A lot of people seem entirely unconcerned by horribly bad brakes.

I cannot quite get what they think all day. I'm hardly ever so preoccupied that I don't think of the risks and likely accidents of what I am doing next.

People get in cars with a ton of crash protection, airbags, and seatbelts. But then don't give a F about increasing the risk of running over pedestrians or cyclists. It might be pure egoism or misanthropy, however, I think it is more often ignorance and negligence.

When buying a new car they probably think there is a 1/1000 chance that someone is going to be killed by it.* But then all that concern is directed towards occupant safety.

@NathanKnutson in Toronto that market segment was only served by used bikes (and checked luggage from Europe).

Bike stores were either fixing and selling old bikes or showrooms with shiny floors and very expensive sports bikes.

Walmart and the like had as many kids or youth bikes as grown-up bikes. The whole lot BSO. Likewise with helmets, locks, pumps. Either super expensive or rubbish. No sensible middle ground whatsoever.

I think this is in larger parts a symptom of large income differences. With two large consumer groups where one is not concerned with costs and the other is not concerned with quality.

@gschenk Yeah that makes sense. There's also something in there about peoples' view of bikes as not serious transportation becoming self-fulfilling prophecy.

bikes as toys is a very pervasive idea in the US and Canada it seems like.