A bicycle is a tool, as is the automobile. For most people a bicycle is only useful if they need to transport themselves somewhere within 3 mi. If you want people to use a bicycle high density living is the only way. Zoning laws in the US prevent high density living. Education and even police policy also discourage bicycles.
There are actually wussy-fied public schools in the US that forbid use of anything except the yellow school bus as transportation. There is a good target for bicycle activists.