I mean, they can be, they just aren't now. For it to be common, it has to fit more people's use cases. Clearly, that's more likely to happen in somewhere like

I mean, they can be, they just aren't now. For it to be common, it has to fit more people's use cases. Clearly, that's more likely to happen in somewhere like NYC than in Memphis, but I would think that most people, even people inclined to use bikes like that, would use it only on shopping days, and a more traditional two-wheeler for their commute. As for other hypothetical reasons they are not normal now (hypothetical because I know very little about NL / BE / wherever): * Are people in those places using them for work or leisure? I suspect that if they're that common, people are using them for work in jobs like delivering market goods (e.g., similarly to how we use bike messengers, but for larger 'messages') * I've seen them used in Netherlands for carrying children and such, while it seems that predominately, more Americans are dual income families, with children being cared for in daycare / school during the days. As for all things that aren't "normal", there's the chicken and the egg problem. There's nothing wrong with being anormative, but right or wrong, if you're deviating from the norm, you should expect people to ask questions. If you'd like to help normalize what you're doing, then answering their questions (where possible) seems like a fine way to start. Without getting into a meta-debate about vaping, I was an early vaper because I liked the idea of saving money, and they seemed healthier than cigarettes. If your first experience to vaping is by a guy who sneers at your questions, acts better than you, and then blows huge clouds in small rooms, you're probably going to be put off to it. If your first experience is with me, who vapes outside, is usually happy to answer any questions, etc., you're less likely to be. Obviously, no one's beholden to take time out of their day to answer other people's questions, but the vibe I got from the author was that they were stupid for asking them, that he couldn't be bothered, and that overall, he didn't seem like a pretty good ambassador to the cause.