Japanese kei cars finally hit Europe. But launching them there doesn’t make sense to me - if you have stuff you need to transport you’ll need a bigger car, and if you’re just going somewhere yourself or with friends, it’s Amsterdam, just bike there like everyone else.
There are several different types of microcars available, but the Canta is currently the only one considered a mobility aid
As the article suggests, micro cars are intended to serve a different population, which would be people who don’t have the full mobility needed to ride a standard bicycle. And while I do recognize that handbikes, recumbent bikes, and all sorts of other variants of bikes exist, and that people with disabilities do use these, I reject the notion that these should be the only option available to them.
The availability of micro cars gives people with disabilities a choice, in a country where the bike infrastructure investments exist even in rural areas, where public transit options become more limited. The balance of mobility vs risks to other cyclists is well-thought out in these rural areas, but makes less sense within cities. And as the article describes, that’s exactly why Amsterdam revoked the use of micro cars within the city, where basically every other option is available, including the streetcar system.
Europe has had micro cars before though, no? The original Fiat 500 and Mini Coopers or even the Vespa Ape. Made sense for the tiny city roads. But yeah, I guess all those micro cars were replaced with newer, bigger models.
