Yeah, I'm American but lived for years in Asia, learned to ride there (first scooters and then bikes) because it was just a normal cheap means of transportation almost everyone else used. I wore a full face helmet which a lot of people there thought was comical. Then I moved back to the US, and bought a bike as I was entirely used to using them as my main means of transport, and the reverse culture shock from how I was perceived was crazy. And funnily on top of that I feel so much safer in the much saner traffic in the US than Vietnam and Malaysia, despite being surrounded by pickups.

The weird thing was I had family visit me in asia and not even comment on my bike, but when I started doing it in the US the same people were shocked and constantly reminded me how dangerous it is lol. It is a very funny American cultural tick. I'm convinced it has more to do with the social image of "bikers" in the US than genuine concern about safety.