Should I have a car in Amsterdam?
Living in Amsterdam without a car is okay. I’ve done it for a couple years already, just like many others, without mucho problems. But yesterday my car-less physique was defeated. My dumpling and I went to the dreaded IKEA. ahhhh! You can’t leave without buying some random house accessory or Swedish meatballs. And they got us. We bought a shoe holder. A freaking big shoe holder that, for us non bike experts expats, was too big for us to carry in one hand.
Amsterdam is a Farmville
Living in Amsterdam is like living on a megatropolis version of farmville, which makes most us expats hestitant to going pro-carBo, or owning a car. (wow, making up words this morning, I must be in the creative mood since I felt 20 degree weather for the first time in months). Also the fact that many of us aren’t bold enough to admit that we’ll probably stay in this beautiful country for more than a couple years.
But wouldn’t you agree that we live in a sort of overgrown village?
Instead of sheep all over the place, there are unpredictable deaf bikers, children and tourists dominating the streets. I ring my bike bell, but somehow they don’t hear it. So I try screaming particularly at the tourists, but they just scream as if it’s the “Amsterdam thang” to do. Somebody, anybody, everybody scream, “get the f out of the way”.
Cows have been replaced by actual cheese shops. Fresh vegetables and underwear can be found at local street markets which are quite impressive too. You can do just about get anything you need without a car…
But then I was defeated
There are two moments in the year where I cry not having a car
- Going to IKEA – the oversized beast is a parasite for shoppers. Compliments to their team there for making environment practically impossible to leave empty handed. But on the downside, when I buy, I have to lug heavy stuff around the city usually by walking. It turns a simple trip into a 3 hour fiasco. Boooo…..
- Leaving farmville to see another farmville – the country is has some very beautiful cities. But isn’t it a pity that most of us only think of Amsterdam, Den Hague, Rotterdam. If I had wheels, I sure would be motivated to explore more of this farmy country.
I love my bike
I guess you can’t have everything that you want. And I gotta admit that I love my bike. And as many locals, you’ll see that they do whatever they can with their bikes as opposed to having a car.
Maybe finding parking spots is just too nightmarish to actually sign a car lease. Here’s some nice bike use cases
The Family Vehicle
The Mover – apparently I should’ve contacted him
The bad ass
