Life Without a Car — Mobility on Your Own Terms

From petrol head to car-free — bikes, electric vehicles, and the freedom of choosing how you move.

Willem once drove a Smart Roadster. Then he sold it and never looked back. These posts trace the complete arc: from driving an impractical sports car to building cargo bikes, testing electric vehicles, and discovering that the best way to move through a city is the one that was invented two hundred years ago.

This is a story with a clear arc. It starts with engines and ends with pedals.

The Car Chapter

Willem drove a Smart Roadster — an impractical, tiny, wonderful sports car. Then he tested an electric car and wrote about what works and what doesn't about electric mobility. And then came the turning point.

Around town in an electric car

Around town in an electric car

Driving the Smart Electric Drive (EQ fortwo)

Earlier this month I drove around town for a week in an electric vehicle, a brand new Smart Electric Drive (EQ fortwo). I used it to commute, for my daily groceries and to visit family, friends and customers. What's it like to drive a fully electric car on a daily basis?

The Decision

The day I sold my car is one of the most personal posts on the site. Not a polemic about the environment, but an honest accounting of what a car costs you — in money, in time, in mental space — and what you get when you give it up. In Amsterdam, it turned out to be freedom.
The day I sold my car

The day I sold my car

Looking back at my years with Smart Roadster

This week I sold my car, I now no longer own one. For me, this is something of a change as over the years I owned various sports cars that were like a hobby to me. My discovery of cycling and the birth of my son changed this. But if you're looking for a reason to buy a sports car, read along!

The Alternative

What replaces a car? For Willem, the answer was bikes — but not just any bikes. The commuter bike, built specifically for Amsterdam's conditions. The cargo bike, assembled by hand to carry everything a car used to carry. And the daily act of commuting by bicycle, which became not just transport but a way of thinking.

Assembling a cargo bike

Assembling a cargo bike

Setting up the Babboe Big cargo bike

This month our Babboe Big cargo bike arrived, in boxes. The engineer in me thought it was a good idea to assemble the bike by hand. This way I would know exactly about all its parts and fittings, handy knowledge for maintenance. Read along for my experience and some practical tips.

Creating the ultimate commuter bike

Creating the ultimate commuter bike

Riding at 35KM/h with Nexus Alfine 8 and Gates Carbon Drive

This winter I use a Sensa Cintura bike with a Gates Carbon belt drive as my daily commuter. It's a bike designed to be nice to ride thanks to its sporty lightweight frame. It's also meant to be low on maintenance thanks to the belt drive and Nexus Afline 8 integrated gear hub. After 1800KM in just eight weeks, it was time for some upgrades.

Commuting by bike

Commuting by bike

One week (240KM) on the VanMoof Electrified S

For a few years now, I commute to work using a bicycle. I have lost more than 15KG since I stopped using my scooter. This week I tested a VanMoof Electrified S, an electric bike with an industrial, minimal design. Is it any good? How does it compare to a normal bike? Will an electric bike make you lazy? Read along to find out!

The Bigger Picture

Car-free living connects to everything else: digital minimalism (own less, worry less), self-reliance (fix your own bike), and the Amsterdam posts (a city built for this). The VanMoof post explores what happens when technology tries to "disrupt" cycling — spoiler: the old way still works better.

The Ultimate Freedom Bike

The Ultimate Freedom Bike

Riding the Brompton foldable bike

Rarely have I been so amazed by a bike: the past 5 months since I've picked up my Brompton foldable bike in Amsterdam have been great fun! About 500KM down the road, I'm happy to share some of my experiences with this ingenious piece of engineering, read on!

Also explore

Amsterdam stories · cycling · leaving the city · digital minimalism

All Mobility Posts

The complete collection of posts about cars, bikes, electric vehicles, and choosing how you move.

And... there is light!

And... there is light!

Installing dynamo powered lights on my road bike

The darker days are here in the northern hemisphere, and so is the need for good lights on your bike. Although battery powered lights can do the job, you need to keep them charged. I wanted a light system on my road bike that just works. Read along for some light in the darkness!!

The Ultimate Freedom Bike

The Ultimate Freedom Bike

Riding the Brompton foldable bike

Rarely have I been so amazed by a bike: the past 5 months since I've picked up my Brompton foldable bike in Amsterdam have been great fun! About 500KM down the road, I'm happy to share some of my experiences with this ingenious piece of engineering, read on!

