Cycling was becoming quite common in the UK and it was actively suppressed by urban planning because the stance was that "it was for the poors" and car travel (a newer mode of transport) was much preferred because it was luxurious.
Jay Foreman has a good video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gohSeOYheXg
None of the article snippets in the linked thread even mention the existence of automobiles.
But don’t worry, I’m certain these same type of articles were written about automobiles as well during their rise in the early 1900s.
The space and design parameters optimizing for personal cars, especially at US vehicle sizes, is contradictory to design parameters for other modes of transport.
There's people who cycle as method of transportation, and those who cycle as a sport. It's only the ones cycling as sport who need this expensive stuff.
Sure, you won't be able to cycle up to the Zugspitze with it, but for cycling in a regular hilly town it's enough, 7 gears are fine and the brakes are good enough as well.
Perfectly functional sports utility vehicle for less than €200
If you want to add some cargo space in the front, you're in the price range the GP mentioned: https://www.omafiets-online.nl/omafietsen/Spirit-Cargo-Trans...