Addressing the global climate crisis necessitates a fundamental transition toward sustainable mobility, yet the socio-technical path to low-carbon lifestyles is often obstructed by entrenched norms and systemic inequities. While cycling is championed as a primary solution for urban livability, the introduction of specialized e-bikes – specifically the fatbike – has sparked intense public and political debate in the matured cycling context of the Netherlands. This research investigates the fatbike as a disruptive mobility innovation, examining its influence on sustainable behaviors and its intersection with identity, lifestyle, and “velonomy” (autonomous movement by bike). Employing a qualitative, ethnographic approach, including observations, intercept interviews (n=52), and in-depth interviews (n=12) in Amsterdam, this study provides an understanding of how the fatbike functions as a marker of social belonging and an enabler of accessibility. The findings reveal a critical disconnect between media framing and lived reality: while public discourse often stigmatizes users through narratives of antisocial behavior, we argue the fatbike serves as a tool for achieving mobility justice. By reducing financial and spatial barriers, it provides essential ‘mobility of care’ and enhances connectivity for youth and residents in the city’s outskirts.
The paper concludes that current policy trends in Amsterdam favoring restrictive bans risk exacerbating mobility poverty and re-establishing barriers to social inclusion. By highlighting the fatbike’s role in fostering autonomy and shortening the perceived distance between the periphery and the core, this research challenges reductive narratives and advocates for a just mobility transition that accounts for the diverse demographic groups driving contemporary behavior change.