Dataset underlying the publication Not fitting in? The Dutch moped as a residual transport category

This dataset corresponds to the study titled Not fitting in? The Dutch moped as a residual transport category, authored by Clara Glachant and Henk-Jan Dekker. The question guiding the study is: What do evolving Dutch moped policies and public perceptions reveal about the challenges of categorising emerging transport modes? Our study combines historical and contemporary perspectives, through the analysis of readers’ letters to newspapers from the 1950s-1970s – introduction of mopeds in the Netherlands – to the 2010s-2020s – popularity of rental schemes and associated debates. To study how moped-related policies and perceptions evolved over time, we provide an archive detailing the extensive history of mopeds in the Netherlands, including (public debates about) policies. Our findings hold significance beyond the Netherlands, as they can inform policymakers on how to address other modes that straddle established categories, such as e-scooters or fatbikes, considering their potential for the mobility transition. The dataset contains the list of newspaper articles used as research material for this study.