The rest of the world
Compared to other countries, the US is behind in bike infrastructure.
European bike commuting
Over the pond in Europe, bike commuting is far more popular, and more doable for the average person. European countries value public transit far more than the US does, and generally invests far more money in alternatives to highways, like the US. Cities like Amsterdam, Paris, and Oslo are at the cutting edge of safe, reliable bike infrastructure.
Accessibility
In the US, the public perception of a "road biker",is someone who slows down cars, gets in the way, and is a general nuisance in many people's eyes. This perception of cyclists damages bike commuting, as people do not want to associate with the tight clothing wearing racers. However, in the Netherlands, there is a different word for "sport cyclists" and recreationalists. This opens the door for normal people to enjoy the benefits of cycling, without a negative reputation. It should be noted that bike racing is much more popular in Europe.
Infrastructural differences
Beyond societal differences about cyclists, there is physical differences in accessibilty for cyclists between US cities and Euorpean cities. One large difference is the existence of protected lanes in bikes lanes. In European cities, certain right or left turns at lights are separated from the road, and therefore cyclists do not follow the same path as cars while at the intersection. Another difference is the general existence of bike lanes. In certain european cities there is just far more designated bike lanes, which are often protected, and can fit more than one cyclist's width comfortably.
