Amsterdam, the Netherlands—The city’s new Green Mobility Accelerator policy aims to get people off fossil fuel transport and onto greener modes, such as e-bikes. Citizens can now enjoy a complimentary hip replacement after being scraped off the pavers of the crowded streets of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam’s alderman for transport, Pieter van Dijk, emphasised that the scheme ensures the time from accident to surgery has been radically reduced. “Under the new system, you could find yourself under the wheels of a car at lunchtime, and be stitched up and ready to ride home that evening.”
The new policy aims to accelerate e-bike adoption across generations. Modified Fat-Bikes, popular among teenagers and capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 km per hour, are now invited to cycle on highways. The initiative has also been a boon for the HORECA sector seeking more flexible delivery options. Uber Eats recently announced a new “on-the-road” delivery service, where hungry commuters can have kibbeling or patat delivered directly to their traffic jam on the A10.
Critics point to the alarming number of e-cyclists requiring emergency surgery, yet public support for the policy and the government have continued to rise. Government officials attributed the increase to “a growing appreciation of the scheme’s benefits.”