Our American lab friend, Ruby, agreed to pose next to this car so you could get an idea of the size of it (and her).

In a country known for its love of the bicycle, it might be easy to ignore the car. We have. We have not just survived quite nicely without one here, but have thrived. Despite our status as non-drivers, we are still car-observers. It's impossible to ignore how different the car culture is here in Amsterdam. This blog post is dedicated to Nathaniel, a student of mine who was an expert on cars. Actually, to call him an expert is to grossly understate the level of expertise he possessed about all things car-related. So, Nathaniel, this one's for you!

Of course, the first thing you notice in Amsterdam is that since so many folks ride bikes, rush hour here looks a bit different. So do parking lots.

I never park my bike in spots like this. I would never, ever find it.

When folks ask us how Peter's job is going, we can sum up the answer in two words: "great commute". He went from an 1.5 hour average slog up the Garden State Parkway - each way - to a 10 minute bike ride or 20 minute walk. That change alone has significantly slowed his hair loss and the number of grey hairs on his head, even though the bike ride in rush hour traffic is not exactly relaxing.

Here's the view he sees on the way to work. Not bad! — Here's the view he sees on the way to work. Not bad!

Indeed, the bike culture is so important to life in Amsterdam that I almost forgot that I'm not writing about bikes in this post; I'm writing about cars. After you notice all the bikes, the second thing that stands out here are those really small cars. Cars that could be in a circus with clowns pouring out of them.

Notice that this car is parked on the sidewalk, in front of the house. One is also allowed to ride this car in the bike lane. Does that make sense to you? I thought not. — Notice that this car is parked on the sidewalk, in front of the house. One is also allowed to ride this car in the bike lane. Does that make sense to you? I thought not.

It turns out that these tiny cars are, indeed, allowed to drive in bike lanes because you don't even need a license to drive one! They can go up to 30 m.p.h. and the upscale version is designed to be driven by a person in a wheelchair. http://www.amsterdamlogue.com/the-worlds-smallest-car.html . I do know one person who drives one. She doesn't bike, and was sick and tired of getting soaked while waiting for trams in the pouring rain. She's also really petite, so she fits nicely inside. I, on the other hand, would be afraid of tipping it over if I leaned too far to one side.

Another tiny car. One wonders how this small car fascination squares with the Dutch being the tallest nation on earth. Seems like Dutch drivers must have to deal with some very cramped quarters inside those cars. — Another tiny car. One wonders how this small car fascination squares with the Dutch being the tallest nation on earth. Seems like Dutch drivers must have to deal with some very cramped quarters inside those cars.

Notice how very happy Casey was to pose in front of this tiny car to help you with the scale.

Just so cute! This one reminds me of the VW bug my friend Adriana had in Oakland, California after college. When my folks came to visit, my dad sat squished in the back seat, and called out, "You sure do get around in this!" I imagine the … — Just so cute! This one reminds me of the VW bug my friend Adriana had in Oakland, California after college. When my folks came to visit, my dad sat squished in the back seat, and called out, "You sure do get around in this!" I imagine the driver in this Fiat sure does get around, too.

Those of you who have visited Amsterdam, or who live here, know that crossing the street can be hazardous. You need to get used to looking for bikes coming your way in the bike lane. You also need to get unused to having cars stop for pedestrians (just when you were getting used to it, if you live in kinder, gentler parts of the U.S. like Maplewood, N.J.). Maybe it's because I don't drive here, but I often find walking more hazardous than riding a bike because of the cars. I just don't understand car - or rather - driver behavior here. There are no stop signs, and the cars don't seem to slow down, much less stop for pedestrians. Bikers, on the other hand, are treated like royalty. I'm told that if you (a car driver) are in a car accident of the car vs. bike rider variety, it is always considered your fault. As a result, drivers have learned to give leeway to all bicyclists, leaving poor pedestrians at the bottom of the transportation food chain. A recent Dutch news article chronicled the top complaints about life in Amsterdam. Apparently, the dog poop that festoons each and every street here is no longer the top complaint. Instead, the shortage of parking places followed by people who drive too fast top the list. Some of my expat friends question the accuracy of the list. They vote for poop! http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/04/dog-mess-is-no-longer-amsterdam-nuisance-number-1/?utm_source=newsletter

Since we don't have a car, I can't really comment on the lack of parking spots. Not a problem for me at all! I have noticed that folks seem to park anywhere, even on the sidewalk.

