Well, I guess we can go on forever here, but I think the differences between the EU and the US are too many to find a simple explanation. Wealth distribution, population density, regulations, and so on.
I imagine bike shops in Europe are fairly standalone, small businesses
It’s a little bit of everything, tbf. There is a lot of independent local businesses here, for sure, and even in small cities you will find one. But you’ll also find the same few brands everywhere. We do have larger manufacturers who own several brands, so if you buy brand X or Y – it’s the same company. You have companies like Cube (I think they’re popular in the US as well) who run their own flagship stores, and Rose, who dominate online. But even those are mostly owner-managed companies.
I imagine very wealthy people would likely still be driving cars, for the speed and personal convenience.
Well sure, wealthy people here also have a car, they might just replace one car with a cargo bike. What I meant is, in the US even if you’re poor, the car is the last thing you’re going to give up. For example the thought of living in your car is absolutely alien to me, but I’ve heard this quite often as an argument from Americans why making fuel more expensive would be classicist. In the US, losing your car is often more devastating than losing your house.
Would both types be called pedelecs,
The speedier ones are called S-Pedelecs, Speed Pedelecs. And yes, they’re pretty much like a 50 ccm scooter, and the license needed is not a full auto license, it’s the same 16 y old get for their scooter.
but what is the purpose of the license plate?
I don’t know, I’ve never owned one or a moped, but it’s the same plate a moped would get, it’s some kind of insurance/tax thing I think.
Well, I guess we can go on forever here, but I think the differences between the EU and the US are too many to find a simple explanation. Wealth distribution, population density, regulations, and so on.
It’s a little bit of everything, tbf. There is a lot of independent local businesses here, for sure, and even in small cities you will find one. But you’ll also find the same few brands everywhere. We do have larger manufacturers who own several brands, so if you buy brand X or Y – it’s the same company. You have companies like Cube (I think they’re popular in the US as well) who run their own flagship stores, and Rose, who dominate online. But even those are mostly owner-managed companies.
Well sure, wealthy people here also have a car, they might just replace one car with a cargo bike. What I meant is, in the US even if you’re poor, the car is the last thing you’re going to give up. For example the thought of living in your car is absolutely alien to me, but I’ve heard this quite often as an argument from Americans why making fuel more expensive would be classicist. In the US, losing your car is often more devastating than losing your house.
The speedier ones are called S-Pedelecs, Speed Pedelecs. And yes, they’re pretty much like a 50 ccm scooter, and the license needed is not a full auto license, it’s the same 16 y old get for their scooter.
I don’t know, I’ve never owned one or a moped, but it’s the same plate a moped would get, it’s some kind of insurance/tax thing I think.