Police in Seeland: On the Pedelec at lightning speed!

Police in Seeland: On the Pedelec at lightning speed!

Summer has not only brought temperatures higher, but also the police presence on two wheels in the Zealand region. Andreas Raters, regional officer, hops on his Pedelec to get to areas that are inaccessible with a company car. This is now happening more frequently and is a first in the region, which includes the picturesque Concordia Lake and six charming districts.

With Pedelecs, which are actually electric bicycles and are only active when pedal-assisted, the police are relying on a modern means of transport. Cycle paths that are not accessible to cars offer officers the opportunity to maintain closer contact with the public and get to locations more quickly. Raters receives support from his colleague Klaus-Ulrich Schnita, who also uses the Pedelec for his police work. A good step in the right direction, especially in a rural area where neighborhood help is very popular.

Pedelecs and their legal situation

But what does this mean for the future use of Pedelecs? The EU Commission plays a crucial role here. She is working on a fundamental reassessment of vehicle categories, especially for pedelecs. These are currently legally considered bicycles, which makes their use much easier. Markus Riese from Riese & Müller supports the status quo and emphasizes that Pedelecs in their current form are considered safe and do not require any new regulations. However, the discussion also revolves around cargo bikes, where there is a lack of uniform regulations for weight and size.

Tim Salatzki from the Two-Wheeler Industry Association is calling for uniform vehicle classes across Europe in order to meet the new traffic conditions. Arne Behrensen from Cargobike.jetzt sees the potential, especially for cargo bikes, which are becoming increasingly popular in delivery services and private transport. However, it calls for standards to ensure that children and other passengers can be transported safely.

Road safety on two wheels

The safety of cyclists is a central issue in Germany, where the number of bicycles and e-bikes now corresponds to the number of inhabitants. According to a resolution dated April 28, 2025, European harmonization of accident data collection is planned to increase road safety. Currently only 60% of cyclists feel safe and in 2023 446 cyclists died. This particularly affects older riders, whose average age on Pedelecs is 53 years.

The recommendations from the resolution also include measures to improve the detection of cyclists, for example through Vehicle-to-X technology, as well as the introduction of minimum standards for braking systems in the next three years. The aim is to increase safety and reduce the risk of accidents.

Another hotly debated topic is the use of S-Pedelecs, which enjoy special status on cycle paths at speeds of up to 45 km/h. Some countries such as Belgium and Switzerland allow S-Pedelecs to ride on cycle paths, which has increased sales there. One proposal concerns the decision on these regulations, which could be left to the municipalities in the future. Finally, taking into account the width of vehicles and special requirements for people with disabilities is an important approach when planning cycle paths.

In the coming years we will see how these developments will affect safety standards and the use of Pedelecs and cargo bikes. It is all the more important that both the police and transport policy meet the coming challenges with a good hand.

For further information on the changes and developments in the field of electric bicycles and safety on the roads, we refer to the reports from mz.de, Nimms-rad.de and dvr.de.