Here in the part of Canada I live in, you see some of the $3000 bike identity stuff, but most people ride something in the $500–$750 range. Something practical, comfortable, reliable, etc.

There is also a growing segment of people who use $5,000–$15,000 cargo/kid carrier bikes as replacements for their cars, which is cool. But I do worry about theft of those increasing. Right now I rarely hear of it, but it seems likely to increase. Even the motors and batteries in them cost thousands alone.

> think of cheap commuter bikes as public property.

Didn't Amsterdam try that with 'white bikes' in the 1970s?

> The Netherlands famously has more bicycle thefts per year than citizens.

No, it definitely does not!

750k bike thefts for 17.7m people. So roughly one per 25 people...

It famously has more bicycles than people!

Of course they have more bicycles than people, the bikes keep getting stolen!