The Miniature Microcars of Amsterdam

When I first arrived in the Netherlands, I was amazed at the minature "microcars" that were everywhere. These are cars that make the Smart fourtwo look like a giant. It's really interesting to me where microcars might fit in the 21st century city, and what problems they solve for people with mobility issues.

NJB Live (my bicycle livestream channel):

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Image and video credits:

De Biro moet van de stoep af en dat is balen voor de ‘middelvingerrijder’ [Trouw]

Golf carts parked at McIntosh High in Peachtree, Georgia

Golf carts parked at Wal-Mart, Peachtree, Georgia

A golf cart coasts along the multi-use paths that wind throughout the city.

Tom Scott - The City of Golf Carts (YouTube)

Tesla Roadster photos by Flickr user FaceMePLS

Better car design could prevent pedestrian deaths, says NTSB report (Curbed)

US Car vs SUV sales, Cox Automotive

Airbag clip from How Do Airbags Work? [PBS Reactions YouTube]

#microcars #canta #Estrima #biro #roadsafety

[gcason]

I can’t believe Peachtree City was mentioned! I grew up there. It’s suburban hell in many ways, but the golf cart paths are truly great. We could ride bikes nearly everywhere in town; they were also used as recreation paths; and we could use little electric golf carts for like 90% of in-town trips. The culture of the city was special as golf carts became an accepted form of transportation, took part in parades, special infrastructure was built for them (bridges, parking spots, crosswalks, parks), teens could drive them and thus had more freedom, cottage industries arose to support them, they were accepted as “cool”, and people gave them right of way. We could choose a pleasant, silent, “greener” mode of travel and most people did.

[purplegill]

As someone disabled and can't ride bikes (but still able to walk), that microcar seems like an absolute dream for me. Legit having the ability to get more than a couple bags of groceries and not exhaust myself whenever going to the store independently would be lifechanging. Instead I have to rely on friends/family to get to the doctor/store/wherever else and walking is only an option if I just need a few things in an emergency.

[NotJustBikes]

This video is over a year and a half old, but I still haven't been able to rent a Birò. There are no companies that rent them anymore. There was a carshare service (Lev) in Rotterdam that used Biròs, but they shut down. Several people have offered to let me borrow theirs for a few days, but when it actually came time to do it they all backed out. And Birò Nederland has no interest in helping me (I've asked), which is really short-sighted of them, but oh well.

So unless this channel becomes big enough that I could justify buying one for the sake of a video, it looks like that review will never come. :(

[erfquake]

If you're ever in Japan, you'd be bewildered at the wild varieties of micro vehicles on the roads there, mixed in with bicycles of course. Shizuoka in particular was amazing to me. One common delivery vehicle was a 3-wheeled articulated scooter with a roof, which would be perfect for a place like Amsterdam. Maybe worth a show.

[sushanth]

The irony is that Dutch people are one of the tallest people in the world

[artofverity]

Who else wants to see a review of the micro car!

[Megan-ntdm]

The idea of having an enclosed, super accessible mode of transport for people using wheelchairs is amazing!! I have so many friends that can't get around by themselves because they use wheelchairs

[arajalali]

I am dying to know how long you waited for a new model Mini-cooper pass by that old little Fiat. You really ought to have quite a lot of patience. Respect!

[HorizzonCS]

I never thought about how dutch this must be

[amonhof]

I live near Peachtree City, Georgia currently! It's amazing how many people and families forego a car for a golf cart to get around. Having family that lives there, the image. of the school and grocery store parking lot is absolutely the truth! There are fewer car accidents that cause severe injuries/death and it is much easier and safer for new drivers to learn to drive in a smaller motorized vehicle than to learn in a large metal vehicle.

[SkylerLinux]

It really resonates that if little metal boxes aren't safe on the road, my open air self is not safe on the roads.

[Aerospace_Gaming]

Having family in Peachtree city, I have found from personal experience that the golf cart network also acts as a amazing bicycle network (at least for the US). For example, one time we went with family from their house to the center of town for snowcones or something (a few miles away) and me and my cousin decided to bike, and it was amazing! We only encountered a few golf carts, and didn't have to deal with cars

[monocatz]

Don't know how common this is in the Netherlands overall, but where I live we used to call those micro cars "Fietspad Ferrari's"

[florafauna]

"The fewer large vehicles we have in our streets, the better". I couldn't agree more.

[Celtic_Nutter]

As an Australian I found this fascinating! Cycling is fairly unsafe on our roads and I've never seen a car like these in my life. What a fantastic job the Netherlands is doing with transport and road infrastructure. :)

[elukok]

"Do you really want people in 2 tons metal boxes in city centers?"
Hmm, that makes you really think. As someone from Prague, it is crazy how much space and important places is dedicated to cars, even in the center of the city itself.
Also, the micro cars are popular here especially because you can drive them since 15 years old, while you can drive regular car since 18 years old.

[rosemarymcbride]

I’m disabled and live in the United States (and in a part of it with long snowy winters) and I really wish these were even an option. I own a car which I can barely afford (you know because of almost non-existent social safety net) and it’s way more than I need not only in terms of expense but also in terms of how I use it

[Semtx]

Your work on these vids has regained my interest in cycling. being Dutch the bicycle infrastructure was always a given to me. but now i see it from your point of view and realize how special it is. so i recently took out my bike and drive every other day a different round, just to admire the infra that was always there. thanks!

[commonweakness]

You should also look into a place called "The Villages" in central Florida U.S.A. It is a retirement community of over 140, 000 residents with shopping centers and schools, for the kids of the workers. I've been there several times and they have found a way to blend car travel with "multi-modal" transportation (golf cart, bike and walking path all in one). Thanks for the video.

[johnnycondor]

6:43 Electric cargo bikes are common in Portland, Oregon too, I'm happy to say -- but we need many more safe, dedicated bike paths for connecting key areas of the city!