Originally Posted by
gregf83
I think that's consistent with North America. The number of people commuting by bike in most NA cities is in the 1 to 5% range which is significantly lower than many European cities. Of the NA commuters only a small fraction would be seen wearing lycra.
Because Europe is older and the population density higher, commuting distances in general are shorter. Short distances make it practical to commute in work clothing. In NA, longer (20+km) commutes are more common and proper cycling attire is more practical.
I suspect that the percentage of the (already small) number of people commuting by bike in most NA cities that ride longer (20+km) commutes ranges between tiny to insignificant. The percentage may seem higher if your reference for typical bicycle commute distances is culled from the posts of sport bicycling enthusiasts who post/boast regularly on BF.