It is kinda funny
In poor countries people use bikes as they can't afford cars.
Poor countries become countries in development, and cars start becoming prevalent
As more people can get cars, it becomes very expensive to keep them (parking, clogged streets, etc).
And people in developed countries switch back to bicycles...
full circle.
Addition: I have seen it in my own country. Having a car when a lot people didn't, was awesome. I could go everywhere faster, easy to park, girls take more notice of you... etc.
10 years down the road, now that everybody has cars, it is hard to park, traffic everywhere, not a status symbol anymore.. .etc.
Albania. Until 1991 there were no private cars in the country. Only government cars, and taxis. I remember when I was a little kid, that I would go with my friends in a road, and play/count if the next car plate was even or odd. Even in main roads, cars would come only once or twice a minute.
After 91 everyone could buy a car. My parents got their first car in 96, when traffic was pretty light. I started driving then, and it was awesome. Parking was easy. My high-school friends were impressed. I could go to the beach on my own timeline, and no need to get into a bus, or a van. And enjoy some really nice scenery going to the south.
Fast forward 2007 (last time I was back home), there is traffic everywhere, parking is hard. Lots of shiny cars, that can't go more than 10mph b/c of the traffic. smog/pollution increased . Etc.
I have a friend, that switched to bikes to get to work (he still has a car, but uses it only for out of town trips), and another one that bought a scooter, as they are much more practical.
full circle.
Addition: I have seen it in my own country. Having a car when a lot people didn't, was awesome. I could go everywhere faster, easy to park, girls take more notice of you... etc.
10 years down the road, now that everybody has cars, it is hard to park, traffic everywhere, not a status symbol anymore.. .etc.
Simply, wealth is a very relative thing.