It's interesting to read all the responses saying why what the OP said does not apply to us. It's doubly interesting because this is, after all, the commuter forum, where the basic idea behind the OP's post, bikes as transportation, should be a no-brainer. I don't really believe that the reason we don't have Amsterdam's bicycle culture is because of differences in elevation, terrain, climate, commuting distance, and road conditions. I think that the reason we think that elevation, terrain, climate, commuting distance, and road conditions are unsuitable is because we don't have Amsterdam's bicycle culture. Sure, it may be relatively flat, and the climate may be more moderate than some areas, and I'm sure that helps, but there are so many people on this forum who commute in so many different situations, that we already know that most of these obstacles can be overcome.

I think all the nitpicking about necessary clothing, necessary bikes, and commuting lengths here vs. there are just examples of us echoing the prevalent idea in this country that a car is the default mode of transportation and that bicycles are inherently inferior, weird, or impractical. I think we've all had the experience at one point or another where someone says, "You got here how? From where? Are you serious?" It's not normal. It's "programmed" into us as being an odd "alternative" choice, and, moreso than any other factor, I believe that is what makes US cycling culture different than European cycling culture.

I don't mean to put words into the OP's mouth, but I think the message behind those lovely pictures is not really about clothing, style of bike, or riding style. It's about how you can have a really great bicycle culture simply by having people who don't waste any time thinking about why can't bike to where they're going. In high school or junior high, I pulled an old Schwinn, possibly older than me, out of the yard and started riding it where I wanted to go. I didn't hardly spend a dime on it other than new tubes when the old ones were unpatchable and new, cheap tires when the old, cheap tires had worn through. People were constantly amazed to find where I'd biked to. They thought it was "great," but they also said, "I could never do that." It seemed to be some extraordinary feat to them, but I knew that wasn't the case. You take any old, rusty bike, put air in the tires and oil on the chain, then you point it in the right direction and pedal until you get where you're going. Nothing could be simpler.

All those other issues, they're worth discussing. We're all about comfort. We're all about convenience. And we can pour money and technology into cycling to fit it to our mold. That's not why America doesn't take bikes seriously. We've simply set our collective minds that can't do it. So much so that even though I haven't driven to work more than a few days this year, and I started my car yesterday for the first time this month, I still occasionally, during my pre-work preparations to head out, say to myself, "Now, where did I leave my car keys?"

Our default is set to "car" so much so that without even thinking about it we will argue in favor of the car and explain why bike-centered transportation is impossible here.

"And that," says Yoda, "Is why you fail."