Inside the wonderful world of microcars in Amsterdam – Jalopnik

It’s challenging to imagine roads without one-ton pickups or three-row SUVs, but they do exist… just not in America. There are actually cities around the world with a healthy number of microcars. Americans don’t have access to these vehicles because U.S. regulators view mini cars as the enemy due to inflexible and obtuse safety regulations designed to push huge cars to consumers. In addition, motorists in the United States have less need for smaller vehicles because there is enough space on the road, which cannot be said of some European and Asian countries.

The Netherlands, famous for its culture of cyclists (the number of bicycles exceeds the number of people), has transformed an old medieval road infrastructure into something that in many cases prioritizes human-driven vehicles over cars. So it is ironic that Amsterdam cyclists and pedestrians share the same space with cars, even if they are small cars. But it’s for good reason.

The Canta is a Dutch-made microcar that you often see on the streets of Amsterdam, with enough space for just two people. At just 110cm wide, it fits into places a full-size car can only dream of – perfect for a busy city where cars have trouble parking. There are several types of microcars available, but the Canta is currently the only one that is considered a mobility aid. Therefore, you do not need to have a license to use a Canta. Because the Canta is not the same as a car, it can drive on the countless cycle paths and even sidewalks throughout the country. But you won’t be setting any speed records, as this moped reaches a top speed of about 45 miles per hour.

When traveling through the capital of the Netherlands, you often see older adults behind the wheel of microcars such as the Canta. Microcars are just one of the forms of transportation that are more interesting in the Netherlands, as Amsterdam is also the land of strange motorcycles and clog-shaped boats. Nevertheless, a divisive trend in microcars developed, with people without mobility problems beginning to use mopeds to access its various benefits. In fact, the microcar became the favorite choice of trendy city dwellers who found it a much easier way to navigate the city.

With the arrival of the microcar Birò, from an Italian manufacturer founded in 2008, the situation in the Netherlands escalated. Soon these Birò microcars, which did not require license plates, let alone driver’s licenses, became associated with the wealthiest residents, who increasingly began to block access to those who really needed it. As frustration increased, the municipality of Amsterdam decided in 2019 that the Birò could no longer be classified as a mobility aid. This ruling not only required a driver’s license and license plate, but also prevented Biròs from using bike paths or sidewalks, completely negating their benefits.

Some issues still exist surrounding microcars, such as the Canta’s sole stipulation that drivers must be at least 16 years old and that the Canta be covered by insurance. The truth is that some people with disabilities are woefully unqualified to drive a vehicle of any kind, let alone one that takes up the same space as pedestrians and cyclists. It has been difficult for the Dutch authorities to regulate because there are people who would lose their personal independence without their Canta microcar privileges.