There's a really big difference between the US and Europe that I've seen in terms of bikes. It seems that in the US, only enthusiasts buy bikes. In most countries in Western Europe however, it is much more egalitarian. City bikes for example have to be sold with lights and two brakes, front and back. You almost have to go out of your way to buy a bike without the necessary accoutrements for city riding, be it lights, brakes, fenders or even a luggage carrier.
Oh, man, I wish that were true. My last bike I couldn't even get an aftermarket mudguard, because the frame didn't have the right mounting points.