to justify audits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shared expertise on regulatory compliance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>What needs to be done<\/strong>: encourage this model on a European scale. Create a <strong>&#8220;Speedbike Certified Collective&#8221; label<\/strong> to recognize this collaborative approach. <\/p>\n\n<p>Imagine a network of 10 European SMEs, each producing 30-50 speedbikes\/year. Total: 300-500 bikes. Shared costs divided by 10.    <strong>Suddenly, the economy holds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proposal 3: Mixed infrastructures dedicated to mobility &gt; 30 km\/h<\/h3>\n\n<p>The speedbike rolls too fast for conventional cycle paths (danger for cyclists 20 km\/h), but too slow to be at ease on the road with cars (50-70 km\/h).<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Solution: dedicated &#8220;green strips&#8221;.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Several European cities are already experimenting with <strong>infrastructures adapted to fast mobility<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Utrecht (Netherlands)<\/strong>: Official pilot project where speedbikes can use certain cycle paths by dispensation (Province of Utrecht, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Copenhagen (Denmark)<\/strong>: Network of extended &#8220;Superhighways&#8221; (3-4m, more than 850 km planned) that accommodate all types of bicycles, including fast e-bikes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Belgium<\/strong>: On roads with speeds over 50 km\/h, speedbikes are allowed &#8211; and even obliged &#8211; to use cycle paths where they exist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>The concept:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Width: 2.5-3m minimum (for safe overtaking)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Surfacing: smooth asphalt (no cobblestones)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical separation: curb or guardrail for cars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Signage: &#8220;Voie mobilit\u00e9 &gt; 30 km\/h&#8221; (mobility lane &gt; 30 km\/h)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Authorized users: Speedbikes (with conditions), fast bikes, high-performance scooters, electric cargo bikes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Advantages :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Safety for all (separation of slow and fast flows)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modal shift car \u2192 speedbike facilitated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Urban land optimization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong political signal: recognition of intermediate mobility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Cost<\/strong>: \u20ac100-150\/linear meter (much less expensive than a bus or tramway track)<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proposal 4: Supervised regional experiments<\/h3>\n\n<p>Rather than waiting for a European reform that will take 5-10 years, <strong>let&#8217;s authorize regions to experiment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>The model :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Duration: 3 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scope: One region or metropolis on a voluntary basis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conditions: Mandatory scientific monitoring (accidents, usage, modal shift, satisfaction)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Possible exemptions: access to cycle paths, lighter homologation, purchase aid<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Examples of desirable experiments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>\u00cele-de-France: &#8220;Speedbike RER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speedbikes allowed on cycle paths along RER routes (A, B, C)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1,000\u20ac purchase subsidy for commutes &gt; 20 km<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Secure speedbike parking facilities at 50 stations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goal: 5,000 speedbikes on the road in 3 years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes region: &#8220;Speedbike Rural<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Simplified certification for regional manufacturers (Syklo, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Green strips on departmental roads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speedbike leasing for rural workers (Belgian model)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Objective: Modal shift 10% of 20-40 km car journeys<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Lille Metropole: &#8220;Speedbike Transfrontalier&#8221; (Cross-border Speedbike)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Partnership with Belgium (already mature on the subject)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speedbike corridors Lille-Tournai, Lille-Courtrai<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pooling expertise with Belgian players<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Objective: Create a coherent cross-border network<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>The idea:<\/strong> learn through experimentation. Measure. Adjust. Duplicate what works.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How about a change of scale?<\/h2>\n\n<p>All these proposals are useful. But they remain <strong>marginal adjustments<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>What if we thought bigger?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>What if we finally recognized that the speedbike is not a niche, but a <strong>major lever in the decarbonization of mobility<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speedbikes in European climate policy<\/h3>\n\n<p>Europe has set itself ambitious targets: <strong>-55% CO\u2082 emissions by 2030<\/strong> (vs 1990). Transport accounts for <strong>30% of European emissions<\/strong>, 72% of which come from road transport. <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Modal shift is at the heart of our strategy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>We are investing heavily in :<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trains (TGV, regional trains)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electric buses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Streetcars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electric cars (ecological bonus, recharging infrastructure)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>But we&#8217;re forgetting about intermediate mobility: 20-50 km.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>This is precisely the distance where :<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The car still dominates (60-70% of journeys)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Classic cycling is too slow (2 hours for 40 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The classic VAE is limited (1h30-1h45 for 40 km, arrives sweaty)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poor public transport (rural, suburban)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>The speedbike is perfect for this distance:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>40 km in 1h-1h10 (average speed 35-38 km\/h)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zero emissions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moderate physical activity (electric assistance)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ridiculous running costs (electricity: \u20ac0.15\/100 km)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Potential gains: let&#8217;s talk numbers<\/h3>\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s do an exercise in projection. Let&#8217;s imagine that Europe were to invest seriously in speedbikes. <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Scenario 2030: 2 million speedbikes in Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>(Today: ~100,000 speedbikes on the road, concentrated in Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands)<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Assumptions :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Average use: 8,000 km\/year\/speedbike<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replacing combustion-powered car journeys: 70% of km (the remainder replaces EAB, train, bus)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Average car consumption: 6L\/100km (diesel\/petrol)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emissions: 