Yes, but the question is why are these views so common in the UK but not in mainland Europe?
You're quite right, I was straying.
I'm sure someone will let me know if I'm wrong, but hasn't cycling in the UK grown enormously in recent years, whereas on the mainland it's been more universally regarded as a viable form of transport for far longer. Perhaps we need to look at what has caused the growth in the UK. Is it the relatively recent success that has been enjoyed by GB pro cyclists, on the track and more recently in the tours. Greater success means greater tv coverage, means more exposure to the general population, so what does a successful/real/fit cyclist look like? They wear lycra and a helmet and ride a drop handlebar bike. People want to emulate their heroes and dress as they do, or people want to get fit/lose weight, what does a real super fit cyclist look like, they wear lycra and a helmet. Did the rise in bike use in the UK start with its use as a form of exercise rather than a form of transport? If it did, did we breed a generation of cyclists that saw it as a more competitive activity, the rise of smart phones and the apps available has certainly put the ability to compete against both yourself and others within the reach of everybody, and we already know what a real cyclist wears when competing.
Then you have a trickle down effect, more cyclists on the road, more exposure, majority wearing helmets, it must be the right thing to do. More cyclists almost certainly means more people fall off and before you know it a helmet has saved their life.
The fact is that an anecdote on facebook with a picture of a cracked helmet is far more effective and far easier to process than a list of statistics.
Probably nonsense but there we go.
BTW, I know that a "real" cyclist rides a bike.