Generally that happens in places where biking would be the ideal transportation mean (due to distances/weather/density) but the infrastructure is poor to support it. Give people safe means to move around and they will use it.

On the other hand, statistics show that bikes are comparatively much safer than cars when it comes to the safety of others. When a bike rider kills someone else, it makes the news. When a driver kills someone else, it's business as usual because it's so common.