140g CO\u2082\/km<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Earnings CO\u2082 :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2 million \u00d7 8,000 km \u00d7 70% \u00d7 140g = <strong>1.6 million tons of CO\u2082 avoided\/year<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equivalent: <strong>Take 350,000 cars off the road<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Public health benefits :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regular physical activity: 30-45 min\/day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reducing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Estimated economic savings: <strong>\u20ac500-800\/person\/year<\/strong> (health costs avoided)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Total: \u20ac1-1.6 billion\/year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Quality of life gains :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Less urban congestion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less noise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less air pollution (fine particles)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optimization of public space (1 speedbike = 1\/10 the footprint of a car)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Investment required :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Infrastructure: 500 km of green strips \u00d7 100 towns \u00d7 \u20ac100,000\/km = \u20ac5 billion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Purchase subsidies: 2 million \u00d7 \u20ac1,000 = \u20ac2 billion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>R&amp;D, regulation, training: \u20ac500 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Total: \u20ac7.5 billion over 5 years<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>That&#8217;s \u20ac1.5 billion a year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Compare with :<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>French national cycling plan: \u20ac250 million\/year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electric car bonus France: \u20ac1 billion\/year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RTE budget (rail network): \u20ac15 billion\/year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>The speedbike is an under-exploited opportunity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recognition in public policy<\/h3>\n\n<p>For this scenario to become a reality, we need <strong>clear political recognition of<\/strong> intermediary mobility.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>In concrete terms, this means :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>At European level:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Revision of regulation 168\/2013 to create subcategory L1e-B.1 &#8220;Speedbike&#8221;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infrastructure directive including &#8220;intermediate mobility lanes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integration into the European Green Deal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>At national level :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speedbike eco-bonus: \u20ac1,000-1,500 (as for EABs, but more)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employer&#8217;s mileage allowance: \u20ac0.35\/km exempt (Belgian model)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speedbike infrastructure plan: \u20ac100 million\/year over 5 years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>At local level :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regional experiments encouraged<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Secure speedbike parking facilities (railway stations, public parking lots)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication: &#8220;Who&#8217;s the speedbike for?&#8221; campaigns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>The political message must be clear:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>&#8220;The speedbike is not a gadget. It&#8217;s a tool for decarbonization, public health, and energy sovereignty.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion: manifesto for the 21st century<\/h2>\n\n<p>The speedbike is not a gadget.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>It&#8217;s an eye-opener.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>That of a mobility system still formatted for the 20th century. A system that thinks in silos: bike OR car. Cycling OR road. Light OR heavy. Slow OR fast.    <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>But the reality of usage is more nuanced.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>There&#8217;s an in-between. A gray zone. Massive demand for 20-50 km journeys that are neither urban (classic bike), nor long-distance (train), nor isolated rural (obligatory car).  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>The speedbike can meet this demand.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>But not within the current framework. Not with \u20ac45,000 worth of tests. Not with the ban on bicycle lanes. Not with a dead market in France and a dying one in Germany.   <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>We need to rethink the framework.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Create a real speedbike category. Pool audits. Build suitable infrastructures. Experiment. Measure. Learn.     <\/p>\n\n<p>And above all, <strong>political recognition<\/strong> that intermediary mobility is a pillar of decarbonization.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>So here&#8217;s my call.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>To political decision-makers:<\/strong> Open up the debate. Launch experiments. Give us 3 years and \u20ac10 million to prove that it works.  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>To mobility contractors:<\/strong> Let&#8217;s unite. Pool our certifications. Let&#8217;s create a &#8220;Speedbike Responsible&#8221; collective to show that we can do things differently.  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>To users:<\/strong> Make your voice heard. Explain why you need a speedbike. Tell us about your daily 40 km commute by car, which you dream of doing differently.  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>To researchers:<\/strong> Document. Measure usage. Calculate CO\u2082 gains. Produce the knowledge that&#8217;s missing to convince.   <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>And to the skeptics:<\/strong> Come and try it. Get on a speedbike, ride 30 km in 50 minutes, and tell me if this isn&#8217;t the future of suburban mobility. <\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<p><strong>The speedbike is not the only solution.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>But it&#8217;s an essential piece of the carbon-free mobility puzzle. A piece that is ignored, hindered and suffocated by inappropriate rules. <\/p>\n\n<p>The speedbike is just waiting to be given a chance.<\/p>\n\n<p>Sources<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cleanrider: &#8220;Sales of electric speed-bikes in Belgium: a mixed picture&#8221; (2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transitionvelo: &#8220;Speedbikes can&#8217;t escape the crisis&#8221; (2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bicytrust : &#8220;Speedbike : Complete Guide 2025&#8221; (2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ANUMME: &#8220;EDPM rapide: comment aller l\u00e9galement au-del\u00e0 de 25 km\/h?&#8221; (2019, historical context)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The speedbike is not a technical problem, but a regulatory one. After an observation and diagnosis, this article proposes concrete solutions to create a suitable framework for intermediate mobility and accelerate decarbonization. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":297,"featured_media":67717,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Speedbike: rethinking the regulation of intermediate mobility","_seopress_titles_desc":"Dedicated category, adapted infrastructures, regional experiments: a plea for a regulatory framework capable of unleashing the speedbike's potential.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-forward"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/297"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67716"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67812,"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67716\/revisions\/67812"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/syklo.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}