How Amsterdam Made Room for Microcars
The Dutch embrace of micromobility includes cars so small they can drive on bike lanes. But regulating these unusual mini-machines took some trial and error.
A microcar in its native element — an Amsterdam sidewalk.
Photographer: Reza Estakhrian/The Image Bank RF via Getty Images
Enjoying world-class bicycle infrastructure as well as excellent public transportation, most people living in Amsterdam can comfortably navigate their city without a car. But for older residents and those with disabilities, biking or walking may be infeasible, and the need for a weather-protected, motorized vehicle is real.
Enter the Canta, a Dutch-built microcar designed in the 1990s specifically for those with limited mobility. The Canta comes in several configurations, including one in which passenger seats are removed so that wheelchair users can enter through the rear and roll up to the steering wheel. According to Dutch law, no driver’s permit or license plate is required to operate one, as it’s classified as a mobility aid.