In the last 40 years can you remember an adult lead character choosing to ride a bike as a form of transportation in an American movie or tv series?
If a minor character has a bike and uses it for transportation - it's clear they would like a car but for whatever reason they don't have one. Another character might say to them "Why don't you have a car?" and their reply will be something like "Don't ask."
Last night I watched "Flashdance (1983)". Jennifer Beals plays an 18 year-old who lives on her own and she doesn't have a car. She uses a bike instead.
I remember Andrew "Dice" Clay had a role in a movie not unlike his stage persona. The character couldn't believe that somebody didn't have a car. He said something like "Even bums don't not have a car!"