At least here in Illinois rural towns have okay train access and can easily accommodate bike infrastructure. Many rural towns with a university have decent bike networks already. It’s North American suburbs that are more hopelessly designed around private vehicles.

I recommend getting some bright lights. I have a 350 lumens rear light that makes my bike more visible than most vehicles.

I’d really like to see fiber and banking as services at the municipal level that could lilely pay for themselves. However services needing to support themselves encourages short term solutions. Libraries, parks, and schools are unlikely to turn a profit but are critical to providing a minimum quality of life. Public transportation investment pays off over decades not a financial quarter and provides long term tangible benefits to the city beyond the fare box. If it pays for itself it’s a no brainier, but many things that cost more than they make or have long term payoffs that are hard to measure are critically important.

I agree. Let’s keep trying to figure out how to make that a reality in addition to this.