Commuter bike checkup

Commuter bike checkup

How is my commuter bike doing after 21.000KM?

This week my trustworthy commuter bike started making strange squeaking noises when braking. It has been just over three years since I started cycling on it. People frequently ask me how the bike is performing and how the Gates Carbon CDX belt drive is doing? Time to have a look at the bike after 21.000KM!

Riding with Omata One

Riding with Omata One

Analogue cycling computer with GPS

For the past week I have been riding my bicycle with Omata One, a special bike computer. Its mechanical hands indicate speed, distance, ascent and time ridden measured using precise GPS data. It is fun, read along to know why.

Repairing a Giro AEON bicycle helmet

Repairing a Giro AEON bicycle helmet

How to replace the Roc Loc 5 system

This month my trustworthy Giro Aeon bicycle helmet broke down! Normally I wouldn't hesitate to invest in safety and thus buying a new one. But I like the Aeon helmet so much that I went through some extra trouble to fix it. Read along to see how I did it.

Minimalistic road bike with Gates carbon drive

Minimalistic road bike with Gates carbon drive

Meet your new therapist: the Schindelhauer Siegfried Road

For the past few months I have been riding a special kind of bike, the minimalistic Siegfried Road from Schindelhauer. It is unlike most road bikes as it lacks a conventional chain and derailleur. It features the Gates CDX carbon drive. It's an exercise in minimal design. After riding it for nearly 1000KM, it's time to tell you all about it.

Talking tablets: what makes a great tablet?

Talking tablets: what makes a great tablet?

Working with Microsoft Surface Pro X

Earlier this year Microsoft released their brand new Surface Pro X tablet computer, in many ways this is a forward thinking device. As I like working with tablets I wondered what exactly makes a great tablet? Is Surface Pro X any good? Read along to find out.

The day I sold my car

The day I sold my car

Looking back at my years with Smart Roadster

This week I sold my car, I now no longer own one. For me, this is something of a change as over the years I owned various sports cars that were like a hobby to me. My discovery of cycling and the birth of my son changed this. But if you're looking for a reason to buy a sports car, read along!

Supernova E3 Pro 2 dynamo powered headlight

Supernova E3 Pro 2 dynamo powered headlight

Replacing my bike's headlight

Earlier this month my dynamo powered headlight on my commuter bike needed replacing. One of the electrical connectors broke of, likely caused by intense daily use. I searched for the best possible light, one that would be extremely durable and bright. I found the Supernova E3 PRO 2 and decided to install it on my bike.

Flying in a C47-A (DC-3) classic plane

Flying in a C47-A (DC-3) classic plane

Aboard the 75-year old royal PH-PBA dakota

As a wonderful birthday gift I was honoured to fly in a DC-3 classic plane. It was the 75-year old PH-PBA, a C-47A Skytrain or Dakota, formerly owned by H.R.H. Prince Bernhard from The Netherlands. It's a very special plane operated by the enthusiastic people from the Dutch Dakota Association (DDA Classic Airlines). Read along for some aviation history!

Creating a minimal road bike

Creating a minimal road bike

Recombining and refinishing old parts into a new bike

Over the past months I have worked on different bikes, leading to an accumulation of spare parts in my garage. I wondered how hard it would be to make a new bike using these spare parts. I decided to take advantage of this moment to refinish some parts, removing excessive decals in order to create a minimal looking road bike.

Assembling a cargo bike

Assembling a cargo bike

Setting up the Babboe Big cargo bike

This month our Babboe Big cargo bike arrived, in boxes. The engineer in me thought it was a good idea to assemble the bike by hand. This way I would know exactly about all its parts and fittings, handy knowledge for maintenance. Read along for my experience and some practical tips.

Solo around the Markermeer (211KM)

Solo around the Markermeer (211KM)

Tips to prepare, to endure and to enjoy long distance cycling

This week I took my bike for a long distance (211KM) ride around the Dutch Markermeer, solo! Unlike participating in an organised event with service, support and company along the way, going solo requires a different preparation, mindset and planning. Read along for some practical tips for long distance cycling.

