The key point from my post is that there is really no biking infrastructure in most of the US, so riding a nice bike to the office in fact becomes a statement. Because riding a bike in let's say Phoenix is just plain dangerous. You don't do it there, period. It's just not convenient to the point where it looks like you are making a left-wing centered statement. It's like driving Hummer H1 in Brussels city centre. One could argue all day long they do it for the passengers safety but the reality is that a strong political statement would be sent (i.e. I have money and don't care about the green craze).