Earlier this year, a Dutch regulatory authority recalled Babboe cargo bikes. Now, consumer protection agencies are scrutinizing more well-known manufacturers. What’s happening?
The problems with cargo bikes continue to grow. In February, Babboe, a prominent cargo bike manufacturer, was forced to recall some models and halt their sale after the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) identified defects. The company had failed to take reports of frame breaks seriously and did not follow the legal requirements to report and address them. The NVWA warned that these issues posed a life-threatening risk in traffic and initiated criminal proceedings.
The safety concerns were first brought to light by the Dutch news program “RTL Nieuws,” which has now uncovered further investigations. According to their latest findings, the NVWA is currently examining additional brands, including Vogue, Cangoo, and Bakfiets. Owners of these cargo bikes have reported issues to the NVWA, with some experiencing failures while riding.
The NVWA confirmed to the news outlet that it is investigating various brands but declined to name specific ones until the review is complete. It remains unclear whether the reported defects are isolated incidents or if the NVWA will proceed with a recall or sales ban on the affected cargo bikes.
Last month, Vogue announced that consumer protection agencies had requested information from cargo bike suppliers and manufacturers at the beginning of the year—specifically regarding the technical details of their products and how they handle customer feedback and complaints. A decision regarding Vogue’s products, including the Troy model, is expected in mid-September.
Vogue and Troy models face frequent issues
According to RTL’s research, bikes from the 17-year-old family business were particularly prone to breakage. One mother described how the frame of her Vogue bike snapped during a ride, causing the cargo box carrying her two daughters to tip over. Personal footage from the family, featured in the report, shows a corroded weak point on the frame.
The TV channel reported that the regulatory authority visited several owners to inspect the reported damages. RTL is aware of eleven cargo bikes from the Vogue brand or the Troy model, one Cangoo bike, and one Bakfiets bike. However, the Bakfiets owner was not visited by the NVWA; instead, they were only notified in writing about “ongoing investigations” following a damage report.
“There is now an impression that the cargo bike is unsafe,” said Dirk Zedler, a board member of the German Bicycle Future Association. Zedler, a road cyclist, runs a company that conducts safety inspections on bicycles. He noted that while there are high-quality manufacturers in the industry, some prioritize cost over safety. “Caution should be exercised with certain brands,” Zedler warned, referring to the brands currently under investigation.
Frames of cheaper models often consist of a single tube, making these designs more prone to accidents. Bicycle brands like Urban Arrow and Muli use at least two tubes to support the load. According to the expert, so-called fatigue fractures do not show warning signs in advance, and the hairline cracks are barely visible. With a single-tube frame, severe accidents are more likely, whereas a second tube could mitigate such damage.
“Could be defects in a single production series”
“With Babboe, we now know that there were issues for years. With the mentioned manufacturers, it could also be production defects in a single series,” the expert noted. He refrained from giving recommendations for German customers until the Dutch authority reaches a conclusion.
Cargo bikes left outdoors and exposed to the elements are more susceptible to rust, which can lead to fractures. This risk is exacerbated if the cargo box is consistently loaded with more weight than recommended. Zedler advises regularly cleaning the frame and checking for fine cracks.
When cargo bikes are sold in Europe, they must meet EU-wide safety standards, such as CE certification. Manufacturers can voluntarily obtain an explicit certification for cargo bikes, usually at their own expense. In Germany, these certifications are common due to the market’s meticulous and strict nature, the bicycle expert explained. In the Netherlands, however, manufacturers and regulatory agencies are less rigorous, often opting for cheaper Asian testing labs. According to Zedler, these labs are not always 100 percent accurate. The negligence of recent years has now led to widespread inspections in the Netherlands.
