Bicycle is non existent though, what is really different from my low density european experience is the amount and low cost of traditional taxis (Uber gave up and now is a normal taxi provider here because they cant beat their price - https://www.uber.com/en-HK/blog/introducing-uber-taxi/ ) and the insane quality of the metro and bus networks (we didnt have double deckers every 5 minutes in my city in Normandy, we were lucky if the schedule was remotely accurate)
I ve seen some other places more dense that american cities explode in little motor bikes (Taipei, Kuala Lumpur), but that depends a lot on regulation.
Interestingly quite a few taxi drivers drive a taxi not so much for the money (it always helps) but rather to ward off boredom post-retirement (flipping properties in HK used to be almost as profitable as flipping crypto). This might be "competition" of sorts but not sure. I think drivers generally make slightly higher than median income if they work long hours, but don't know how it compares with other places.
The service level is generally shit though, some drivers literally refuse to make money if they deem your request a bit out of the ordinary (eg. refusing to take you for a short ride even if the fare per distance is higher than that of a long distance ride).
If bike infrastructure is done well, it should be accessible enough that those disabled people who can ride a bike are able to use it: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jan/02/cambridge-dis...
Now, you're right that people with some disabilities will not be able to cycle, or will not require a mobility scooter. (Although if you want one and can't afford it, that's also a problem, and I believe a common one here? Our healthcare system...) It's still important to have various accessible modes of transportation. Trains can be a good option here, though it's important that they have level boarding for wheelchair users and that all stations are likewise accessible. (Philly's unfortunately are not. The City Hall station reconstruction is long overdue.)
And some people may always still need a car due to their disability! In the Netherlands, they have something called the Canta, which is a microcar specifically for people with disabilities that's small enough to operate on bike paths and can be parked on the sidewalk: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canta_(vehicle)
And yes, some may need a full-sized vehicle as well; it's worth replacing some parking spaces with disabled parking spaces to accommodate that case.
My point, though, is that our car-centric city designs in the US don't accommodate everyone either! We often consider it to be the default out of inertia, but it's important to remember that not everyone can drive a car, and in a car-dependent area that's a recipe for social isolation. Our cities should be designed such that everyone is able to get around quickly and safely.
However, bicyclists need to get their shit together in terms of pedestrian respect and traffic rules. I can cross a street pretty easily but crossing a busy bike path is a real challenge. I‘m sure we will figure it out in due time.
It also seems that the entire sidewalk is fair game for bicycle parking, which is a disaster for people navigating with a cane, but that can be solved with dedicated bicycle parking.
I would think that at a traffic light, bicycles should act the same as cars, but this just doesn‘t happen at all. I‘m lucky if bicyclists don‘t blast straight through a zebra crossing. It feels especially cruel for traffic lights that are placed between the bike path and street yet require a button press.
So it‘s two things: inconsiderate cyclists and and no common pedestrian crossing system on bike paths (or clarity on rules at existing street crossings).
For cities with a dense urban core (of which mine, Philly, certainly is) I'm really hoping we lean in on bikes (electric or not) moreso than electric cars. Even less carbon-intensive to produce, and in a city with this level of density it's shocking how quickly you can get around by bike. I would go so far as to say it's often faster than driving if you consider the time you spend looking for parking.
It's just that with our current car-centric infrastructure, it's way too dangerous.
Plus with some e-bikes, you can detach the battery and carry it with you indoors to charge it back up. Try that with an electric car!