You are on the sidewalk, sir. This is where people walk. Why can't you park it in the road? — You are on the sidewalk, sir. This is where people walk. Why can't you park it in the road?

When I see cars parked, or even driving, on the sidewalks, I want to sing out...

There are oh so many construction projects going on simultaneously throughout Amsterdam. The good news is this must mean the economy is humming along. The bad news is it often makes for difficult walking, biking, and driving. That must be why I so often see drivers driving at full speed in reverse. They get to the end of the street, only to find that they can't go any further, so they gun it ...backwards.

All of the construction means that you have to be careful to obey the signs that tell you to move your car. In our neighborhood, where there a quite a few English-speaking expats, this is easier said than done. Luckily, the tow truck seems to move your car to the end of the block, instead of to some faraway place.

Thank goodness for the picture on the yellow sign. Imagine trying to figure out what the word wegsleepregeling means without any help. — Thank goodness for the picture on the yellow sign. Imagine trying to figure out what the word *wegsleepregeling* means without any help.

In addition to parking on the street, drivers here also park in any direction. In other words, you don't all have to face the same way. This makes for an interesting waltz when you are trying to cross the street and a car drives in the wrong direction to park on the street near you.

When they park back to back like this, it looks like the cars are angry with each other, doesn't it? — When they park back to back like this, it looks like the cars are angry with each other, doesn't it?

Just another way in which Amsterdam is endearing. Now that Spring is here, I have had more time to get out and smell the tulips. I notice that even the cars here look ready for Spring, in their Easter-egg-pastels.

Although I don't know much about cars, I do know that there are some seriously fancy cars here. I remember that the relocation person who showed us around before we moved here made a point of saying that there are no super wealthy here, unlike in the U.S. Hmmm...

It is interesting that these cars are just parked out out on the street, for all to enjoy. They're like the flowers planted in front of the houses that I have blogged about or the tiles in the doorways: just so much Amsterdam eye cand… — It is interesting that these cars are just parked out out on the street, for all to enjoy. They're like the flowers planted in front of the houses that I have blogged about or the tiles in the doorways: just so much Amsterdam eye candy for the expat to snack on.

This one's a Tesla. That's a fancy car, according to Peter. I don't have what a friend of mine - back when our kids were young - dubbed the "transportation gene": the genetic predilection little kids have for fire engines, dump trucks… — This one's a Tesla. That's a fancy car, according to Peter. I don't have what a friend of mine - back when our kids were young - dubbed the "transportation gene": the genetic predilection little kids have for fire engines, dump trucks, and anything with big wheels, and that big kids have for expensive cars. I'm just a gal from Trenton, N.J. who prefers public transportation and her own two feet.

Maybe not so fancy, but you have to admit this one is seriously cool.

One really positive thing about the car culture here is that electric cars are everywhere. There are plugs where you can charge your car. Also, except for the larger U.S.-style-gas-guzzling Range Rovers and the like, cars are smaller.

So although we may get a car eventually, we are enjoying life without one for now. I've enjoyed being a car voyeur for the past few months. And riding my bike around to do errands has helped me feel more Dutch. Like the time I bought a mop, and rode back home with it, grinning from ear to ear, and thrilled I didn't either kill myself, or knock anyone else over on the ride home. If you have any questions about the cars in this blog, I'm sure Nathaniel would be happy to educate you about them. He is also an expert on the Beatles, in case you have any questions about them.

If you read my last post on the weather in Amsterdam, you'll understand just how thrilling this Spring weather feels. The recent spate of nice weather also accounts for the delay in writing this post.

This is in Kersenbloesempark (Cherry Blossom Park) in the Amsterdamse Bos, a huge park outside of Amsterdam. It was about a 30 minute ride, and we went on our bikes and without a car! Happy Spring! — This is in Kersenbloesempark (Cherry Blossom Park) in the Amsterdamse Bos, a huge park outside of Amsterdam. It was about a 30 minute ride, and we went on our bikes and without a car! Happy Spring!