One year on the ultimate commuter bike

One year on the ultimate commuter bike

6000KM in 12 months with Gates CDN/CDX and Shimano Alfine

A year ago I tried to create the ultimate commuter bike, a modified Sensa Cintura with the Gates CDN/CDX carbon belt drive. I received lots of messages from cyclists and commuters from all over the world. From the Swiss alps, France, Italy, Germany, United States and even "down under", Australia! You all wanted to know: how does the upgraded bike hold up?

Business in a bag

Business in a bag

Using a waterproof backpack to fit my gear

Over the past few months I have been testing different bags and cases to fit everything I need to run my business. As I commute by bike, the bag needs to be waterproof. The problem with waterproof gear is that it is usually very bulky. I need my gear to be both portable and representative, a challenge worth a blog post!

Around town in an electric car

Around town in an electric car

Driving the Smart Electric Drive (EQ fortwo)

Earlier this month I drove around town for a week in an electric vehicle, a brand new Smart Electric Drive (EQ fortwo). I used it to commute, for my daily groceries and to visit family, friends and customers. What's it like to drive a fully electric car on a daily basis?

Removing paint from a bike frame

Removing paint from a bike frame

Uncover the aluminium with chemicals and sanding paper

There is beauty in raw, unfinished material that is often hidden with superfluous layers of paint. I like things to be true to the nature of the material. My bike was painted black - not bad - but I wondered what it really looked like from a material point of view.

Listen to your body

Listen to your body

Why I stopped using health and fitness sensors

A good customer of mine was once a physiotherapist, he told me about people asking him to "feel their muscles" to tell them how they where doing. "Crazy!" he told me: "I can never feel better than the people themselves, if they only would listen to their body". This caused me to question the health and fitness sensors I use.

Lunch by plane

Lunch by plane

Flying from Hilversum to Texel in a Tecnam P2002JF

This week I was invited to fly along over the Netherlands in a small aircraft, from Hilversum to Texel. A good buddy of mine is a pilot and planned to fly to the Texel island for lunch (and good fun!). The weather was excellent, so packed with my photo camera, I didn't hesitate for a moment to join him for lunch!

Creating the ultimate commuter bike

Creating the ultimate commuter bike

Riding at 35KM/h with Nexus Alfine 8 and Gates Carbon Drive

This winter I use a Sensa Cintura bike with a Gates Carbon belt drive as my daily commuter. It's a bike designed to be nice to ride thanks to its sporty lightweight frame. It's also meant to be low on maintenance thanks to the belt drive and Nexus Afline 8 integrated gear hub. After 1800KM in just eight weeks, it was time for some upgrades.

Commuting by bike

Commuting by bike

One week (240KM) on the VanMoof Electrified S

For a few years now, I commute to work using a bicycle. I have lost more than 15KG since I stopped using my scooter. This week I tested a VanMoof Electrified S, an electric bike with an industrial, minimal design. Is it any good? How does it compare to a normal bike? Will an electric bike make you lazy? Read along to find out!

Fietselfstedentocht 2017

Fietselfstedentocht 2017

Cycling the 235KM bicycle tour through Friesland

This month I cycled the Fietselfstedentocht, a 235KM tour through Friesland. This tour brings you through various Frisian cities throughout one of the most Northern provinces of the Netherlands. The tour was first organised in 1912 and has grown to become legendary due to its history, challenge and popularity; well worthy of a blog post!

Beast of the Green Hell

Beast of the Green Hell

Driving the Mercedes-AMG GT R

This month I received an invitation to join Mercedes at the Zolder circuit in Belgium to drive in "the beast". The Mercedes-AMG GT R, a furious green coloured performance car that gets its nickname from the Nürburgring where it was developed. It was an incredible experience, well worth a blog post!

One year of cycling

One year of cycling

GPS recording an entire year of bike rides using Garmin and Strava

One year ago I started recording all my bike rides, including commutes, short grocery trips and long Gran Fondos. I equipped my bicycles with Garmin Edge computers that recorded location (GPS), speed, cadence and my heart rate. I covered more than 7683 kilometers during 320 hours of riding. It's time to review all the data and share some photos I took along the ride!

Batavus Champion bike from 1978

Batavus Champion bike from 1978

restoring retro glory with some help from the Internet

Almost a year ago I bought an old steel racing bike from 1978. I wanted to figure out if using a bike to commute worked for me. It did! I used it to ride more than 1000KM before I decided to get a modern road bike. Now, almost a year later, I decided to put the powers of the internet into good use: to bring the bike back to its retro glory!
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