There are plenty of good, basic commuter/utility bikes out there. Here's one, and here's an even better one. Why would the OP act as if these bikes don't exist, when they do?

I don't know why the OP wants big box stores to sell them. Consumers are much better off buying from bike shops, which can do competent assembly and offer useful accessories, safety equipment, and maintenance. And then the assembly would be local, as the author prefers.

(Edited to correct my initial error: I thought the OP was quoting or paraphrasing the article, but his/her post actually advocates things not in the article...Which means that I disagree with both the article's author and the OP: there are good affordable bikes, and bike coops are not a panacea.)