Originally Posted by Mr. Underbridge

Apples and oranges.

Most commuters around the world are in third world countries and as such are a) not riding along dense vehicular traffic, and b) average less than 10 mph. I also expect the death rate in these areas is probably higher than we'd tolerate.

Cyclists in Europe tend to be located in areas that have city centers that aren't choked with car traffic, making cycling a lot safer.