Cargo bike brand Babboe halts trading over safety concerns

Dutch cargo bike brand Babboe announced to temporarily stop the sales of all Babboe cargo bikes on 14 February 2024.

Babboe is a fairly well-known box bike brand in the UK, especially in flatter and urban areas like London and Cambridge.

In an email to customers, Babboe explained that the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) informed Babboe that the company has not provided enough information to prove that certain models are free from safety risks.

This follows multiple cases of frames fractures on Babboe box bikes. Dutch news outlets started reporting on these earlier this month.

Babboe's cargo bike range includes two and three-wheeled box bikes with wooden boxes which can carry two to four children. They are a well known brand, with most models available either with or without electric assist in bike shops across the UK.

Babboe curve box bike

What's next for Babboe bikes and their owners?

In an update to customers on 17 February 2024, Babboe clarified that they were following the NVWA's advice to not use your Babboe cargo bike for the time being.

Babboe says that they are currently consulting with the NVWA to prepare for a recall of certain Babboe models and that they will inform Babboe owners of this as soon as possible.

On the Family Cycling UK Facebook group, Babboe owners are reaching out to each other and asking for advice on next steps.

Cycle Sprog have written to Babboe to ask them clarify the situation to UK owners of Babboe bikes. We will keep this page updated if we receive new information.

Latest update from Babboe in (Dutch) video on 27 February 2024:

Babboe CEO Gerard Feenema said in a video that they're starting with a recall for the Babboe City, City-E, Mini, and Mini-E. Feenema said that in all countries where these models are being sold, they will work with consumer authorities to set up the recall.

He said that everyone who owns one of these Babboe bikes will get a replacement bike or a suitable alternative. Babboe also says they'll provide financial compensation.

For the other Babboe models the advice is unchanged; do not use them until further notice. More news will follow on the other models.

On https://controleerjeframe.nl/ you can type in your frame number to check if your Babboe bike is being recalled (website in Dutch).

Family cargo bike reviews

Thinking about a cargo bike for family life? Our in-depth reviews cover the best models for carrying kids, shopping, and everything in between, so you can find the perfect ride with confidence.

We test them in real-world family settings to see how they handle hills, school runs, and heavy loads. Whether you want electric assistance or pedal power, we’ve got you covered.

Kidvelo competition

Kidvelo competition

Cycle Sprog's most popular articles

Here at Cycle Sprog we help thousands of families each week find the information they need about kids bikes and cycling together as a family.

We've got hundreds of articles on the website, and we do hope you enjoy browsing them, but if you're in a hurry these are our most popular articles that will get you started.

Keep the family riding as the nights draw in

With half term behind us and the clocks gone back, the school run looks a little different now. Darker mornings and early sunsets mean it’s a good time to make sure everyone feels confident and visible on their bikes for the weeks ahead.

If you’ve been meaning to try cycling to school, there’s still no pressure to do it every day. Even once a week is a great way to keep riding through the colder months and stop it from feeling like a big deal.

Good lights, front and rear, are now essential for many journeys, along with reflective details on bags and clothing. Warm layers, gloves and waterproofs make a big difference to how much everyone enjoys the ride, and it’s worth checking tyres and brakes as wet leaves and frosty mornings arrive. Allow a little extra time, and stick to routes you know well while everyone gets used to riding in the dark.

Whether it’s the ride to the school gates, a weekend spin through crunchy autumn leaves or a festive lights ride as Christmas approaches, every journey this winter is a chance to stay active, have fun and make cycling part of family life.

Explore our guides to bike lights, winter cycling kit and route planning, and get tips to help your family keep cycling to school with confidence all winter long.

Our latest articles

Here at Cycle Sprog we're always publishing brilliant new articles, and here's a selection of our newest releases.

The best way to keep up to date with all the latest news, reviews, advice and routes is to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Comments

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.