Hello Helen, yeh,strange coincidence, the double bike issue. I know USA is a continent of car tradition and although traditions can change it would take time, even if people would get the taste of it. Here every child from age four is put on a bike.In my time money was also an issue. Right after the war we shared an old bike amongst us four younger children from a total of six. Now any one can have bikes as there is a large second hand system. From age 7, 8, 9, kids take full part in the traffic circulation. Under careful eyes of parents mostly. From 12 on it is the way to go to school, by bike. The flatness of the country is of course favorable to cycling, but in US many cities are flat as well.
(Like I mentioned Chicago)Anyway, I guess what I wanted to say is that you can use bikes for many more purposes than going to the library.